Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly emerging as a core transformational technology of the digital era. The ability to gather data from sensors embedded throughout an enterprise can drive insights and operational efficiencies from the supply chain to the customer. But implementing IoT, or even Industrial IoT (IIoT) often requires close collaboration of both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT).

IT manages the infrastructure that collects and analyzes data, including networking, computing, security, cloud, and data storage systems. While IT focuses on data collection and processing, OT focuses on the operational technologies that generate the data, such as the production-oriented machinery, tools, fleets, and control systems. Data collected from IoT implementations by IT or OT groups has value, but more value can be created when this data is utilized collaboratively amongst these two groups to derive overall business insights. The promise of IoT implementations come together at this intersection, and require the blending of talent from both groups in the design, implementation, and operation of IoT systems.

These two groups, however, often have different goals, performance metrics, and perspectives on both the collaboration and the outcome. To gain a better understanding of the relationship, either real or perceived, between these two groups, Futurum Research surveyed the state of the relationship between IT and OT teams as it pertains to the design, implementation, and creation of value through IoT technologies.