IoT Spending Shifts to Supply Chain and Inventory Management

According to new Forrester research highlighted in DC Velocity, spending on IoT solutions tailored for inventory and supply‑chain management is set to grow at an annual rate of 20.2%, reaching $113.5 billion by 2023 and surpassing all other IoT verticals.

Supply‑chain leaders are turning to IoT to streamline vendor relationships, monitor real‑time inventory levels, and optimize warehouse operations. In parallel, investments in smart products, smart‑building infrastructure, and fleet‑management technologies are expected to further accelerate growth in this sector.

Amazon’s FreeRTOS Faces Security Vulnerabilities

Security researchers at Zimperium have identified 13 critical flaws in Amazon’s FreeRTOS – the lightweight operating system for microcontroller‑based IoT devices. These vulnerabilities could allow attackers to crash connected devices, exfiltrate data, or execute arbitrary code, jeopardizing critical infrastructure and smart‑home environments. The issues affect FreeRTOS v10.0.1 and earlier (including FreeRTOS+TCP) and AWS FreeRTOS v1.3.1 and earlier.

Software AG Partners with Eurotech to Enhance Connectivity

Software AG and Eurotech will merge Eurotech’s Everyware Software Framework (ESF) with the Cumulocity IoT platform, delivering plug‑and‑play connectivity for industrial IoT gateways and edge devices. The integration offers secure device configuration, automated diagnostics, and expert triage, cutting time‑to‑market for customers. Giuseppe Surace, Eurotech’s chief product and marketing officer, emphasized that the partnership expands integration options and streamlines solution deployment.

CrateDB Integrates with Microsoft Azure IoT Hub

Crate.io’s CrateDB, a SQL‑based real‑time data platform, now supports direct routing of data from Microsoft Azure IoT Hub or Event Hub. The new CrateDB Event Hubs Connector provides developers with industrial‑strength time‑series database capabilities on Azure, enabling the ingestion and real‑time analysis of millions of data points from connected equipment – a critical requirement for successful Industry 4.0 initiatives.

Twilio Launches NB‑IoT Developer Platform for T‑Mobile

Twilio is set to introduce the first NB‑IoT developer platform in the United States, tailored for T‑Mobile’s NB‑IoT network. The platform will include a comprehensive SDK, certified NB‑IoT modules from u‑blox, and programmable SIM cards, with an anticipated launch in early 2019.

IoT Design Insights from Bee Colonies

Leaders at SAP Digital Interconnect, who also cultivate bees, suggest that the organizational principles of bee colonies can inform the design of resilient, secure, and efficient IoT networks. Just as a hive maintains connectivity with minimal complexity, IoT architects can adopt similar strategies to simplify system management and enhance overall performance.