Two Global Industrial IoT Organizations Join Forces to Advance Progress in 2019

As we head into a new year, M&A news continues to surface, as consolidation in the IoT continues. It’s inevitable that in as fast-growing and fragmented segment that businesses will combine to strengthen their competitive market position. In surprise news from the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) and OpenFog, this week those non-profit organizations announced they have agreed in principle to combine forces, bringing together community innovation initiatives in Industrial IoT (IIoT), fog and edge computing. Under the IIC umbrella, the combined membership “will accelerate the adoption of the IIoT, fog and edge computing,” according to the organizations’ collective announcement. The move will bring OpenFog members into the IIC organization at a time when their complementary areas of technology are emerging in the mainstream.  “This is great news for the industry,” said Christian Renaud, Research Vice President, Internet of Things, 451 Research.Both organizations have been advancing the IIoT, fog and edge computing, and their members represent the best and the brightest in their fields.  It makes sense to merge their expertise and work streams to continue providing the IIoT, fog and edge guidance that the industry needs.”