Lowering the Barrier to Entry for IoT Solutions

While the Internet of Things (IoT) clearly represents a multi-trillion dollar opportunity, the cost of entry into the building and delivering IoT solutions in many cases is surprisingly modest.

Using an open source document database that supports JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), many of the initial IoT applications organizations are building involve little more than a JavaScript application running on a gateway—also known as a server—processing data streaming in from various endpoints.

There are two benefits to that approach: the costs of standing up those applications using open source software running on top of commodity servers are comparatively small, and the applications can be developed fairly quickly. The end result is that the business knows relatively quickly whether the IoT solution will add value to the business or be abandoned in favor of some other IoT endeavor.

Kelly Stirman, vice president of Strategy for MongoDB, a provider of one of the most widely deployed document databases, said it’s actually not uncommon to see document databases such as MongoDB being deployed alongside Hadoop, which winds up serving as an inexpensive “data lake” for storing JSON data alongside multiple other types of data, as well as Apache Spark in-memory computing clusters that enable analytics applications to be run in real time. But as much value as those platforms might add to the overall IoT solution, the initial IoT foray most organizations are making isn’t all that complex, Stirman added.

In fact, Stirman noted that most solution providers would be well-advised not to try and “over-engineer” an IoT solution. The simpler the IoT project, the more likely it will deliver on its potential, he said.

To help foster the development of MongoDB applications, MongoDB has made available a MongoDB University App that runs on Apple iOS. The idea is to make it possible to stream MongoDB training materials directly to a tablet or smartphone, which after viewing IT professionals can opt to take a certification exam.

Stirman said the ecosystem developing around MongpDB already has reached a point where developer talent is now readily available—good news for solution providers. The issue now is finding ways to leverage that talent base to create solutions that deliver on the promise of IoT today vs. some far-off day in the future that most organizations don’t really have the patience to wait for anymore.