2020 IndustrialAutomation & Sensors
Industrial IoT Vendor Awards

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October 2020
By Jared Weiner, Senior Analyst
Chris Rommel, Executive Vice President

The Situation
VDC Research recognizes the top vendors of industrial IoT solutions with the 2020 “Platinum” and “Gold” vendor
favorability awards. These award winners have helped their customers begin to harness the vast potential of the IIoT,
and will be instrumental in the continued digitization of industry as a whole. Understanding which vendors have the mostfavorable standings within different IIoT-related product categories can provide industrial organizations with a valuable
head start in designing their own IIoT strategy.
VDC based these awards on vendor sentiment ratings from our annual worldwide survey of the industrial automation
community.1 This year’s survey garnered 251 responses from qualified professionals in engineering, IT, logistics,operations, and executive roles. Each respondent was actively working for an industrial organization―most commonly
within the manufacturing space―at the time of the survey, and the survey qualified only those with personal knowledgeof either continuous improvement, electronic or mechanical component selection or usage, IT networking for industrial
systems, production/operations management, or supply chain management/procurement.

The awards are organized into three categories:

1

Industrial IoT
Platforms

2

Industrial
Networking
Components

3

Industrial
Cybersecurity
Solutions

We first asked survey respondents to indicate their familiarity with a randomized list of 10 suppliers within each category.
Next, we asked respondents to rate their opinion3 of each brand―excluding those with which respondents were notfamiliar―as a supplier within that specific category. We awarded the suppliers with the three highest favorability scoresin each category with “Platinum” status. Vendors with a score in the next 6 highest positions received “Gold” status.
2

Industrial IoT
VENDOR AWARDS

2020

Industrial IoT Vendor Award - Platinum Winners
IIoT Platforms

Industrial Networking

Industrial Cybersecurity

1

The full dataset from this survey, which consists of more than 75 exhibits, is examined in our recently-published study 2020 Industrial
Automation & Sensors Survey Dataset and Analysis. Contact us for more information.
2Familiarity ratings were based on a 3-point scale: 1=Not at all familiar; 2=Somewhat familiar; 3=Extremely familiar
3Favorability ratings were based on a 5-point scale: 1=Very unfavorable; 5=Very favorable2© 2020 VDC Research | Industrial IoT Vendor Awards

Industrial IoT
VENDOR AWARDS

2020

Industrial IoT Vendor Award - Gold Winners

IIoT Platforms

Industrial Networking

Industrial Cybersecurity

We understand that many operational environments have unique requirements, and that there is a broad rangeof vendors and solutions that can effectively address those specifications. These awards are not intended torepresent an exhaustive list of suppliers offering industry-leading solutions, but rather to highlight those with thebest reputation for serving the unique needs of each product category.

3© 2020 VDC Research | Industrial IoT Vendor Awards

VDC’s View
IIoT Objectives Will Shape Competitive Dynamics
Despite the IIoT having gained considerable momentum―at least from a conceptual standpoint―in recent years, only
37% of survey respondents reported their organizations have already implemented an IIoT-related project [Exhibit 1].
More encouragingly, however, approximately 42% of respondents indicated their organizations have begun the process
of examining or developing a formal IIoT strategy.
Exhibit 1: Organization’s Current Level of IIoT Adoption(Percentage of Respondents)

1.6%
15.1%

9.6%

The IIoT is not relevant to organization
9.6%

Organization does not fully understandthe IIoT or the benefits

Organization is examining IIoT-related
opportunities
Organization is actively developing anIIoT strategy

21.9%

21.1%

Organization has implemented IIoTrelated projects on a small scale
Organization has implemented IIoTrelated projects on a large scale21.1%

Don't know

Though some industrial organizations are likely to put their IIoT initiatives on hold as they wait for coronavirus-related
turbulence to subside, many others will fast track IIoT projects as a way to help optimize operations during theseuniquely uncertain times. As organizations increasingly seek to leverage the IIoT to improve production output and/orefficiency, the criteria by which these organizations evaluate the industrial components to be used within their operations
will begin to shift. This dynamic will afford suppliers the opportunity to improve the perception of their brand by adroitly
serving industrial organizations’ mounting IIoT objectives.

Service and Support Capabilities are Vital

While the most successful IIoT suppliers will certainly be those that offer relevant solutions with the best capabilities
and functionality, industrial organizations evaluate a wide range of characteristics when considering suppliers for thesesolutions. Survey responses indicate that service and support capabilities are the most important supplier characteristic
industrial organizations consider, followed by industrial cybersecurity expertise and relevant industry experience [Exhibit2].

4© 2020 VDC Research | Industrial IoT Vendor Awards

Service and support capabilities will be especially critical over the next several years as industrial organizations
increasingly look to the supplier community to help guide their IIoT strategy. As such, the suppliers most successful
in cultivating the opinion their brand will be those that dedicate sufficient resources toward supporting and otherwise
managing their customer relationships. Suppliers offering expeditious customer service and proactive customer
relationship management will earn reputations as brands that can be trusted to serve not only as suppliers but also as
value-added advisors.
Exhibit 2: Top-3 Most Important Characteristics When Organization Considers Suppliers for
Industrial IoT Components(Percentage of Respondents)

Service and support capabilities

40.2%

Capabilities/functionality of relevant solution(s)36.1%

Industrial cybersecurity expertise

33.7%

Specific experience in my industry

33.3%

Pricing model

32.5%

General experience in industrial environments

25.3%

Reputation of brand

24.5%

Overall product portfolio/roadmap

22.1%

Compliance with relevant certifications or standards bodies

17.3%

Ecosystem of complementary solutions16.5%

Distribution partners

15.7%

Other

0.4%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Note: Percentages may sum to more than 100% due to multiple responses.

5© 2020 VDC Research | Industrial IoT Vendor Awards

About The Authors
Jared Weiner leads all of the Industrial Automation andSensors practice’s major research programs and custom
research and consulting engagements. His major areasof coverage include sensors for process and automation
control, industrial cybersecurity, data acquisition, and other

Contact Jared:
jweiner@vdcresearch.com

topics related to the Industrial Internet of Things. Jared

Jared Weiner

was previously a member of VDC’s IoT & Embedded Technology team, where his coverage areas
included embedded operating systems, and embedded systems security, among others. Prior to
re-joining VDC, Jared managed market research at Trillium Software, a supplier of enterprise data
quality solutions. Jared received an MBA from Babson College in 2007, and graduated from Bentley
College in 2002 with a B.S. in Information Design and Corporate Communication.
Chris Rommel is responsible for syndicated researchand consulting engagements focused on development
and deployment solutions for intelligent systems. He hashelped a wide variety of clients respond to and capitalizeon the leading trends impacting next-generation device

Contact Chris:
crommel@vdcresearch.com

markets, such as security, the Internet of Things, and M2M

Chris Rommel

connectivity, as well as the growing need for system-level lifecycle management solutions. Chrishas also led a range of proprietary consulting projects, including competitive analyses, strategic
marketing initiative support, ecosystem development strategies, and vertical market opportunity
assessments. Chris holds a B.A. in Business Economics and a B.A. in Public and Private Sector
Organization from Brown University.

About VDC Research
Founded in 1971, VDC Research provides in-depth insights to technology
vendors, end users, and investors across the globe. As a market researchand consulting firm, VDC’s coverage of AutoID, enterprise mobility, industrial
automation, and IoT and embedded technologies is among the most advanced in the industry, helping our clientsmake critical decisions with confidence. Offering syndicated reports and custom consultation, our methodologies
consistently provide accurate forecasts and unmatched thought leadership for deeply technical markets. Located inNatick, Massachusetts, VDC prides itself on its close personal relationships with clients, delivering an attention to detailand a unique perspective that is second to none.
© 2020 VDC Research Group, Inc. | P 508-653-9000 | info@vdcresearch.com

6© 2020 VDC Research | Industrial IoT Vendor Awards