Avnet to support customers at every stage of the development cycle in designing solutions for the Internet of Things built on IBM technology
Avnet,
Inc. (NYSE: AVT),
a leading global technology distributor, today announced it is working
with IBM to increase the development and deployment of Internet of
Things (IoT) solutions in the U.S., Europe and Canada. The two
companies’ efforts will help customers develop IoT solutions built on
the IBM Watson IoT Platform to help create new revenue streams and
operational efficiencies. This collaboration is designed to help Avnet
customers, ranging from original equipment manufacturers to solution
providers, capitalize on the opportunities in the rapidly growing IoT
market, which is estimated to account for more than $921 billion in
technology spending in 2016.1
This collaboration builds on Avnet’s successful IoT development
practices; for example, Avnet recently worked with SPICA Technologies to
help create a smart cities IoT solution to improve water safety. This
solution reduces the risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease by using
connected devices attached to water pipes that provide real-time
information and analysis on water temperature and flow, improving
accuracy and reducing monitoring costs by up to 60 percent. Avnet played
an important role in building this solution, bringing together the
sensor components, IBM Core Middleware, IBM Enterprise analytics, and an
IBM Cloud deployment to manage the data.
“Developing an IoT solution is incredibly complex and requires deep
technical knowledge from a semiconductor level to advanced data
analytics running in a data center,” said Patrick Zammit, president,
Avnet Technology Solutions, Global. “Avnet and IBM joined together to
simplify the development cycle at every stage and give our customers the
power to unlock the potential of IoT.”
Avnet and IBM will provide customers with a wide range of resources from
the edge to the enterprise to develop IoT solutions that effectively
gather information, connect to the Internet, and securely manage and
analyze data. These include:
-
Availability of IBM applications critical to designing and
managing IoT solutions, including IBM Watson IoT Platform, IBM Watson
and IBM Cloud;
-
IoT development platforms and kits that accelerate the ability
to prototype IBM Bluemix-enabled IoT solutions;
-
Create proof-of-concept solutions with Avnet’s highly
experienced team, enabling Avnet’s 100,000 customers to deploy
connected devices;
-
Avnet data center and cloud solutions based on IBM Watson IoT
Platform that provide analytics engines, asset management, data
management tools, IoT Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) capabilities, and
security;
-
Access to the Avnet
Cloud Marketplace, which features IBM Cloud infrastructure;
IBM Software-as-a Service (SaaS) solutions related to cloud,
analytics, mobile, social and security applications; and the ability
to create branded storefronts;
-
Solutions design, integration and assembly support services at
its solutions centers in the Americas and EMEA;
-
In-depth technical education and training through Avnet
Academy on IBM Bluemix and IBM Watson IoT Platform.
Additionally, customers will be able to leverage the Avnet Visible
Things evaluation and development reference platform, which will be on
display at Embedded
World next week. This initiative, driven by Avnet in EMEA, is a
platform, built on IBM Watson IoT Platform, designed for
edge-to-enterprise IoT projects. It delivers hardware and embedded
software to connect smart sensors to the Avnet Devicepoint service,
which adds context to sensor information and loads it to an
enterprise-strength core system. It then presents a set of business and
integration services focused on analytics, cloud and mobile.
“IBM, alongside its vast network of clients and partners, is ushering in
a new era of computing, extending the power of cognitive computing to
the billions of connected devices, sensors and systems that comprise the
Internet of Things," said Harriet Green, general manager, Watson IoT,
Education and Commerce, IBM. “Working together, Avnet and IBM can help
clients further embrace the full promise of IoT using innovative
technologies to uncover hidden patterns in data and act on them, to
transform business and society alike.”
Avnet and IBM’s IoT collaboration will be showcased at InterConnect
2016, a premier cloud and mobile conference, being held February 21-25,
2016, in Las Vegas. At this show, Avnet will also demonstrate the SPICA
Technologies smart cities IoT solution.
Avnet at 2016 IBM PartnerWorld Leadership Conference
Avnet is an Ambassador-level sponsor of this year’s IBM
PartnerWorld Leadership Conference at the Hilton Bonnet Creek hotel
in Orlando, Fla., February 15-18. At this event, Avnet and IBM will also
be celebrating their 30th anniversary of working together.
Avnet and IBM have collaborated closely over the past three decades,
helping business partners to grow in more than 40 countries around the
world.
Additionally, Avnet presented “Digital Distribution” featuring Sergio
Farache, senior vice president of Avnet’s Solutions and Strategy
business unit in the Americas, at a breakout session during the
conference. This session provided details on how business partners can
leverage the Avnet
Cloud Marketplace to accelerate and simplify the delivery of IoT
“born in the cloud” solutions, IBM SaaS and Infrastructure-as-a-Service
(IaaS) offerings, third-party offerings and business partner
intellectual property to customers.
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proprietary interest in marks other than its own.
1 Source: IDC, Worldwide Internet of Things Forecast,
2015–2020, Doc#256397, May 2015
About Avnet, Inc.
From components to cloud and design to disposal, Avnet,
Inc. (NYSE: AVT)
accelerates the success of customers who build, sell and use technology
globally by providing them with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative
products, services and solutions. Avnet is a Fortune 500 company with
revenues of $27.9 billion for the fiscal year 2015. For more
information, visit www.avnet.com.
Brodeur Partners, for Avnet, Inc.
Marcia Chapman, +1-480-308-0284
mchapman@brodeur.com