PTC is rapidly positioning itself as a major player in the IoT marketplace, and two announcements this week are helping to solidify that stance, especially in the fog computing and data sectors.
On May 5, IoT data powerhouse PTC announced yet another expansion of its holdings with the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire ColdLight, a big data machine learning and predictive analytics firm, for about $105 million. PTC is most interested in ColdLight’s Neuron automated predictive analytics platform, which will allow PTC to expand its power in the growing predictive sector of big data in the IoT.
PTC already owns the ThingWorx platform, and when combined with that IoT development platform, ColdLight’s Neuron will allow customers to automate data analysis as information pours into cloud servers at the edge, allowing for faster response to changing conditions. Some of the advantages gained from such a system include: detecting failure patterns, modeling correlations, predicting failures, prescribing remedies and prioritizing recommendations against cost constraints. ColdLight’s Neuron platform addresses these challenges by using artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to automatically and continuously learn from data, discover patterns, build validated predictive models and send information to virtually any type of application or technology.
“Our business strategy has been centered on helping companies transform how they create, connect, operate and service products,” said Jim Heppelmann, President and CEO, PTC. “Sensor data by itself creates value, but that value is magnified dramatically when companies use predictive analytics to process that data into many forms of actionable knowledge that can transform the way they do business.”
Also on May 5, PTC released ThingWorx version 6.0, which adds data stores, storage SDK and security enhancements to the already robust platform.
“ThingWorx version 6.0 sets new standards in IoT scalability, security and platform extensibility,” said Russ Fadel, president, ThingWorx. “By combining the powerful federation capabilities of the ThingWorx platform and the new data storage engine, customers are able to implement geo-distribution of data allowing them to maximize availability, compliance with regulatory requirements, and performance.”
The new data store software development kit enables a pluggable model, so users can natively integrate new data stores to meet specific performance, scale, security and infrastructure requirements. In terms of security, this version has improved vulnerability protection, FIPS-140-2 compliance at the edge and improved certificate and encryption support.
PTC is shaping up to be a real big dog in the IoT, and not just at the edge.
If you're looking for more intel about how Big Data is growing to be the heart of the IoT and why you need to learn everything that you can about it, then consider attending the IoT Evolution Expo from August 17 to 20 at Caesars in Las Vegas.
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Edited by
Dominick Sorrentino
