This SA startup wants to open up IoT to local businesses

If you’re a regular reader of the Burn Media suite of sites, you’ll be up to speed on all the latest developments in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. But the truth is, many businesses are simply unaware of how big an impact this array of technologies could have on their operations.

One company hoping to change that is a Pretoria-based startup called IoT.nxt.

Helmed by former Pinnacle Africa Gauteng MD Nico Steyn, the company has built an IoT solution which it says will unlock serious cost savings and create real efficiencies within corporates.

“Our innovation offers companies a consolidated view of their entire IoT ecosystem, allows them to input all documented business processes into one workflow application, detect all devices on a network and dynamically capture their IP and MAC addresses,”says Steyn. “We have already implemented the solution at a large scale abattoir delivering products for Woolworths and are in the final stages of introducing this at a well-known wine estate in the Western Cape”.

According to a press release sent to Ventureburn, the solution allows any device, application, sensor, machine and also people on any network using any operating system to connect and interact.

A business could, for instance, have Siemens air conditioners, Chubb lifts, mostly Apple computers but a few Dells in-between, an alarm system by ADT and conveyer belts by Truco and manage them all on a single platform.

That kind of business focus sets IoT.nxt apart from a number of South African startups in the IoT space, many of which are focused on retailer or consumer solutions. It also gives it an edge on the big corporates who deliver IoT solutions in the business space and have preferred partners.

“The platform is completely technology agnostic which allows a company to leverage off existing investments in systems and devices installed,” Steyn says.

The startup has also developed a device known as the Raptor, which allows companies to more easily manage their IoT ecoststems. The Raptor allows migration of analogue devices and inputs into a digital platform. It serves as a filter for big data and delivers cost savings and efficiencies to the client’s IoT ecosystem. Raptor apparently also functions as a translation tool that aides communication between less sophisticated devices over an IP network.

“The biggest breakthrough we developed was creating a solution that allows any device, application, sensor, machine and also people on any network using any operating system to connect and interact. The platform is completely technology agnostic which allows a company to leverage off existing investments in systems and devices installed,” Steyn says.