NEC Australia joins Microsoft IoT program

NEC Australia has signed on as a strategic partner to Microsoft’s Azure IoT program.

Under the partnership, the companies will co-develop Internet of Things products and services for clients in verticals including manufacturing, retail, health and transport.

The offerings will be based on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform and Azure IoT suite, including the cloud gateway service Azure IoT Hub.

NEC Australia will be using the suite to develop systems tailored for areas including public safety, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance.

NEC has already developed IoT systems based on the suite including a remote patient safety platform, as well as a system for the manufacturing industry designed to use facial recognitions to trigger actions such as asset management and visitor arrival alerts.

“Companies like NEC are reaping the benefits of the endless possibilities being offered by this new technology. They are envisaging solutions and creating products that solve problems that some customers aren’t even aware that they have,” Microsoft Australia IoT Lead Lee Hickin said.

“IoT opens up customer scenarios that offer exponential benefits to organisations, and the companies that understand that potential are gaining a distinct commercial advantage.”

Image courtesy of Mike Mozart under CC