Report Calls Microsoft Leading IoT Platform Provider

A new report from Navigant Research places Microsoft at the forefront of the Internet of Things (IoT) platform provider package, with AWS, PTC and IBM behind it.

A new report from Navigant Research places Microsoft at the forefront of the Internet of Things (IoT) platform provider package.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM and PTC are also labeled as "leaders". Navigant qualified suppliers with 10 criteria: vision, market strategy, partners, technology, geographical reach, sales and distribution, performance of solutions, product portfolio, prices, and staying in power.

Microsoft has spent the last few years developing its IoT experience, led by CEO Satya Nadella as part of the reorganization of mobile cloud technology.

Azure IoT Suite and Microsoft IoT Central offer a wide variety of products, such as IoT Hub, flow analysis, practical information and scalable cloud servers. This "all in one" package is what the providers of the IoT platform are looking for, since it covers all the client's needs, keeping them locked inside the platform.

Amazon, PTC and IBM are not far behind Microsoft, as seen in the graph (above). IBM and Amazon are close in execution and strategy, while PTC is on the edge of the leader category.

Other companies mentioned in this report include: Cisco, Oracle, HPE, GE, SAP, Siemens, ABB, Ayla Networks, OSIsoft and Schneider Electric, all in the contender category. Fujitsu is the only company mentioned, located in the category of challengers.

AWS continues to dominate the cloud computing market, but that leadership is beginning to shrink. Microsoft, Google, IBM and others are investing billions in the industry, which covers IoT, artificial intelligence and other new technologies.

In IoT specifically, AWS is struggling under pressure from Microsoft and IBM, according to Orbis Research. Both companies have invested heavily to ensure that the specific needs of the customers are met, while AWS has taken a more relaxed approach to the market.