Let’s begin with a definition. An IoT platform is the basis on which devices are interconnected and an ecosystem is generated. In other words, per Link-labs, it is a web integrated software that connects access points, hardware and data networks in an application that the user enjoys.
The market for IoT platforms is booming and continues to expand. As a matter of fact, surveys say that over 80% of business believe that the field of IoT is the most important thing for their business. Additionally, these platforms are necessary to solve the problems of middleware, which is considered the next frontier for IoT.
However, we have to keep in mind that not all platforms are IoT. In the next section, we’re going to examine the 4 criteria of “Iot Platforms“

• Connected Platforms/M2M: These platforms mainly focus on connectivity of devices through networks of telecommunications (e.g., SIM cards), but rarely in the processing and enrichment of the different data sets of sensors.
• Backends,IaaS: Infrastructure as a service backend that provides accommodation and processing power for applications and services. These backends are usually optimized for desktop applications and mobile, but IoT is now the focus.
• Software Platforms made for specific hardware: Some companies that sell devices have built their own backend. They like to refer to the backend as an IoT platform. Given that platform is more open to anyone in the market it is contentious whether it should be called an IoT platform.
• Extensions/ software for business use: Existing business software packages and operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 10 are enabling increased integration of IoT devices. Currently, these extensions are often not advanced enough to be classified as a full IoT platform, but may soon get there.

What are the qualities of an IoT platform?

At this point there are two ways to think about it.  a high-level view: an IoT platform can consist of a platform of software, an application development platform and a platform of analysis and a more detailed view a true platform Iot consists of 8 major blocks. These are:

1. Connectivity and standardization: with different protocols and different formats of data in an interface, «software» guarantees the accurate transmission of data and interaction with all devices.
2. Device management: ensures that all the connected «things» are functioning properly.
3. Database: scalable data storage device based on the cloud
4. Processing and stock management: provides data based action rules that permit the execution of actions based on the sensor-specific data.
5. Analytics: it carries out a series of complex analysis of basic data and machine learning group.
6. Display: allows humans to observe trends of dashboards for data visualization, which is vividly portrayed through graphics.
7. Additional tools: IoT enables developers of prototypes to test, commercialize, visualize, manage and control the connected devices.
8. External interfaces: integrate with third party systems and the rest of the width IT ecosystems through a function of programming interfaces (API), development of software (SDK) applications, and gateways.

Why is an IoT platform necessary?

Currently the Internet of Things represents a complex world where there is far to go. With the constant innovation that this system is under, who knows what the future holds!