Selection of IoT Platform with Multi-Criteria Analysis: Defining Criteria and Experts to Interview

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is having a great impact in all industries. Thisis not a unique product, but is composed of several technologies. IoTis a key intelligent factor that allows factories to act intelligently. Byadding sensors and actuators to the objects, the object becomes intelli-gent because it can interact with people, other objects, generate data,generate transactions and react to the environment data. Currently thereare very varied implementation options offered by several companies, andthis imposes a new challenge to companies that want to implement IoT intheir processes. The decision processes that companies must follow shouldnot be free will or by hunches, since this contradicts a methodologyand would make the decision process unrepeatable and unjustifiable.Decisions must be supported by methods that consider pros and cons ofplural points of view that affect the decision process. With a wide range ofIoT platforms, which are not directly comparable to each other, it seemsthat Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) can be useful to helpcompanies make a decision on what platform to implement, dependingon the circumstances prevailing in each company at the time to makethe choice. This article shows the complexity of selecting an IoT platformand provides the key decision criteria that must be taken into accountwhen evaluating IoT Platforms alternatives.