Edge compute has matured from a niche concept to one of the core practices in IoT architectures. There are several reasons for this, some of which are purely technical. Putting compute, storage, and suitable networking where data is collected and needed reduces latency, cuts bandwidth demand, and limits reliance on cloud resources for processing. Some advantages of edge stem from legal issues such as data governance, security, and more recently, data sovereignty concerns. But whatever the reasons, processing data closer to instrumentation and machinery has particular value where digital and analogue reaction times are measured in tens of milliseconds or less.
The go-to example often quoted for edge deployment of technologies associated with IIoT is that of the attenuation and control of manufacturing lines. Here, quality inspection and autonomous machine control really need to be automated in 2026. And given the often massive investment facility operators have made in plant and machinery, another commonly-cited use is in preemptive maintenance. This in turn opens up many possibilities in virtualisation, where processes are modelled and experimented with in the form of digital twins.
But of course, the IoT sector is much more complex than those oft-quoted examples. To discover the depth and breadth of the industry, and really dig into the details of what’s happening in 2026, the opening of today’s IoT Tech Expo at Olympia in London is the place to see the all the moving parts of the IoT industry coming together. There are manufacturers of IIoT/IoT devices, networking specialists, software vendors and developers, consultants, and deployment engineers – all gathered in one place for two days.
What to expect to see
If we think about the current buzz around AI in the context of edge environments, we think of specialised technology supporting object detection and the use of AI on relatively low-powered devices. This facility alone can change the way enterprises think about compute located close to the point of production. Consultants and vendors at the show will speak and be on hand to advise on the best ways to reduce the time between prototyping such systems, and final operational deployment. Questions of model size (and therefore, the required computing power), computing overheads, and necessary engineering efforts, are the types of issue being discussed onstage and around the Olympia venue.
Among the show floor exhibitors is Edge Impulse, a company whose platform stretches from dataset creation, model training, and on-device inference, where devices range from microcontrollers to powerful, GPU-toting powerhouses. The company reflects the current market demand for flexible edge AI stacks, systems deploy-able without bespoke integration that’s often associated with different hardware types. That flexibility and plug-and-play ability matters in manufacturing and similar contexts, where OEM hardware varies from industry to industry, and where middleware choices and open standards can make or break an edge-based technology rollout.
There’s an increased need in the industrial sector to manage disparate fleets and to provide analytics locally, regardless of network conditions. Rexroth‘s presence at the event will give attendees insights into how it contributes automation and control ecosystems for factory automation. Under the ctrlX Automation brand, it’s a vendor that helps company’s bridge the gap between IT and OT systems, with edge-ready, industrial PCs and modular gateways. It allows companies to safely connect industrial control and attenuation systems with the latest in data analysis on the IT side.
What to expect to hear
Robust computing close to the plant floor was, just a decade ago, a recipe for unreliability and outages. But today’s hardware supports technologies like AI vision, control and middleware solutions. Edge devices interfacing with existing automation architectures can lift sensor and process data into actionable formats without the need for fast (and therefore expensive) connections to the cloud.
There’s an increased emphasis on open standards and integration in the industry. Being locked into a particular product range from a single supplier means organisations are, at least potentially, subject to limits on scalability or even choices in strategic direction. If platforms use industry-standard protocols and interoperable management tools, end-users’ options remain open. As epitomised by the open-source and free software movement, overall quality improves for everyone: More users of open standards mean more contributions and input from the industry’s real-world users. Everyone benefits, and no vendor lock-in keeps the market competitive and responsive.
Making connections
Connectivity partners represented at the event, such as Telit Cinterion and 1GLOBAL, provide that vital comms layer with drop-in, standardised wide area network linkages, routers, access points and repeaters. With options on show that range from BLE through to LoRaWAN, 4G to 6G+, Ethernet, SIM/eSIM-enabled devices and Wi-Fi 6/7, the data transmission and control layers are the subject of keynote speakers and on-floor discussions at the TechEx’s IoT Tech Expo.
Industrial edge compute, communications, IT/OT integration, and local data processing are integral parts of modern IIoT operations. The platforms, hardware, software, infrastructure and tools lower the barriers to effective edge deployments. With AI and robust, local processing, today’s vendors and platforms are changing the shape of the IIoT sector. Learn more, listen and join in today and tomorrow at the IoT Tech Expo, Olympia, London.
