How the Data Provided by IIoT Are Utilized in Enterprise Resource Planning: A Multiple-Case Study of Three Change Projects

Abstract

An extreme increase in data production has taken place over the past few decades with a large number of sensor and smart devices acquired from distributed data sources. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) enables seamless processing of information by integrating physical and digital world devices that can be used ubiquitously. This multiple-case study analyzes how the data generated by the IIoT benefit enterprise resource planning. In the analyzed cases, IIoT has been produced using and integrating various digital services and software in the enterprise. Data produced by IIoT might be raw data or pre-analyzed by the IIoT service provider according to the enterprise’s needs. Services based on IIoT solutions ensure competitiveness within the enterprise since IIoT is flexible and easy to apply on future demands. IIoT generates increased amount of data and enterprises can utilize it to provide significant benefits to their operations. The cross-case conclusions emphasize that improving operational processes with data does not provide maximal benefit to the enterprise. Data-driven procedure and the entire change project (digital transformation) together with new procedures will provide most benefits to the enterprise.