How Member Companies Can Collaborate
The Consortium of IoT in Manufacturing unites leading companies to deliver advanced, scalable IoT technologies for manufacturing, driving innovation and efficiency.
Collaborating in IoT Ecosystems
Working together offers significant advantages in developing innovative IoT solutions that transform the manufacturing industry. By combining the strengths and expertise of multiple companies, the Consortium of IoT in Manufacturing creates scalable, interoperable technologies that drive operational efficiency, reduce costs, and foster continuous innovation. This collaborative approach allows us to deliver high-quality, tailored solutions that address the specific needs of manufacturers across North America. Through joint marketing, sales strategies, and resource sharing, we enhance our collective reach and impact, ensuring that our IoT technologies make a difference in the manufacturing world. With a strong focus on B2B growth and technology development, we work closely with our partners to support them, optimize customer experiences, and deliver integrated solutions that drive success for everyone involved. Our shared commitment to providing seamless IoT technologies ensures that each member can thrive while contributing to the growth and success of the larger industry ecosystem.
Key Areas of Collaboration
The Consortium of IoT in Manufacturing fosters collaboration between member organizations to drive technological advancements, improve operational efficiency, and create scalable IoT solutions in manufacturing. Here’s how our members can work together to achieve collective success
Collaboration on Marketing & Sales
- Joint Market Segmentation and Targeting
Define shared market verticals (e.g., automotive, food & beverage, aerospace) and target customer personas for consortium-wide sales campaigns.
- Unified Customer Messaging and Positioning
Craft consistent value propositions and messaging frameworks that reflect the benefits of interoperable solutions across the consortium.
- Content Co-Creation and Distribution
Collaborate on producing blogs, webinars, solution briefs, and explainer videos that highlight member synergies and success stories.
- Joint Participation in Trade Fairs and Industry Exhibitions
Share booth space, demonstration areas, and lead generation tools at major industrial events to amplify collective presence.
Joint Sales Strategy
- Establish Consortium Sales Task Forces
Form cross-company sales teams to pursue joint opportunities and large-scale deployments where multiple member solutions are involved.
- Create a Shared CRM and Lead Management Workflow
Use a common CRM framework to manage joint leads, track sales cycles, and ensure transparency across collaborative sales engagements.
- Develop Joint Partner Incentive Models
Introduce co-selling agreements and revenue-sharing models to encourage collaboration rather than competition among members.
- Offer Integrated Solution Bundles
Design plug-and-play solution bundles that are pre-validated and priced attractively to accelerate customer adoption.
Business Development & Go-to-Market Strategy
- Co-develop Modular IoT Solutions
Partner on bundled solutions that combine hardware, software, and services from multiple members, targeting common industry pain points (e.g., condition monitoring kits).
- Launch Joint Marketing and Branding Campaigns
Promote consortium-certified solutions through unified branding, trade show booths, and digital campaigns to build buyer trust.
- Create a Shared Marketplace or Product Catalog
Develop an online platform where consortium members can showcase and offer interoperable IoT tools, apps, and systems for manufacturing.
Customer Success & Support Alignment
- Unified Support Framework and SLAs
Provide joint support services with shared ticketing systems, escalation protocols, and Service-Level Agreements covering multi-vendor deployments.
- Collaborative Onboarding and Training Programs
Offer standardized onboarding guides and training sessions to ensure seamless implementation of consortium-based solutions.
- Customer Feedback & Voice of the Customer (VoC) Sharing
Pool post-sales insights and feedback to improve products and services across the consortium continuously.
- Joint User Communities and Customer Councils
Build shared communities where customers of member companies can collaborate, share use cases, and influence roadmap planning.
Strategic Alliances and Funding
- Apply for Joint Grants and Public Funding
Work together to apply for government funding (e.g., for Industry 4.0 initiatives, clean manufacturing, or cybersecurity) as a consortium.
- Establish Alliances with Academic & Research Institutions
Collaborate with universities and R&D labs to accelerate innovation and validate IoT solutions under scientific methods.
- Form Global Partnerships with Other IoT Alliances
Coordinate with international consortia (e.g., IIC, OPC Foundation, CSA) to align technologies, increase influence, and scale best practices globally.
Technology Standardization & Interoperability
- Develop Open IoT Protocol Standards
Work collectively to define or adopt standardized communication protocols (e.g., OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus) ensuring interoperability between devices, systems, and platforms from different vendors.
- Create IoT Data Models and APIs
Define unified data structures and RESTful APIs that simplify integration between sensors, edge devices, MES, ERP, and cloud analytics tools.
- Establish Cybersecurity Frameworks for Industrial IoT
Collaborate to adopt shared cybersecurity protocols, encryption methods, and patching mechanisms following IEC 62443 and NIST guidelines for industrial environments.
Joint Research & Innovation Projects
- Pilot Multi-Vendor Smart Factory Testbeds
Design and operate joint test facilities or sandboxes where member technologies are integrated and tested in real-world manufacturing scenarios.
- Collaborative R&D on Edge AI and Predictive Analytics
Develop shared AI models for predictive maintenance, quality assurance, and energy optimization using pooled datasets and expertise.
- Experiment with Digital Twin Platforms
Build and share digital twin frameworks that simulate production environments, allowing members to test equipment virtually before physical deployment.
Policy, Regulation & Certification Alignment
- Engage Regulators for IoT Policy Development
Work as a unified body to influence local, national, or international regulatory bodies regarding spectrum allocation, data privacy, and product certification.
- Create a Joint Certification Program
Define and manage a consortium-led certification for “Consortium Compliant IoT Devices” ensuring quality, safety, and compatibility among all member solutions.
- Maintain a Shared Regulatory Compliance Repository
Track and update members on relevant IoT regulations (e.g., FCC, CSA, ISO, NIST) to streamline product development and deployment compliance.
Shared Infrastructure & Resources
- Develop Common Edge & Cloud Infrastructure
Pool resources to create a shared edge/cloud platform that can support scalable IoT deployments for small and mid-sized manufacturers.
- Establish a Secure IoT Data Exchange
Enable anonymized sharing of operational datasets across companies to improve model training, benchmarking, and industry-level insights.
- Shared Sensor Libraries and Firmware Repositories
Maintain open libraries of firmware, drivers, and integration code for common sensors and actuators used across member solutions.
Education, Workforce Development & Outreach
- Conduct Cross-Training Programs for Engineers
Offer joint training initiatives on IoT technologies such as embedded systems, industrial cybersecurity, edge computing, and factory automation.
- Publish White Papers & Industry Reports
Collaborate on educational content, case studies, and research papers that demonstrate the impact of IoT in manufacturing.
- Host Joint Events, Hackathons, and Demonstrations
Organize consortium-wide events to showcase innovation, attract new talent, and engage manufacturers interested in digital transformation.
Contact the Consortium of IoT in Manufacturing today to explore support or partnership opportunities.
we can shape the future of industrial innovation.