Client Overview:

Our client is a prominent industry leader providing comprehensive solutions for controlled dispensing equipment, vending machines, cashless systems, software, and wireless communications. With a focus on innovation, they serve a wide range of customers in the manufacturing sector.

Objective:

   The client aimed to develop an IoT-based data aggregation platform that would enable effective asset and inventory management for their dispensing equipment, vending machines, and cashless systems. The goal was to analyze, monitor, and manage these devices through a centralized platform.

Challenges:

Lack of Centralized Platform: There was a lack of a centralized real-time data aggregator platform to manage multiple devices efficiently. This led to data fragmentation and limited visibility.
Scalability and Support: The existing infrastructure was not equipped to handle multiple customers and non-connected assets while managing a vast amount of data and concurrent users effectively.
Online and Offline Transactions: Managing online and offline transactions posed difficulties, as it required seamless synchronization between the devices and a cloud-based infrastructure.
Process:

Centralized IIoT Platform: A centralized IIoT platform was designed and implemented to support multiple device types and gather real-time data from various sources. This platform acted as a centralized hub for managing devices, collecting data, and performing analytics.
Robust Cloud Infrastructure: The platform was built on a robust cloud-based infrastructure to handle online and offline transactions seamlessly. This infrastructure ensured scalability, high availability, and secure data storage.
Key Features Implementation: Several key features were implemented to enhance functionality and user experience. These included device management, locker facility, admin portals, user registration, machine management/transaction, consolidated reports, and event triggering.
Mobile Vending App: A mobile vending app was developed to provide an online-to-offline environment for end-users to interact with connected vending machines. The app included features such as employee authentication, hierarchy selection, POG (Planograms) view, multi-dispense, check-in/check-out, and transaction logs.
Business Benefits:

Efficient Device Management: The client could effectively manage multiple devices and monitor real-time data on a centralized IIoT platform. This streamlined asset and inventory management processes.
Scalability and Customer Support: The platform supported multiple customers and devices, accommodating a large volume of concurrent users and data. This scalability allowed the client to expand their customer base and cater to diverse requirements.
Advanced Features: The platform incorporated various features such as virtual tracking reports, customized lockers with robust security, third-party integrations, product alerts, and more. These features enabled smooth and connected asset management, enhancing operational efficiency.
Real-Time Monitoring and Efficiency: The centralized data management facilitated real-time monitoring of devices, enabling prompt decision-making and increased operational efficiency. This resulted in reduced costs and improved productivity.
Robust Security: The platform ensured robust security measures to protect sensitive data, mitigating risks associated with asset management. This instilled confidence in customers and enhanced the overall security posture of the client's operations.
Tech Stack:

ASP.NET Core MVC (Web App): The web application framework was used to build the platform's frontend, providing a user-friendly interface for administrators and users.
ASP.NET Core (Web API): The Web API was utilized to develop the platform's backend, enabling seamless communication and data exchange between the frontend and database.
React (VT Application): React was employed to develop the mobile vending app, delivering a dynamic and responsive user experience.
Databases: SQL Server and MongoDB were chosen as databases to handle structured and unstructured data, respectively. SQL Server facilitated efficient storage and retrieval of transactional data, while MongoDB provided flexibility for storing IoT-generated data.
Cloud: AWS (Amazon Web Services) served as the cloud platform, offering scalable infrastructure, data storage, and security services.