Data analytics start with smart instruments
Pending developments of industrial ethernet protocols will allow improved techniques
![two-wire, four-wire, data analytics, IIoT ecosystem, IIoT two-wire instruments to connect using the EtherNet/IP or PROFINET protocol](/__image/a/8625498/k/2ddac19ea0d346992d37625c940eeee0fe1601f6/ar/2-1/w/1024/t/jpg/b/ffffff/n/true/fn/Figure%204%20EIP.jpg)
Smart instruments are a vital component for process owners to implement IIoT strategies. However, users can only realize the full value of these devices and the subsequent potential of IIoT analytics when their systems can quickly and easily access the growing amount of available data. Industrial Ethernet enables this digital transformation by providing simple and fast access to the required real-time instrument and process data.
Modern and improved techniques
Today, four-wire instruments can easily connect to industrial Ethernet networks, and traditional two-wire instruments can be integrated with gateways. In the future, two-wire instruments will be able to connect more directly as a result of Ethernet-APL and IEEE802.3cg (draft). This will enable improved operations through the use of analytics applied to data gathered using industrial Ethernet networks.