We present various approaches to providing an API as part of an IoT product and discuss certain business models for monetizing it. Centaur Technologies develops and markets end-to-end solutions for the Internet of Things, focused on the Industrial and Enterprise sectors.

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Centaur Technologies
Connecting you to the Industrial Internet
September 2015

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About us
Strong team
• embedded hardware
• web/mobile apps
• chip design
• stored product protection
IoT solutions
in confined spaces
(‘to boldly go where
no sensor has gone
before!’)
- food safety
- connected logistics

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IoT service model
++
• Cloud application
• Remote access
• Analytics
• Subscription
• Value-added
services
• Pay-per-use
• Wireless sensor
hardware
• Installed at
customer site
• FREE

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Sensors'
inside'
container'
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Centaurtek
cloud server
API
Gateway
(fog) server

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Why an API?
the pragmatic view
• Modular design
• One database, multiple apps
• API hooks for testability
• Access control and security
example: GET /api/facilities?select=name,description,address&sort=name
returns a JSON object with names, locations, floorplans etc. of facilities
with sensors reporting to the Centaur Tech cloud…

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Show me your API…
the strategic view
• Bring others to your service
• Enable customers to customize your product
• Lock-in effects!

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To API or not?
the egocentric view
• Read, but not write access to database (i.e.
only the R in CRUD!)
• Sparse documentation
• Proprietary vs. open standard semantics

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The right stuff
the win-win view
• Bidirectional APIs
• Adopt/foster standards (e.g. iotdb.org)
• Develop your API like you mean it!
• Growth tool, but to monetize you need to
foster the apps that use it…

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Business models
• Free (e.g. Facebook)
• Freemium / Tiered (e.g. Mailchimp, Google
Maps - most SaaS)
• Transactional (e.g. Paypal, Stripe)
• Affiliate (e.g. Adsense, Expedia)

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Specific to IoT
• Free (sell the hardware, give away the API)
• Freemium / Tiered (monetize cloud IaaS,
analytics, apps)
• Transactional (microtransactions, Bitcoin)
• Affiliate (smart cities?)

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Thank you! Centaur Technologies
Contact
info@centaurtek.com