The Economics of IIoT - Britt Antley - Wika

Britt Antley, Industrial IoT specialist at WIKA and former Chevron operator, talks about what actually drives adoption of IIoT in the real world—and why the shift from control systems to monitoring is one of the most important changes happening in industrial environments today.With nearly two decades at Chevron, Britt brings a grounded perspective on how large-scale operations think about technology. He explains how his work evolved from traditional IT and process control into industrial IoT, and why LoRaWAN-style deployments fundamentally change the equation. Instead of months-long installs and expensive hardwired sensors, companies can now deploy low-cost devices in minutes, dramatically lowering the barrier to entry for instrumentation.The conversation explores how IIoT creates value beyond simple cost savings, especially in brownfield environments where the goal is to “put eyes” on systems that were previously manual. From monitoring tank levels to reducing unnecessary operator rounds, Britt breaks down how better visibility leads to improved efficiency, safety, and decision-making.Britt also shares how he approaches new customer environments—starting with understanding operations, identifying manual processes, and uncovering high-impact opportunities for instrumentation. The discussion highlights a key insight: many systems don’t need high-frequency control, just reliable, periodic data.The episode closes with a deep dive into WIKA’s Sentinel sensor, including how combining vibration and ultrasound enables earlier detection of equipment failures and extends predictive maintenance timelines from weeks to months.Britt on LinkedInWIKA