bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Iris Deng

Shoppers grab grocery items from store shelves and the charges are automatically debited to their payment accounts as they walk out. An aeroplane engine component sends an alert to the technician when it requires maintenance. Machines on production lines provide real-time data to identify unused capacity in the factory.
These applications of technology are all made possible with the industrial internet, a connected network of machines, data and humans. Here’s what you need to know about it.
What is the industrial internet?
The term “industrial internet” was coined by US conglomerate General Electric (GE) in late 2012 to describe the network of industrial devices connected by sensors and communications tools that enables intelligent machines to “talk” to each other, and better monitor, collect, communicate and analyse data.
It links together three key elements – intelligent machines, advanced analytics, and people at work – to achieve higher levels of efficiency, productivity, and performance through the internet-of-Things (IoT).
China broadens the boundaries of the concept from industrial companies to all trades, including retailers and service providers.
Traditional businesses and their value chains can leverage new technologies including artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing for the whole product life cycle from financing, research and development, production, transactions, and delivery of the end result to consumers.
Why is it important?
The industrial internet is a powerful enabler of productivity. For instance, a 1 per cent improvement in fuel costs in the aviation industry could yield savings of US$30 billion over 15 years. Similarly, in the global health care sector, a 1 per cent reduction in system inefficiency could yield US$63 billion in savings, according to a research by GE.
GE estimates that the technical innovations of the industrial internet could find direct application in sectors accounting for more than US$32.3 trillion in economic activity. As the global economy grows, the potential application of the industrial internet will expand as well. By 2025 it could be applicable to US$82 trillion worth of output, or approximately half the global economy.
China, which has been the world’s manufacturing powerhouse for the past few decades, is determined to use AI – and the industrial internet – to upgrade its manufacturing base to gain leadership in what has been dubbed the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
China’s aviation industry has a steep climb to ‘Made in China 2025’ goals
The Chinese government announced the Made in China 2025 strategic plan in 2015, aiming to modernise the country’s industries – including robotics, aerospace, new materials and new energy vehicles – and replacing imports with local products to build global champions able to take on the Western tech giants in cutting-edge technology by 2025.
Another important national strategy was Internet Plus, announced in the same year, to integrate the mobile internet, cloud computing, big data and IoT with modern manufacturing. In 2016 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced the integration of the two initiatives, aiming to boost the progress of Made in China 2025 through the help of the industrial internet.
Which Chinese and global tech companies are investing in the industrial internet?
Major internet companies as well as traditional industries across the world are joining hands in the industrial internet realm.
Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings recently announced a major strategic upgrade to embrace the industrial internet over the next two decades, seeing its role as an enabler to help the retail, medical, education and manufacturing sectors in their integration of the internet.
For example, the company recently established a 1.2 billion yuan (US$174 million) joint venture with supermarket chain operators ParknShop and Yonghui Superstores in its latest effort to enhance and digitise the retail business through its social media and mobile payment solutions.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group co-founder and executive chairman Jack Ma Yun in September set out his vision for New Manufacturing, which involves integrating the internet, big data, AI, cloud computing and the internet of things into the manufacturing process.
In September Alibaba announced the establishment of a new semiconductor company Pingtou Ge following the acquisition of Hangzhou C-Sky Microsystems, a Chinese chip designer.
Alibaba’s e-commerce rival JD.com is also investing heavily in digitising and automating its logistics business and expanding its reach into the offline retail sector with the launch of 7 Fresh, a chain of hi-tech “new retail” supermarkets.


China’s biggest search engine operator Baidu participates in the industrial internet with its AI capabilities. Its DuerOS, an AI operating system, was activated on 141 million smart devices as of the end of September, and Apollo, the open-source autonomous driving platform, is being used by traditional carmakers and 130 partners in the automotive ecosystem.
Amazon is one of the global tech companies leading the transformation of industries. The e-commerce and cloud computing company has entered the health care space, joining hands with J.P. Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway in a partnership to cut health costs and improve services for employees, in a move seen as disruptive to the current system. The company’s cloud service, AWS, has also been operating as the digital platform for the connected machines.
Microsoft is also offering itself as a solution provider for factories wanting to connect with its cloud computing service Azure for data analytics. Microsoft and GE recently expanded their partnership in the integration of GE’s software platform for industrial machines with Microsoft’s Azure.
What are the challenges in fully realising the industrial internet?
The industrial internet starts with embedding sensors and other advanced devices in machines – from the simple to the highly complex. The number of global IoT devices, including consumer and enterprise, is expected to reach 7 billion this year and grow to 22 billion by 2025, according to IOT Analytics, a Hamburg-based research group. Companies, as they realise the benefits of the connectivity, will face a steep learning curve.
“Initially, leaders viewed the IoT as a silver bullet, a technology that can solve the myriad IT and business problems that their organisations faced. Very quickly, though, they recognised that without the proper framing of the problems, the IoT was essentially a solution looking for a problem,” Mark Hung, vice-president of Gartner Research, said in a report last year.
Security is a major concern for industries connecting their machines to the internet. In late 2016 hackers exploited the security weaknesses of thousands of IoT devices and launched major distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks that brought down much of America’s internet including sites like Twitter, Netflix, Reddit, CNN and many others in Europe.
One third of IT companies cite security as a top barrier to IoT success, a Gartner survey revealed in 2016. By 2020, more than 25 per cent of identified attacks on enterprises will involve the IoT, although the IoT will account for less than 10 per cent of IT security budgets, according to Gartner.


A marriage of machines, data and humans – the industrial internet explained

An employee adjusts a titanium alloy aircraft engine fan disc before inspection at the Rolls-Royce North America factory. Using the industrial internet, an aeroplane engine component could send an alert to the technician when it requires maintenance. Photo: Bloomberg

Tech

Innovation

Big Tech

Science & Research


Technical innovations of the industrial internet could find direct application in sectors accounting for more than US$32.3 trillion in economic activity
The number of global IoT devices is expected to reach 7 billion this year and grow to 22 billion by 2025



Technical innovations of the industrial internet could find direct application in sectors accounting for more than US$32.3 trillion in economic activity


Internet

A marriage of machines, data and humans – the industrial internet explained

Technical innovations of the industrial internet could find direct application in sectors accounting for more than US$32.3 trillion in economic activity The number of global IoT devices is expected to reach 7 billion this year and grow to 22 billion by 2025

Technical innovations of the industrial internet could find direct application in sectors accounting for more than US$32.3 trillion in economic activity

The number of global IoT devices is expected to reach 7 billion this year and grow to 22 billion by 2025