Industrial IoT (Internet of Things) has fundamentally transformed the global economy over the past three decades, driving significant advances in manufacturing and supply chain efficiency through breakthroughs in connected programmable logic controllers (PLCs), radio frequency identification (RFID), and sensor technologies. Until recently, worker safety was often a secondary consideration, with progress limited to a handful of isolated, point-specific solutions that developed slowly and unevenly; however, the tide appears to be turning.
Innovations in data collection, cloud computing, and AI enable a step-change for infield capabilities, including real-time monitoring, asset tracking and optimization, and worker analytics. This shift is most apparent in the portable gas detection market, where companies are delivering enhanced safety outcomes against a high bar of stringent regulatory requirements.
Based on industry commentary and recent financial results from the portable gas OEMs, our research analysts believe connected worker technology has reached an inflection point in the portable gas detection market, positioning it to capitalize on a first-mover advantage in the broader push toward a fully connected worker ecosystem.
In this report by Ross Sparenblek, William Blair’s industrial research analyst, we analyze the current portable gas detection hardware and software markets, trace the evolution of connected worker technology within this sector, highlight the benefits of connectivity for worker safety applications, and assess the implications of accelerated adoption.
For more information about our industrials research, please contact us or your William Blair representative.