Earlier this month, our team at Kaizen went to the IoT Tech Expo at Santa Clara. It brought together the best of AI, data, and connectivity under one roof at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Held on June 4–5, the event attracted thousands of tech leaders, engineers, and innovators for two high-energy days filled with tech showcases, networking, and practical insights.
The expo served as a vivid reminder: IoT isn’t just an industry buzzword anymore. It’s a complex, fast-evolving ecosystem with real-world impact.
Exploring the Connected Tech Landscape
Walking the expo floor felt like stepping into a map of the modern IoT stack. Across hundreds of booths, a few themes consistently stood out:
- Hardware advancements — from sophisticated sensors to next-gen edge devices and gateways
- Firmware evolution — the behind-the-scenes code ensuring reliable operations
- Connectivity breakthroughs — including strong showings from 5G, LoRaWAN, and custom networking solutions
- Platform maturity — with data processing, visualization, and cybersecurity tools taking center stage
IoT is maturing — not just in terms of technology, but in how it connects to business strategy and measurable outcomes.
Industry 4.0: Practical Use Cases, Real Results
One of the most insightful tracks focused on Industrial IoT (IIoT)and smart manufacturing, where automation and data-led decision-making are no longer optional — they’re foundational.
How PepsiCo Improved Packaging with IoT + AI
In a standout session, Prashanth Srinivasan, Head of Architecture at PepsiCo, shared how their facility in Vallejo, Mexico achieved a 7% increase in chip packaging throughput. The key? Seamlessly integrating IoT with AI to optimize operations.
Despite the technical depth of the session, the big idea was simple: pairing real-time data with intelligent analysis pays off in tangible performance improvements.
Building Scalable IoT Systems with Modularity
Tom Clements, VP of Sales, emphasized the importance of modular architecture in his talk on powering the connected world.
Here were his main insights:
- Modular beats monolithic — Like a Lego set, systems should be easy to extend or reconfigure
- Data must be timely — If you can’t detect issues in real time, you can’t fix them fast enough
- Identity management is critical — Security starts at the edge, not just in the cloud
- Global observability matters — Knowing what failed and where makes a huge difference in resolution time
This modular mindset is essential for companies looking to scale or adapt quickly in fast-changing markets.
AI and IoT: More Than Just a Buzzword
Another highlight came from a session led by Sudha Jamthe (Business School of AI) and Martin Whitlock, CTO at Telenor IoT. Together, they unpacked what happens when artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things converge — known as AIoT.
Their core message?
“IoT gathers the data. AI makes it meaningful. The combination fuels everything from predictive maintenance to autonomous systems.”
This synergy is transforming industries — from logistics and energy to agriculture and beyond.
Conclusion
IoT Tech Expo 2025 didn’t just showcase exciting tech — it demonstrated how IoT and AI are delivering real business value right now. For anyone still thinking of these technologies as “emerging,” this event made it clear: the future has arrived.
And it’s modular, intelligent, and already solving big problems.