1. Exposure
The process starts at 'Exposure'. Here, businesses see the potential for IIoT's benefits but are unsure where to start. They gain more knowledge, even if views vary across stakeholders. While immediate action isn't common, there's interest in IIoT's potential. Concerns about security and return on investment might limit excitement and progress, as can a lack of alignment among stakeholders.

2. Evaluate
In the 'Evaluate' phase, businesses move from learning and understanding to acting. They begin planning and validating ideas. Often businesses start with a Proof of Value (PoV) to see how IIoT solves specific business problems, with an eye to how this can scale out. Stakeholders begin to align around specific use cases and benefits to the business.

3. Adopt
At 'Adopt', businesses have a stronger shared vision of IIoT across stakeholders, often driven by medium-term business objectives. They use IIoT more, based on the success of their PoV results. They start to think about the wider IIoT context within the business and begin to address any skill gaps. This enables them to start generating returns on investment in IIoT.

4. Scale
'Scale' means moving from limited use to company-wide use of IIoT. Businesses start using data lakes for storage of IIoT and wider business data and use analytics to gain wider business insight delivering greater outcomes. They own solutions more, rather than relying on vendors. There's often a focus on Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE) methods, and establishing proven patterns and tools throughout the business.

5. Automate
In 'Automate', businesses use IIoT to its fullest, and businesses become data driven decision makers. They use their CCoE more and make driving innovation key to success. Data lakes solve bigger challenges, and automation becomes the norm, supported by cloud-first principles.