Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesIndustrial IoT

Breaking through ‘Pilot Purgatory’ in Innovating New Solutions

Pilot purgatory refers to innovative projects that stall in the planning phase without scaling. Jason Claybrook and guests discuss questions driving technology forward and why some projects fail to become commercially viable, citing IoT devices as an example.

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Industrial IoT teams put it to work with AI Visibility (GEO).

By Jason Claybrook · Information TechnologyInfrastructureItIt Infrastructure
Share
Breaking through ‘Pilot Purgatory’ in Innovating New Solutions

Key takeaways

01

Pilot purgatory refers to projects that remain in initial stages without scaling.

02

Innovative solutions should be feasible, repeatable, and scalable to be successful.

03

Identifying personal challenges can lead to growth and problem-solving for businesses.

Get featured

Want MarketScale to feature Industrial IoT?

Book a 15-minute demo and we'll map your Industrial IoT expertise to the content buyers are searching for.

Book a demo

On There’s More to IT, host Jason Claybrook and guests will explore some foundational questions about the technology that’s driving us all forward.

Why do we build the stuff we build? What’s behind the scenes? Where are we falling short or putting revenue first?

The days of post-trade show drinks and conversation are far from over. In fact, they live right here on There’s More to IT.

On There’s More to IT, hosts Jason Claybrook, Simon Lok and Reid Estreicher explore the foundational questions about the technology that’s driving us all forward.

Why do we build the stuff we build? What’s behind the scenes? Where are we falling short or putting revenue first?

On this episode, the trio dove into the relationship between personal challenges and growth and the solutions that often present themselves to challenges companies of all sizes face.

For example, Estriecher brought up the concept of “pilot purgatory,” which refers to efforts to solve a problem for the market that result in a fantastic concept, but ultimately never exit that initial planning stage.

For example, consider IoT devices. There’s no opposition to the idea that it’s poised to change connectivity forever, but what’s the best way to go about developing solutions that are scalable, repeatable and feasible?

“You can always convince a few people to take a look,” Lok said. “There will always be a few people who can see the benefit over the things that are going wrong. … That’s how you end up in what [Estriecher] is describing.

“But if I want to go and actually turn this into a commercially viable product, those people are not enough.”

Listen to Previous Episodes of There’s More to IT!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale

Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Industrial IoT starts with a company putting its controls engineers, plant-floor specialists, and integration partners on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Plant and controls buyers research deep before contact, and your engineers get to shape that research.

Get your team featuredSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

About the author

JC
Jason Claybrook

Follow Industrial IoT Insights

Get new expert content in your inbox.

Industrial IoT: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Industrial IoT buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one Industrial IoT expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your controls engineers, plant-floor specialists, and integration partners into the articles, video, and social content Industrial IoT buyers are searching for. Create a free workspace and see it with your own people. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Industrial IoT Insights

The importance of Data in a Conveyorized Finishing System

The importance of Data in a Conveyorized Finishing System

In conveyorized finishing systems, large volumes of data are generated during production shifts. Key data points include paint batches, carrier timestamps, load bar launches, and line speeds. Capturing and analyzing this data can optimize operations and prevent information loss.

  • 01Conveyorized finishing systems generate significant amounts of data during operations.
  • 02Analyzing data from production shifts can help optimize conveyor operations.
  • 03Preventing data loss in conveyorized systems is crucial for maintaining efficiency.

Aug 12, 2026

Mariana Minerals raises $310 million and bets autonomous trucks can make stranded copper mines viable

Mariana Minerals raises $310 million and bets autonomous trucks can make stranded copper mines viable

Mariana Minerals has raised $310 million to advance the use of autonomous trucks in mining operations, aiming to make previously inaccessible copper mines viable. The funding highlights the growing interest in industrial automation and domestic copper recycling. The initiative seeks to capitalize on critical minerals and robotics advancements.

  • 01Mariana Minerals secured $310 million to develop autonomous trucks for mining.
  • 02The investment aims to unlock inaccessible copper mines and boost domestic copper recycling.
  • 03Industrial automation and robotics are becoming increasingly important in the mining industry.

Aug 12, 2026

Emerson, FOBA, and Mitsubishi Electric signal a new wave of purpose-built industrial AI deployments

Emerson, FOBA, and Mitsubishi Electric signal a new wave of purpose-built industrial AI deployments

Emerson, FOBA, and Mitsubishi Electric are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their automation hardware, signaling a new trend in industrial AI applications. This includes embedding AI for functions such as fault detection and enhancements in laser workstations and IT cooling systems. These developments reflect an ongoing shift towards more sophisticated and purpose-built industrial automation solutions.

  • 01Manufacturers are integrating AI directly into automation hardware for enhanced functionality.
  • 02AI applications include fault-detection, laser workstation improvements, and IT cooling optimization.
  • 03The industry is advancing towards more specialized and efficient AI-driven automation solutions.

Aug 9, 2026

Explore More Industrial IoT Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Industrial IoT.

Browse Industrial IoT Hub

About the Experts

JC
Jason Claybrook

Host, There’s More to IT

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Industrial IoT and beyond.

Book a 15-minute demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512