Bryea Technology: An Interview With Shuo Wang, Vice-President

October 2021

By Catherine Saez, WIPO

WIPO: Could you give an overview of Bryea Technology?

Bryea Technology was founded in 2008 by Mr. Xun Xiao. We are a leading industry big data solution provider in China. We provide software and hardware integration solutions around the internet of things and big data based on edge computing and agile data middle platforms. We can help customers migrate to computerized systems and intelligence quickly to increase their efficiency. We have almost 100 employees, and 70 percent of them are working on research and development.

WIPO: Can you give some examples of products you offer to your customers?

Our most important products are edge computing and middle platforms. Edge computing relates to the fact that information-processing is based close to where the data is collected and used, rather than having data stored and centralized in the cloud. Cloud computing generates high costs, and uses a lot of bandwidth, leading to long responses for data feedback. For example, most of the cars that we drive today are full of sensors, cameras, and processors. They collect many kinds of data all around the car, and automobile manufacturers, like Tesla, use this data to build autopilot features and full self-driving capabilities. In the case of an imminent risk of collision, the car would automatically use the break. If all data collected is sent to the cloud center, and the reaction of the car depends on the cloud center feedback, the reaction time would be too long for the car to act appropriately, putting lives in danger. This is why edge computing is very important. Edge computing allows leaving all computing functions inside the car. All information is processed in the car, and decisions can be made immediately.

The middle platform sits between, and uses both front-end and back-end platforms. Back-end platforms are made of hardware, like servers, computers, and hard drives. The front-end refers to the applications we are using, for example, when we are shopping on eBay or some other platforms. Buying, selling, or just browsing is using the same kind of data, which is collected and stored in the “data lake”, in the middle of the business system. We use this data for different kinds of applications but we do not need to build a data lake for each application. The middle platform allows all applications to use only the data they need, increasing efficiency and lowering the response time and costs.

WIPO: Who are your customers?

Our main customers include factories, power plants, and gas stations. Some years back, many factories were not computerized. Edge computing and middle platforms changed the business model, leading to a data-driven business model where everything is based on data. Data is used to diagnose problems, make decisions and solve problems. Today we are not in a time where there is a lack of data, rather a data overload, and we have to sort out and filter the data that are useful for our purpose.

WIPO: Does your company use artificial intelligence?

We are not an artificial intelligence company but like any artificial intelligence company, our business and applications rely on data to automatize decisions. However, artificial intelligence is going to be increasingly important for all kinds of companies. We have to use some algorithms in special scenarios, in factories, and in power plants.

WIPO: How important is intellectual property for your business?

IP is a very important asset for Bryea Technology. We have registered 21 software copyrights and 4 patents on our technology, hardware, and software. Data is the most important asset for many kinds of businesses or industries. We consider data ownership of prime importance. Data can tell you everything about our lives, and everything about a business. We use our technology to build a virtual data lake to be able to establish some real-time connection, but we never take the original data, and we don’t save it. We just use it.

WIPO: Can you explain how you use the Internet of things?

The Internet of things is the most important thing we are doing at Bryea Technology. In the last 10 years, the Internet of things has been growing very fast.  For example, in a power plant, we can put sensors in generators, in pipes, in coolers, we can know how much electricity was generated, measure the pollution level, we know everything about the power plant, how it is operating, diagnose problems, and where to locate them.

WIPO: what would you say is Bryea Technology’s competitive edge?

We have a deep knowledge of the industry and its specific needs. There are many big AI companies, but most of them offer general solutions, with many functions that are not fit for the needs of individual companies. We offer tailored solutions based on our own technology of edge computing and middle platform.

WIPO: What are the plans for your company in the next 5/10 years?

In the next 5 to 10 years, we hope to use our technology to help more customers transform their company using computerization.

WIPO: Would you like to add something?

Data-driven systems are an unwavering trend for all kinds of industries and even for our personal lives. In 5 or 10 years, not only in China but all over the world, there will be an expanding market for data-driven systems and companies like ours.