Cognian and Avnet Enter Strategic Engagement

Avnet, a global technology distributor and solutions provider and Cognian, an Australian-headquartered global Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity
provider of smart building management solutions, today announced that they will collaborate to
accelerate and scale IoT deployments worldwide, and provide customers with
seamless industry leading connectivity solutions being built on Avnet’s IoTConnect
Platform.

PHOENIX AZ, U.S.A &
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach – 8 September 2021 – Avnet (Nasdaq: AVT ) and Cognian have
entered a strategic relationship which will significantly increase the reach
and scale for global customers, by providing immediate access to Cognian’s IoT connectivity
platform enabled by their cutting edge mesh network technology, Syncromesh Smart
Canopy and Avnet’s IoT Connect cloud platform.

Avnet’s proven
expertise and strong position in IoT PaaS enablement and expansive customer
base and strategic focus on IoT is the perfect match to accelerate IoT
deployments and enable Cognian to seamlessly connect a wide range of third-party
BLE-based devices, addressing the connectivity and hardware needs of connected
IoT solutions.

Cognian’s
Syncromesh Smart Canopy wirelessly turns every building into a human-centric
smart building with management of cost, carbon emissions, safety, and
well-being at its core. The unified data connectivity
platform enables remote and autonomous control over smart building capabilities
such as
access, occupant capacity, heating/cooling, air quality and lighting control.

Cognian
offers proven wireless solutions to build and securely connect global Building
Management Systems quickly, securely and in a cost-effective manner. In
addition, by using Avnet’s Microsoft Azure-powered IoTConnect platform, Cognian
can seamlessly connect multiple devices to the cloud and address the software
and hardware needs of those IoT solutions. Cognian continues to win landmark
commercial building projects across Australia in addition to establishing its
footprint in Asia and the USA, through strategic relationships with tier one
partners such as Avnet.

Avnet’s
Partner Program enables system integrators (SIs) and original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) to build new solutions and service models for their
practice on Avnet’s IoTConnect platform. 
Solution developers and OEMs can create cloud-based applications that
communicate with the Avnet IoTConnect API with ease, avoiding the complexity of
sensor interfaces, protocols, security and device management. Connected
suppliers can expand their market presence with preconnected devices that
accelerate customer adoption and reach.

Lou Lutostanski, IoT vice president, Avnet said, “Avnet is excited
to partner with Cognian in order to bring world class building connectivity at
the IoT edge to our growing family of IoTConnect partners and customers.  With the IoTConnect platform and Cognian’s unique
Syncromesh wireless technology, our partners are able to bring open, secure, integrated,
and scalable end-to-end solutions to their end customers.”

Mark Blum, CEO of Cognian, said, “Our philosophy is all around
openness: open standards and open partnerships with companies who are driving
smart building innovation across industries from commercial real estate to
retail, convenience stores, logistics and everything in-between. With the
commercial IoT space going from strength-to-strength globally, our partnership
with Avnet amplifies our global reach. This in turn means we can help our partners and
customers access an even broader range of third party devices that can be
enabled and easily connected by Syncromesh through the Avnet IoTConnect
Platform.”