IoT is fast becoming an essential part of every forward-thinking company’s technology. But why are some still so reluctant to invest?
Rewind to 2016 and just 40% of IT and business professionals associated the term ‘intelligent system’ with IoT. Fast forward to today and this figure rises to 54%. This upward trend is set to continue. As awareness continues to grow, there has been a decrease in the number of people who see IoT as simply an extension of the internet.
The potential and opportunities presented by connected technology are fast becoming clear. For end-users, IoT offers limitless opportunities in every aspect of building and people management. From booking desk space to automating HVAC systems, monitoring occupancy and delivering cost and energy savings, it can transform the way you operate – for the better. And as offices move into a post-Covid world, IoT can be a gateway to meeting new responsibilities and compliance with legislation.
For software providers, the opportunities to offer enhanced services to achieve the above benefits for clients are boundless.
What are the barriers to adoption?
While the opportunities might be clear and the uptake increasing, some organisations are still reluctant to embrace IoT technology. Why? Here, we outline some of the top barriers, and how these can be overcome.
Cost. While there is an initial investment, the fact is that IoT can impact positively on a company’s bottom line. Data identifying wasted energy use, for example, can directly create cost savings through automated controls for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
Lack of IoT skill expertise. There can still be lingering attitudes that this type of technology ‘isn’t for us’. But that’s a surefire way to stagnate, as you watch others embracing and adopting new technologies. If there is a lack of internal expertise, companies can make an excellent business case to bring it in – reduced costs and increased productivity, for starters.
Security risks. While it’s wise to be security conscious, there is actually very little risk. Data security standards are very high, and data is much safer being stored on an internet cloud platform than it would be on a personal computer. There is also little chance of data being intercepted – the standard encryption level for most smart-sensor, IoT-connected products is 128-bit, which it is believed it would take even the smartest computer programmes around 100 billion years to crack. If this is the stumbling block to a firm adopting IoT, it could be a good time to look at overall IT infrastructure – no business should decline IoT for security reasons.
It’s not secure
This is understandable concern and those thinking of installing an IoT solution are right to query it – data produced by IoT devices, like smart sensors, is a valuable commodity and could be used to cause serious problems if it fell into the wrong hands. However, the reality is that security standards are so high that hacks are extremely rare, and your data is much safer being stored on an internet cloud platform than it would be on your own computer. Likewise, when data is being sent from a device to the internet, there is little chance of it being intercepted. The standard encryption level for most smart-sensor, IoT-connected products is 128-bit, which it is believed it would take even the smartest computer programmes around 100 billion years to crack.
It’s just for big businesses
While this may have been the case in the very early days of IoT, things have changed. Developments in technology mean the costs are coming down all the time and IoT solutions are well within the grasp of many SMEs and start-ups. Unlike older Building Management Systems which required hard-wiring, IoT solutions can be installed relatively quickly and easily. Most sensors can be stuck on to existing objects and are small and unobtrusive. They can be used in buildings of all ages and don’t require complex rewiring. It’s also important to consider the likely return-on-investment that these solutions can bring in the form of increased productivity and cost savings (see next section).
What should I consider when implementing an IoT solution?
The great thing about IoT solutions is their flexibility. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution and systems can be fine-tuned to your business’s needs. Make sure you talk through your aims with providers to ensure you end up with a solution that fits your business’s needs and be absolutely clear on what you want to achieve before investing.
It’s also important to look for good interoperability, which will make it easier to scale-up and add to your system as your business grows. Choose solutions that use common internet protocols like the Enocean wireless protocol and talk to each other in widely-used computing languages like J-SON or MQTT.
Ultimately, organisations can benefit immensely from more – and more accurate – data, improved insights, increased efficiency and smoother operation. With any barriers easily overcome, it’s time for all businesses to take the next step or face being left behind.
