The Internet of Things (IoT) debuted as a much-hyped futuristic technology. It is now a reality that has become both a social and technological wonder. The latest IoT trends can attest to this fact. It is now used with data analytics software and artificial intelligence. These integrations help businesses improve processes, boost earnings and reduce overheads, especially in the challenging times that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has created.
IoT has paved the way for smart technologies just about anywhere. It is expected to rock different sectors, thanks to the increasing use of the cloud and the development of 5G. Smart appliances, security systems, phones, and cars are now commonplace. With this collection of the most recent emerging trends in IoT currently available, we intend to get you up to speed with IoT developments. If you are into business, you might learn a thing or two on how to leverage these trends to grow your company.
The network of physical things that are fixed with software, sensors, and different technologies for the purpose of swapping and connecting data with other systems and devices over the internet is known as the Internet of Things (IoT). These devices extend from everyday household objects to modern industrial tools.
The digitalization of things has drastically increased over the past few years and it has been made possible only because of cheap resources that are being made available to everyone so that each and every person can access these trends.
IoT’s ability to enable devices and equipment to communicate will impact lives. It will impact industries. According to a report (Forbes, 2020), IoT will find applications in areas like predictive maintenance, maintenance schedules, and data collection.
How big is the IoT market? IoT is fast becoming a critical disruptive technology. Businesses will see that IoT is not a hype but a useful tool. This will only result in mass adoption.
But, IoT use cases will not stop at corporate doors. The technology has the potential to make any process free of human intervention. In this context, the term “IoT” will not sit for long. Another study says a more catchy term will replace “IoT” in the next few years (Forrester, 2018).
More use cases for IoT are being uncovered as we speak and it shows no sign of stopping. This ranges from fitness monitors that can track calorie expenditure to fleet tracking tools that identify how vehicles are being used to the transmission of data for contact tracing during the pandemic. It is thus, not surprising for investments in IoT to increase in the coming years. You can confirm this by looking at the latest digital transformation statistics. More and more businesses are beginning to deploy IoT. And consumers have embraced the technology. Take a look at the following IoT trends that are happening now.
1. Focus on Security
The IoT tech market will see a renewed focus on security as complex safety challenges crop up. These complexities stem from the diverse and distributed nature of the technology. The network of connected devices remains vulnerable to attacks. So, how many devices are connected to the internet in 2021? The number of Internet-connected devices has reached the 10 billion mark (Statista, 2021). Device and IoT network hacking will become commonplace. It is up to network operators to stop intruders from doing their business.
Widely-accepted security concerns will help IoT providers improve sellability. This will be by highlighting the security measures they have in place. Those marketing end-to-end IoT solutions are most likely to enjoy this selling point. This early, informing users of such security concerns are paramount. Vendors and providers should make public what is being done about these issues. Learn more about security threats by reading the most recent cybersecurity statistics.
Read more about Cybersecurity Trends In 2023
The market for IoT technology will focus on improved security.
The diverse and distributed nature of IoT is seen to cause security problems.
End-to-end IoT solution vendors will benefit from IoT security challenges.
2. IoT in Manufacturing
IoT uses sensors, which can help managers identify machinery problems early on. Problems are identified before technicians are sent out to work on issues. Sensors are very handy for people handling preventive maintenance. IoT has been finding applications in smart factories. The use of wearables gives workers a clear picture of factory conditions and safety.
IoT and wearables connect factory floors to management. Wearables can connect to mobile devices. This improves time management and safety and allows for feedback. Innovations in preventive maintenance are coming every day. They will not stop anytime soon—all thanks to IoT. This development is clear among the most recent industrial IoT trends.
Key takeaways:
IoT can help managers predict machinery problems.
IoT has found its way into smart factories.
Factory floors and managers can be connected using IoT and wearables.
3. Big Data, Analytics, and Machine Learning
Even now, distributed IoT analytics and data are finding applications in IoT networks. This method lets systems trigger alerts or action sans transferring volumes of data to network cores. This results in improved performance as networks operate at low latency. The integration of data streams with machine learning and AI engines is another trend. Potential applications include smart homes and elevator maintenance, to name a few. Find out more by reading the most current big data statistics.
Integrated analytics are now being embedded into solutions as providers seek to speed up data analysis. Such analytics are directly fed into machine learning apps. This design supports IoT devices, processes, and infrastructure adaptation and optimization. IoT data will be sold as a commodity, which will be targeted mostly at appliance manufacturers. Selling IoT data will be used to prove product viability. Recent machine learning statistics reflect these developments.
In the wake of the pandemic, business executives believe that they must use a combination of emerging technologies such as cloud databases, data warehouses, automation, and analytics to keep their business resilient. CEOs have admitted that technology has put their company years ahead of their expectations. In a survey, 64% of executives said that using a mix of technologies is more advantageous than focusing on one solution only. They also expressed a positive outlook in terms of increasing their spending on emerging technologies in the next 12 months (KPMG, 2020).
Key takeaways:
IoT analytics are increasingly being used in IoT networks.
Data streams are now being integrated with machine learning and AI.
Integrated analytics help IoT solution vendors speed up data analysis.
4. Healthcare Spearheads IoT Adoption
The healthcare industry has been tinkering with IoT technology for years now. Pundits see the sector leading in IoT adoption and innovation. Healthcare now uses wearable sensors and devices, tracking, and indoor navigation tech. Like factories, healthcare facilities are enormous and state-of-the-art equipment. IoT’s ability to improve light and temperature control will improve these locations.
Lighting plays a key role in patient recovery. IoT can enhance lighting systems by linking them to health monitors and deploying sensors. IoT will make smart buildings out of healthcare facilities, drive revenue, and help healthcare providers save on costs.
IoT adoption has become even more crucial to the healthcare industry in the time of the pandemic. Technologies like telehealth visits make it possible for people to get medical help even while practicing social distancing guidelines. IoT devices can also be used to remotely track a patient’s conditions as well as the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Non-surgical robots connected to the IoT can also be deployed in hospitals to disinfect surfaces with a special UV light (Perle, 2020).
Key takeaways:
The healthcare sector has been experimenting with IoT for years.
Health facilities can use IoT to control light and temperature.
IoT can help healthcare organizations boost revenue and save on costs.
5. Better Workforce Management
Over the course of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in spending on various technologies ranging from 5G and blockchain to AI and automation. With the use of these, alongside IoT, can allow companies to optimize their now remote workforce.
For starters, the use of beacons in clocking in is expected to become standard practice. Beacons are commonly used to send consumers targeted messages through smartphones. Cost reduction will result in the increased use of beacons in workforce management. Beacons can be used to monitor employees and schedule tasks. All the data from these systems can be used to populate performance management solutions.
Beacons can be used to monitor employee safety. This applies to cases where the right safety equipment should be worn. The healthcare sector can use beacons to monitor doctors’ and nurses’ activities. This covers accessing medical records and medical equipment use. IoT is one of the most significant disruptive technologies around.
6. The Emergence of Smart Cities
IoT adoption will result in the establishment of smart cities. This early, some US cities are using IoT to connect utilities, parking meters, and traffic lights. Smart city projects are now in the pipeline, a development that could only spread globally. Proof of this the increase in smart city tech spending, which can reach $158 billion by 2022 (Statista, 2020).
Smart cities do not only focus on making life comfortable for people. These cities improve the social, environmental and financial aspects of urban living. And as city populations grow, smart cities will become a key ingredient in improving sustainability and quality of living.
Key takeaways:
IoT adoption will pave the way for smart cities.
Smart city technology spending will reach $158 billion by 2022 (Statista, 2020).
These cities will play a key role in improving the sustainability and quality of living.
7. Cloud Vendors to Zero In on IoT
Cloud-based software vendors will compete with IoT platform developers to become prime destinations for IoT. They will focus on finding new applications for the technology and leverage their integration capabilities. Partnerships between vendors and IoT providers will proliferate to expand use cases and improve existing ones. Google will most probably lead the pack in seeking such partnerships.
Key takeaways:
Cloud software vendors will compete with IoT platform developers.
The focus will be on integrations and new IoT applications.
Vendor and IoT provider partnerships will increase.
8. IoT in Customer Service
IoT can greatly improve customer service by providing needed information. The technology can improve the power of CRM systems. The premise rests on the technology’s ability to detect customer problems and inform companies about them. Potential applications focus on appliances. However, even cable services can benefit from IoT. IoT devices can report problems to customer desks without the customer even knowing about them.
IoT data can be routed to companies’ CRM systems. This allows companies to join customer discussions. This, in turn, can improve engagement which leads to customer retention. Customer service improvement is one of the notable consumer IoT trends. Today’s CRMs are known for their ability to play well with other systems as most of them come with APIs. These integrations will connect IoT technology to existing business systems.
Another increasingly common use of IoT is to improve the overall customer experience. For instance, it can be used to build smart stores that can speed up payments and personalize shopping experiences. In some cases, it even allows customers to make their purchases without having to interact with anyone, making it particularly handy during the pandemic as it can reinforce social distancing measures.
Key takeaways:
IoT’s provision of data improves customer service.
IoT can detect customer problems and inform organizations about them.
IoT can enhance the power of CRMs.
9. Developers to Come Up with IoT Milestones
Contrary to what many of us see, it is not the technology titans who will take IoT to the next level. Small groups of tech contributors will foster IoT innovations in the long-run. These groups will include technicians, developers, and other like-minded individuals. These people will put more value on technology.
Technology tinkerers will ride the IoT wave, just like they did when the smartphone market first exploded. IoT platform development is inevitable. And it is these people who will spearhead the effort. Software developers will employ IoT data when creating new tools.
Key takeaways:
Small tech contributor groups will lead to IoT innovation.
IoT platform development will be a major focus.
IoT data will find applications in software development.
10. Powering Smart Stores
The use of radio frequency identification tags has been powering smart stores. RFID makes inventory management a lot easier and fun as opposed to the use of conventional data capture systems.
IoT can also record how visitors spend their time on the store premises. It does this by tracking their movement and product interactions with the help of smart lighting.
Using data collected by such systems, store owners can make the needed improvements to their inventory and even the way products are displayed on their shelves.
Powering Smart Stores
Key takeaways:
Smart stores have been using RFID technology.
RFID improves inventory management.
IoT can record visitor activity inside smart stores.
Source FinanceOnline
