With so much uncertainty still surrounding the Internet of Things, we have rounded up and answered our most asked questions!

2. Internet of
Things – Asked
and Answered

3. The ‘internet of things’
has been a buzzword of
sorts for the last couple of
years. What are we
actually talking about
when we talk about the
internet of things?

4. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection
of internet-aware devices, systems and services.
In its simplest form, the Internet of Things (IoT)
means everyday objects will be connected to the
internet. These capabilities will allow organisations
to have real-time intelligence about all of their
critical assets: what they are, and what is their
condition.
The IoT is a giant network of connected “things”
(which also includes people). It is the relationship
between people and people, people and things,
and things and people.

5. How big/what sort
of role is cloud
playing in its
development?

6. The cloud is a crucial element of an IoT
solution. All current business data and supply
chain events must be visible both internally and
through the cloud for the solution to be most
accurate and successful.
As mobility has grown and benefited from
cloud computing, similarly cloud will boost the
computational capabilities of the big data
analytics systems and also provide anytime, any
device, anywhere access to the device and
information.

7. What are the
advantages of the
internet of things
to business?

8. When it comes to proactive decision making,
having access to accurate business intelligence in
near real time is vital – an IoT solution provides
this advantage to businesses.
IoT-enabled businesses are using the solution to
streamline process driven tasks where
instantaneous feedback and control are
essential. This deep visibility is allowing
industries to eliminate inefficiency within their
businesses.

9. Are there savings
to be made by
adopting IoT?

10. There are saving to be made by adopting IoT.
But before that can happen, organisations
need to have a thorough understanding of
the impact of an IoT strategy. Making an
organisation a smart organisation is a
massive undertaking; that requires extensive
research, and preparation. But the correct
IoT solution can generate massive savings by
saving time and resources and opening up
new opportunities for growth and
innovation.

11. What industries (if
any) is the IoT
most valuable to?

12. In the manufacturing industry, supply chains span geographical
regions and depend on a web of suppliers, distributors and planners.
Each link in the supply chain can create inefficiencies and cost
challenges that ripple throughout the logistics, warehousing, and
manufacturing process. Making operations more efficient especially
when related to energy and labour costs, not only requires visibility
into individual processes, but also interconnectivity and visibility
across the entire business ecosystem.
Manufacturers have materials arriving at multiple sites from
suppliers around the world. Likewise, their finished goods ship to
retailers and consumers globally. This creates additional logistical
visibility requirements that must be met to avoid additional costs,
long lead times, and poor customer service. Achieving the visibility
goal calls for solutions that reduce IT complexities connects legacy
devices, and that are truly mission- critical ready.

13. What challenges
are presented to
businesses with
IoT?

14. Companies also have to rethink how they collect and analyze
information. The Internet of Things is a data machine. Businesses
will need to learn to adapt a new form of data intelligence, and the
amount and type of information produced by IoT may require new
or expanded roles for data analysts, strategists, and even customer
service.
An IoT deployment is similar to any other complex set of
technology – but with potentially more moving parts. Planning,
integrating, and testing the eco-system and ensuring that it is
mission critical ready is no easy task. Specifying and connecting
sensors and actuators to the Cloud in a standard, uniform way is
difficult because device manufacturers often use protocols and
firmware optimized for that particular device. This complexity is
often a barrier to success, and adds risk and costs.

15. Are there
security risks?
How can they be
addressed?

16. Security must be at the forethought of every
IoT solution. With increased implementation
of IoT solutions, vulnerabilities will continue
to develop and measures need to be taken
to ensure these are resolved swiftly.
As with any software security threat it is
important to have a reliable development
team that are capable of finding the
vulnerability and countering it fast before
any breaches can happen.

17. What are the key
motivations of
businesses seeking
to take advantage of
the IoT?

18. Businesses are looking for seamless, rapid,
simple ways to create visibility throughout
their value chain without massive multi-
year IT deployments. Organisational
leaders are struggling to do more with less
and be more productive. They crave not
only smarter ways to track and manage
assets but also gain in-sights from big data
that can drive new, breakthrough ideas.

19. In what way is IoT
disrupting things?

20. IoT is poised to impact business in many
different ways, none of which are
necessarily disruptive. Instead of being a
disruptive force we would consider it an
enabling force. IoT involves the merging of
the online world with the physical world.
This gives us a greater control and a greater
insight into how our world works. This
understanding facilitates growth and
change in all aspects of business.

21. What are the
biggest trends in
terms of IoT?

22. We are seeing an increased trend in the need for
additional network capacity. About 50% of all
companies will be forced to adapt their IT networks to
accommodate immense increases in data traffic. As
businesses grow and adapt to IoT it is becoming more
and more apparent that company networks are not
adequately prepared for the tidal wave of data that is
predicted.
We are also noting the current trends in relation to
hardware. Advanced microcontrollers, system on
chips, and sensor technologies are enabling new types
of IoT devices. These devices are also getting smaller,
smarter, and cheaper.

23. For more information on
the Internet of Things
please do not hesitate to
contact us!