Internet of Things

 

In our everyday life, we are exposed to all sorts of objects and one thing we depend heavily on is the Internet. When these two things combine, Internet of Things is form. Internet is embedded into the network of physical devices which allows the exchange of data to form a connection. It is predicted by 2020, there will be tens of billions of devices connected to the internet and they will have a big impact in how we live and work. Let’s take a look at some examples!

 

Wearables

 

Wearables devices such as smart watches and fitness bands have increasingly become part of the everyday life with the rapid evolution of consumer lifestyle. These devices are currently used for entertainment, communication and monitoring of physical activities through healthcare applications. We can now answer calls, send message and monitor our heart beat with a simple touch on our wrist. Other notable wearables include Google Glass. A stylish augmented reality spectacle that aim to help users optimize their interactions with the world by using visual, audio and location-based inputs to provide relevant information. Allowing them to know more about their environment, engage with entertainment more seamlessly, and more. For example, when a user enters the airport, they will automatically receive relevant flight status information. Being able to control manually through touchpad or voice commands.

 

Smart Homes

 

According to BI Intelligence, smart home devices are getting more popular as more and more people are exposed to it and taking the step to slowly transform their homes. These smart homes devices include door locks, curtains, light bulbs and even speakers.

 

 

Vehicles

Based on information gathered from the environment, connected vehicles have the ability to sense, analyse and make decisions. These can help to optimize traffic routes and also reducing accidents. Generally providing convenience for drivers and at the same time ensuring their driving experience a safer one. Connected vehicles are aware of each other which will allow a smoother flow of traffic and reducing human error too.

 

 

As we start to incorporate more technologies into our life, so does industries as to keep themselves up to date with the latest trend in order to progress consistently. This enhancement allows for productivity and efficiency gains garnered from improved operational effectiveness as their willingness to harness these tools start to make a difference. We shall now take a look at some industries that are affected by these changes!

 

Healthcare

 

Healthcare providers can take full advantage of Internet of Things to make changes in the lives of patient and improve the level of healthcare provided to patients significantly. In hospitals, IoT biometric devices can monitor vital signs which allow health professionals to oversee an entire ward at the glance of a tablet screen. Or for example, by connecting a machine or medical devices up to the internet, hospital staff can get alerts when repairs are needed and real-time location systems that can track equipment, dispensation of medicine, and even patients and staff.

 

Agriculture

 

Smart agriculture had already taken off among farmers, with drones and sensors being used to facilitate high tech farming to improve the efficiency of their day-to-day work. New IoT-enabled practices such as remote monitoring of crops, equipment and livestock, and obtaining statistics on livestock and produce, looks likely to play a role in helping farmers meet the world’s food demands over the coming years. Automatic water system and greenhouse monitors automatically respond to changes in humidity and temperature. These advances allow the changes to be made in real time, raising the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the process.

 

Manufacturing

 

The manufacturing industry is probably the most affected industry. According to BI Intelligence, it is predicted that global manufacturers will invest $70 billion on IoT solutions in 2020, up from the $29 billion they spent in 2015. Many manufacturers are already using IoT solutions to track assets in their factories, optimize their processes, monitor equipment, and do preventative and predictive maintenance on equipment. The usage of these IoT devices will improve the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing operations.

 

What about Marketing?

After going through these different industries, I’m sure you guys want to know how IoT affect marketing as a whole too. IoT is creating many new marketing opportunities. Marketers can gather more detailed information about consumer behaviour and better predict development of social communities, so they can reach out to prospective customers that previously may not have been available and determine emerging new trends. As well as enhancing customer service by interacting with consumers on a real time basis, personalise in-store experiences of customers and allows marketers to receive useful feedback in an instant.