The Internet of Things (IoT) is in the wild west phase of its development. There are no formal regulations that dictate a security protocol which is evenly employed by all manufacturers, yet. While there is a distinct lack of structure in the developmental process, there is no shortage of pioneers eagerly hitching up their wagon and venturing out to explore the vast new wilderness. What this means is there are ample opportunities within each industry to become early adopters who can make the most out of this new wave of technology as long as they are carefully vetting the providers with which they choose to work.
Fleet Management
Those companies that have large transportation fleets stand to benefit substantially from the growing integration of IoT technologies. IoT fleet management with companies like Fathym makes it possible to monitor drivers in real time, which can be beneficial to both the driver and the company.
Fleet managers have the ability to maintain far more control over their fleet than ever before. Cell phones and GPS technology have steadily increased the amount of influence and control they can exert. With the integration of the IoT even more is possible. Dispatchers can monitor speeding, unscheduled stops, vehicle maintenance issues, and accidents.
This is also applicable for those with shipping or railway fleets. Cargo containers can be monitored for temperature, location, humidity, and security purposes to ensure the cargo is safe and experiencing optimal conditions no matter where it may be.
Benefits for drivers are more impressive than many may initially realize. The precise location of a driver can be monitored by GPS, which is something most people are already familiar with. However, a dispatcher has the ability to maintain observation on road conditions and route changes in a way that is unprecedented. Other benefits could include health monitoring which would alert the driver or the company when the driver becomes too tired to drive or of any other health condition of which they may be unaware.
Small Business Benefits
We are on the verge of a technical renaissance and small businesses stand to benefit the most, said Kh. Many opportunities are on the horizon as new entrepreneurs use IoT technology to dethrone some of the world’s largest brands, says Ryan Kh, founder of Catalyst of Business.
The IoT is leveling the playing field for small businesses around the world. It is no longer necessary to sign large contracts with companies to take remote payments or credit cards. Small devices that can be attached to a smartphone or tablet make it possible for business of all sizes to complete transactions from any location that has a cell signal or wireless connectivity.
Many of the other IoT items which are useful for homeowners are also useful for small business owners. Connected locks allow owners to open a store remotely for employees or to ensure that it was properly locked at the close of business. Home security systems that offer remote viewing functionality make it easy and inexpensive for small business owners to set up sophisticated security systems for a fraction of the cost of what was once available. Even the new voice-activated devices from brands such as Amazon and Google can be implemented in a business to make the consumer experience more enjoyable.
Health and Fitness
Health and fitness are two of the fields that have quickly adapted to the IoT. Individuals have begun utilizing wearable devices that sync via Bluetooth to their smartphone or table or that are able to access their wireless internet at home to download information to a cloud server. This information can then be monitored to observe health changes over time.
These types of devices have the ability to monitor sleep amounts and quality, heart rate, blood pressure, steps taken, calories burned, and even blood sugar. The swiftness with which the market is having health monitoring devices introduced is astounding and holds the potential for a population that is able to experience even greater levels of health in the future.
Business experts expect the IoT to explode by 2020 with more than 34 billion unique devices interconnected via the internet which means the opportunities for small businesses, large corporations, and individuals will continue to increase. The world will continue to become more accustomed to having their every movement, thought, and sound recorded, analyzed. This will lead to a greater demand for these types of devices and a greater supply from which consumers can choose.
