When I first became aware of the “Internet of Things” I pictured the walls of a TGI Fridays restaurant adorned with various hodge-podge like canoes, unicycles, talking bears, and others. Some location where numerous random items are arranged with no apparent reason.

 

Most professionals, IT or not, are familiar with the Cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS), but few are familiar with what the Internet of Things signifies and what it means for their company.

 

So in this guide, we're going to address what the Internet of Things is and how your business can gain from it.

 

What is the Internet of Things?

 

Essentially, it's the internet connection of machines via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Some Internet of Things devices are obvious, like cell phones, computers, and wearables.

 

Additional IoT devices include Smart Home tools, washing machines, lamps, and smoke detectors. This aggregates a big organization of connectivity with Artificial Intelligence devices that communicate and share information without needing human intervention. Juniper Research forecasted that the number of IoT connected devices would surpass 38 billion in 2020.

 

Many industries have developed their own IoT solutions as they grow their business models and make the journey to digital transformation. These include Healthcare, Cybersecurity, and Big Data to name a few.

 

How do IoT Devices help my company?

 

Here are some use cases utilizing IoT:

 

Interconnected teams –

Think about the simplicity of collaborationg with a distributed staff through an IoT ecosystem. Smart Devices like cell phones enable employees to retrieve and transfer data while working remotely.

 

Data –

Collect and centralize statistics from IoT applications and use the functionality to get real-time visibility on shoppers arriving and exiting shops and from POS devices.

 

Technology Inventory –

Enhance the supply chain by getting notifications and real-time inventory of all your technology. For instance, a printer that is out of toner so supplies can be replaced, or a battery-operated technology indicating low-power can be recharged.

 

Facility Supervision and IoT Security –

Set up alarm tools, set thermostats, configure wireless networks, lock doors, and setup predictive maintenance workflows for the replacement of light bulbs or HVAC problems.

 

As more systems are released, innovative methods are being created to improve workflows and distributing content. Even connected cars and Smart Cities are being created.

 

As a Cloud-first company, Wave strives to stay on the cutting edge of this industry and the innovative opportunities to better productivity through machine learning, automation, and new technology.