We answer your most common IoT questions
IoT is a phrase that’s been thrown around a lot over the past few years and, with the growth of technology, we’re definitely going to be hearing it more often. IoT stands for the Internet of Things and represents the connectivity between physical and digital.
The growth of IoT is remarkable. In 2018, it was estimated that there were 7 billion IoT devices connected and installed worldwide. However, it’s predicted that by 2025 more than 75 billion IoT devices will be in usage across the globe.
But what is it and how can it help your business? We answer your questions below!
What are IoT devices?
Almost any device can be turned into an Internet of Things device. Your lightbulbs can be connected to the internet and switched on using your smartphone. Your heating can be controlled using a mobile app. You can even drive to work in a driverless vehicle if you so wish. Put simply, any physical object can be transformed into an IoT device if it can be connected to the internet and, in turn, be controlled or used to communicate information.
Why is IoT used?
Alongside its uses in our personal lives, there are a number of reasons IoT can be used across a number of sectors in business. It can collect more data which can help businesses make better decisions. It can lighten the workload in business that want to move towards automation. It can also make things easier to track and control as well as save money in the long term.
Where IoT can be used in healthcare?
IoT has the potential to transform the healthcare industry. In some instances, it’s already making a huge difference. Remote patient monitoring is one of its most common uses. Wearable devices can easily monitor heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and more meaning patients can be monitored and treated remotely, freeing up hospital beds for those patients who need them more urgently. Connected inhalers have helped some countries tackle the COVID-19 pandemic while they can be traditionally used to control COPD patients or those suffering from asthma. Heart rate monitors and glucose monitors also give healthcare professionals access to data to determine the best course of treatment for their patients. In surgery, the Internet of Things is also proving revolutionary. Robotic arms and tiny robots can now be used to perform complex procedures which would be much more difficult with human hands.
How IoT devices communicate with each other?
IoT devices communicate using connectivity. That means it communicates with sensors, other devices and applications using the internet. To successfully and effectively deploy the Internet of Things and devices connected in the network, you’ll need a reliable, safe and secure connectivity solution such as Ethernet or business broadband with enough bandwidth to support it. You’ll also need a connectivity solution with guaranteed reliability and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure you’ll be back up and running should something go wrong.
How can it help businesses?
Whatever industry you’re in, the chances are that IoT can enhance at least some part of your business operations to make things easier. For example, in hospitality, Internet of Things devices can be used to automatically order stock when you get low, saving you valuable time on a stock check and subsequent order. If you’re working in logistics, you can track your transportation and alert customers when their delivery is due. If you’re in a factory, it can be used to automate some processes, saving your employees time and your business money.
