The Internet of Things (IoT) is fast becoming a necessary aspect of people’s daily lives. Slowly, but surely, our world has become better connected through the internet.
The prevalence of IoT has come to such a point that physical items now have digital imprints and can be controlled through digital and smart technology.
And though a number of applications of IoT are yet to be realized, many others have become par for the course in the modern age, in marketing automation, and beyond.
We look at examples of the Internet of Things in action in the real world.
1. Data Analytics
Data has become the most important aspect of marketing, operations, and industry in the past few years.
Businesses are working overtime to collect as much data as possible for demographic segmentation, and to examine it in depth to better their ongoing processes.
And where is this data coming from? Chiefly through devices connected through the Internet of Things.
But data on its own is of little value—the data needs to be thoroughly analyzed to understand the trends and patterns, and for analysts to glean the most relevant statistics.
In other words, a system is required to understand what the data collected means for businesses and how it can be used to optimize the customer lifecycle.
Data analytics can be a cumbersome and time-consuming job. For human staff to be in charge of analyzing the reams of data being collected, businesses would need to put aside a great deal of time and energy that they don’t have.
Which is why so many businesses are turning to IoT applications—such as ThingSpeak, Zatar, Google Cloud, GroveStreams—that are making the analysis process much faster and more efficient.
IoT applications use machine learning assistance, sensors, and tags to collate, decipher and categorize data.
In conjunction with other analysis software and resources, the data can be further analyzed for purposes of reporting and creating an efficient project plan.
2. Farming and IoT
Smart farming has taken the agricultural sphere by storm over the last few years.
Devices, machines, and even vehicles have become connected through IoT and, as a result, have improved farming efficiency, become less labor-intensive, and improved average order value.
IoT is deployed in farming through the use of robots, tags, sensors, and self-driving vehicles and drones. Drones, in particular, are saving farmers a lot of time and legwork.
Not so long ago, farmers would have had to physically make the rounds of their farms to understand which crops were prospering, or failing.
Now, drones are flying over farms, sharing live feeds of aerial footage of the farm, along with data about areas that need attention. Drones can even deliver pesticides and fertilisers to select areas using lasers for precision delivery.
Additionally, with IoT technology, farmers are able to better track the weather, soil, and other natural occurrences that could impact their crop yield.
Farmers can also monitor the state of their crops at all times. IoT applications are sourcing and analyzing crop data in real-time, which is then transmitted to farmers for them to make necessary adjustments.
3. IoT in Healthcare
The Internet of Things has had a massive impact on healthcare systems worldwide and we are seeing the results now.
A number of IoT applications in healthcare are using RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags that are embedded in the skin of cancer patients. They are also connected to bluetooth activity trackers worn by patients.
These tags monitor patients at all times and share real-time data with carers and doctors. With IoT technology, carers and doctors are able to identify changes in health and side-effects faster than ever before.
IoT is also being used to monitor levels of glucose in patients with diabetes. These trackers are connected to smartphones and watches, giving patients regular updates so they never miss a dose.
This information is also used to fill in online forms so patients don’t have to type everything from scratch.
In addition, insulin pens and pumps are also being connected to IoT trackers that monitor and record the amount of insulin a patient requires and delivers the correct dose at the correct time.
In the field of healthcare, IoT is already making immense strides in helping patients and doctors monitor their well-being so they get the care they need when they need it.
And this is only the start—IoT is set to expand smart healthcare technology beyond our imaginations in a few years.
4. IoT in Manufacturing
In the sphere of manufacturing, IoT has become an essential aspect of the running of industries.
Incorporating IoT into the daily functioning of a manufacturing plant or supply chain has made a number of tasks possible, for large and small industries, alike.
For instance, manufacturing businesses are investing heavily in IoT for inventory management. Before IoT was a possibility, most manufacturing businesses had to rely on manual methods to track and manage their assets.
Earlier processes would have required asset managers to create hand-written systems to track their assets, which would have been noted down in ledgers and spreadsheets.
Now, IoT gives businesses in-depth shop floor data through the use of RFID tags, and sensors, each with its own unique identifying information. All the data collected from these tags is stored in the cloud, making it easy to sort through, categorize, and monitor.
IoT also helps businesses examine the state of their machinery, even remotely, with oT-optimized sensors that are attached to the machinery to track their health and status.
The information these sensors collect are shared in real-time to machine-learning algorithms that parse through the data to understand the health of the machinery. This helps avoid breakdowns and worker injuries, that organizations would have to create an incident report for.
Across the board in the field of manufacturing, IoT is not only making it easier for businesses to track and manage their assets, but is also making the supply-chain process much easier.
5. Smart Homes
A home completely connected through the internet to an app on a phone may have seemed like a distant dream only a decade ago, but it is a reality now for many people.
IoT apps are now connected to everyday home devices such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, cleaning systems, thermostats, lighting systems, and entertainment systems.
The big five tech companies are making acquisitions that are furthering the reach of smart devices and smart homes.
These devices and appliances can not only be controlled remotely but they also send real-time information about the state of the devices and their contents to the owners.
But where IoT has really benefited homeowners is in the area of smart security.
IoT apps are connected to security devices and locks—thus removing the need for the age-old lock and key we use to enter our homes.
Smart locks can be configured to allow certain people to access your home—for instance, when you have a house-sitter while you are on vacation—while alerting you if anyone unauthorized tries to enter your home.
Aside from smart locks, IoT security cameras give you real-time updates about the surroundings around your home and the people inside.
With IoT, your home can be controlled, monitored, and kept safe, with the touch of a button on your phone.
Conclusion
The Internet of Things is everywhere, and that is largely a good thing for the people of the digital age.
We are seeing IoT applications in a number of fields and IoT has made strides in making data analysis less complex and cumbersome
Other positive real-world applications of IoT can be seen in the farming, healthcare, and industrial sectors, where IoT is making life better and more efficient for all involved.
Finally, IoT is making people’s homes more user friendly and safer with connected apps that control appliances and security systems.
We have seen IoT make an impact across the planet, but what we are seeing is only a small part of what IoT applications are capable of. In a few short years, we are set to become even better connected.