From time immemorial, new technology has been the herald of changing eras. And with Web3 and Industry 4.0, many experts argue we’re in the midst of one such transition. However, change breeds confusion, so we must ask: “What’s actually changing?”.
That’s what we’ll be exploring today. In this article, we’ll lift the curtain on one of the hottest topics in the commercial space – the Internet of Things (IoT). Along the way, we’ll explain what it is, how it works, and what it means for you.
So, if you like to stay on the bleeding edge of technology and keep ahead of your competition, stay tuned.
What is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things typically refers to the concept of interconnecting smart devices with each other and the cloud. Generally speaking, IoT aims to facilitate data exchange without needing human-to-human or human-to-computer interactions.
To do so, IoT-enabled devices feature a variety of sensors and software solutions. Note that the “things” aren’t necessarily just hardware. They can include any natural or man-made object that can be assigned an IP Address and is able to transfer data over a network.
As we’ll discuss in a subsequent section, the side effects of this practice include higher efficiency, better data collection, as well as improved insights and decision-making.
Unsurprisingly, this makes the technology highly valuable to companies across all industries, which use it primarily to deliver better customer service and experiences.
How does IoT work?
An IoT ecosystem is comprised of a network of web-enabled smart devices featuring embedded systems, such as processors, sensors, and communication hardware. These devices then collect, send, and act on acquired data.
The devices use an IoT gateway to share data, which acts as a central point to which all of the technology connects. You can also incorporate an edge device into the system, which analyzes data locally before transferring the scrubbed information to lower bandwidth use.
However, it’s not always a strict device → gateway relationship. Smart gadgets connected to the same network (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) in the same environment can interact and take action on the data. Some can even use AI and machine learning for maximum efficiency.
This works even without human intervention, but people can still use the devices to accomplish various goals, such as adding new “things”, reading data, and giving instructions.
What are IoT standards?
“Standards” refer to guidelines, specifications, and protocols that establish a common framework for designing, developing, and deploying IoT devices and systems.
They ensure interoperability, security, and consistency across various IoT devices and platforms. Particularly by providing manufacturers, developers, and users with a shared understanding of how IoT should communicate, operate, and interact.
The most notable IoT standards include:
- MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport):
A lightweight and efficient messaging protocol for small sensors and mobile devices, often used in IoT applications.
- CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol):
Designed for resource-constrained devices and networks, CoAP is a lightweight protocol for communication between IoT devices.
- HTTP/HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol/Secure):
Standard web protocols are commonly used for communication between IoT devices and cloud-based services.
- IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6):
The latest Internet Protocol version is designed to provide a larger address space to accommodate the growing number of IoT devices.
- DDS (Data Distribution Service):
A middleware protocol that facilitates real-time communication and data sharing among IoT devices in a distributed system.
- OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture):
A standard for industrial automation that ensures secure and reliable communication between IoT devices in the industrial context.
- OneM2M:
A global standard for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications and IoT interoperability, providing a common framework for different IoT applications.
- Thread:
A low-power, wireless mesh networking protocol designed for IoT devices in home automation and smart building applications.
- LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network):
A low-power, wide-area networking protocol designed for long-range communication between IoT devices and gateways.
- FIWARE:
An open-source platform that provides a set of standards for building smart solutions and applications in the context of smart cities and industrial IoT.
Who is responsible for creating IoT standards?
If you’re interested in diving deeper into the emerging world of IoT solutions, several organizations are shaping their standards and practices. They include:
- International Electrotechnical Commission,
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
- Industrial Internet Consortium,
- Open Connectivity Foundation,
- Thread Group,
- Connectivity Standards Alliance.
What are IoT frameworks?
Frameworks are software platforms that provide tools, libraries, and services to simplify the development, deployment, and management of IoT applications and devices.
Frameworks play a crucial role in accelerating the development of IoT solutions by offering a standardized foundation for building applications, as they often include features for device communication, data management, security, and integration with cloud services.
The most notable examples of IoT frameworks include:
- Arduino:
Arduino is an open-source hardware and software platform popular among hobbyists and professionals for building IoT prototypes. It provides a variety of development boards, libraries, and an integrated development environment (IDE).
- Raspberry Pi:
Raspberry Pi is a low-cost, credit-card-sized computer that can be used for various IoT projects. It supports multiple programming languages and can run different operating systems, making it versatile for IoT applications.
- AWS IoT:
Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a comprehensive IoT platform with device management, security, and data processing services. AWS IoT allows developers to connect and manage IoT devices at scale.
- Microsoft Azure IoT:
Microsoft Azure IoT offers cloud-based services for building, deploying, and managing IoT applications. It includes device provisioning, messaging, and analytics services integrated with the broader Azure ecosystem.
- Google Cloud IoT:
Google Cloud IoT provides a suite of services for building and managing IoT applications on the Google Cloud Platform. It includes device management, data analytics, and integration with other Google Cloud services.
- IBM Watson IoT Platform:
IBM’s IoT platform offers tools for device management, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. It is designed to help organizations build scalable and intelligent IoT solutions.
- Eclipse IoT:
Eclipse IoT is an open-source community that provides a set of projects and frameworks for building IoT solutions. It includes projects like Eclipse Paho for MQTT communication and Eclipse Hono for device connectivity.
- ThingsBoard:
ThingsBoard is an open-source IoT platform that supports device management, data visualization, and rule engine capabilities. It allows developers to build custom IoT applications with ease.
- Particle:
Particle provides a platform for building IoT solutions focusing on ease of use. It includes hardware development kits, cloud services, and a device management platform.
- Node-RED:
Node-RED is a flow-based development tool for the visual programming of IoT applications. It provides a web-based interface for connecting devices, APIs, and online services.
What do IoT devices look like in practice?
The Internet of Things encompasses a wide range of devices and use cases. We’ll discuss the individual industry niches a little later, but for now, let’s look at a few examples from both the personal and professional spheres.
Personal IoT device examples:
- Wearable tech: Smart watches and bracelets are some of the most common IoT devices. They interact with phones and other gadgets to track movement, receive messages, and monitor health.
- Smart home appliances: Ranging from TVs to thermostats, lightbulbs, and locks, smart appliances allow users to interact with their homes more easily in meaningful ways, even remotely.
- Smart city infrastructure: Leveraging various sensors and IoT-enabled devices, such as traffic lights and generators, allows cities to improve the living conditions of their residents by sending timely warnings, offsetting traffic jams, and more.
Commercial IoT device examples:
- Workplace condition monitoring: To help ensure safe and healthy working conditions, companies use various temperature, pressure, vibration, and air and water quality sensors across their sites.
- Asset tracking devices: Using RFID and GPS sensors, IoT can monitor the status and location of various assets on-site and within the supply chain, helping prevent mistakes, save money, and boost efficiency.
- Industrial robotics: Companies can use robots and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) to automate, remotely control, and monitor industrial processes, as well as communicate data to centralized systems for increased efficiency.
Why are IoT devices important?
Take a moment to think about all the smart gadgets you interact with on a daily basis. Now imagine how much easier life would be if they could all talk to each other and save you the extra time and effort. And that’s just your personal life!
As individuals and companies continue to rely on tech and information more and more, the benefits the Internet of Things offers only continue to grow. Here are a few examples:
- Higher quality of life: As discussed above, smart cars and wearables can greatly improve your personal life. But that’s also the case for commercial settings. They can automatically unlock doors for personnel, open loading docks, and more.
- Improved healthcare: Wearable tech can monitor an individual’s heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs to detect potential emergencies and call for help or issue a warning ahead of time, preventing accidents.
- Better data insights: By incorporating sensors into the various machinery and work areas, companies can get accurate insights into their performance (equipment and employees) and make better decisions regarding operations.
- More efficient operations: Information from sensors can help companies optimize their processes. IoT devices can also significantly automate the entire operation by communicating and acting on relevant information, like requesting maintenance.
- Safer work environments: Besides monitoring employee vitals, IoT can identify the risk of potential breakdowns, malfunctions, and hazards that may lead to an accident. They can also act as a safeguard, like preventing lock-outs and more.
- Better resource allocation: IoT devices can identify areas where processes (ex., manufacturing) struggle most and help reinforce them with additional resources (employees, machinery). They can also save money by automating some tasks.
- Reinforced supply chain: By being able to track stock status, as well as the location of incoming/outgoing shipments, IoT can help ensure companies remain well-stocked, never lose deliveries, and fulfill their obligations on time.
- More sustainability: By allowing businesses to use their resources as efficiently as possible, IoT helps companies save money and stick around longer. However, doing so also reduces waste and improves overall sustainability.
What are the challenges of IoT?
Of course, nothing’s ever pure good or bad, and even the Internet of Things has its fair share of downsides. Let’s look at a few reasons why you may reconsider implementing IoT into your life and company processes.
- Security concerns: IoT devices can often be susceptible to hacking, which is particularly dangerous to the vast amounts of sensitive (personal and performance) data they collect.
- Lack of standardization: Interoperability continues to be a profound issue in the IoT space. With a lack of standardized operating protocols, devices from different manufacturers may struggle to work together, leading to performance issues.
- Data overload: Without sufficiently resilient data processing, companies may become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of raw data received from IoT, which can cause bottlenecks and worse performance.
- Reliability and performance: IoT devices are susceptible to hardware malfunctions and software bugs, often leading to unpredictable performance, especially in large-scale deployments.
- Power consumption: Stand-alone IoT devices not wired into the main power supply require operating batteries (e.g., sensors). However, this is often costly and requires significant maintenance, which may make them not worth the effort.
- Regulatory compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring IoT systems adhere to privacy and security regulations can be challenging, especially as these regulations evolve.
- Implementation costs: Deploying and maintaining an extensive IoT infrastructure can be expensive. Due to cost considerations, small and medium-sized enterprises may face challenges in adopting IoT.
- Limited lifespan: Rapid technological advancements can lead to the obsolescence of IoT devices, making it challenging for users to keep up with the latest features and security updates.
- Environmental impact: The disposal of obsolete IoT devices contributes to electronic waste, posing ecological challenges. Proper recycling and disposal practices are crucial to mitigate this impact.
How do different industries leverage IoT?
So, we’ve talked about some of the stand-alone use cases IoT devices can offer. But if you’re looking for inspiration for taking your business operations to the next level, there’s no better place to start than to look at other companies working in the same space.
Here are a few examples of how different industries use IoT solutions and devices, as well as some real-life case studies, courtesy of IndevaGroup:
IoT in Healthcare
The healthcare industry is rife with IoT opportunities. Clinics and hospitals can use wearable tech to monitor their patient’s vitals on-site and remotely to ensure they receive the necessary care (prescription filling, light adjustment, bed positioning, etc.).
Health tech can also offer autonomous assistance without needing a medical professional to be present. For example, smart insulin pumps can monitor glucose levels in the blood and administer injections at predefined intervals to prevent hypoglycemia.
Medical professionals can use the collected and anonymized patient information to improve treatment decisions and fuel future research efforts. Meanwhile, IoT can also be used for asset tracking and proper stocking.
IoT in healthcare case study: AppSense
With new revolutionary technology in the health sector, a need for smart design for the intended target group arises.
It is estimated that approximately 150,000 Norwegians live with heart fibrillation today and that a third do not know about it themselves. Every day, eight Norwegians get a stroke as a result of heart fibrillation.
The fact that the heartbeat is not always regular means that it can be difficult to detect for healthcare professionals, who often make measurements that do not last longer than a few minutes.
AppSens came to Apphuset to build and deploy a solution ready for clinical trial and later commercialization.
Seven Peaks Software is an international partner of Apphuset. This IoT healthcare case study showcases a project that Apphuset acquired. Then, it outsources the development to us at Seven Peaks Software to cooperatively complete the project as a specialist partner.
The main challenges we identified were providing a simple and intuitive onboarding and app design tailored for the target group and securing system communications using the FHIR standard for healthcare data exchange and ECG decoding and interoperability using the ISO 22077 standard.
The app has developed a wireless sensor that monitors the heart rate for one to two weeks. The app, sensor, and backend perform real-time analysis of the collected data and give the user immediate feedback on their health situation.
Apphuset’s task was to design and develop a mobile application that connects to the sensors and collects data forwarded to the backend for the person’s health data.
The target group for ECG 247 is primarily people older than 60 years. Therefore, it was necessary to ease the use and communication to end users, which are super important features of the solution.
AppSens’ EGC 247 sensor and app detected severe cardiac arrhythmia in test persons, who were then immediately admitted to PSI centers for treatment of blockage.
The EGC 247 has helped prevent heart attacks and has also revealed cardiac fibrillation on several test subjects who have been unaware of their arrhythmia.
IoT in Manufacturing
As mentioned throughout this article, the manufacturing industry can greatly benefit from incorporating IoT solutions. Starting with predictive maintenance, embedded sensors can detect potential malfunctions and request repairs ahead of time.
Speaking of prevention, companies can use similar sensors and wearable tech, such as those used in the healthcare industry, to monitor their employees’ well-being and predict potential accidents ahead of time.
Even more crucially, however, IoT can allow companies to oversee their production process from a single centralized remote dashboard – tracking inventory, managing production, controlling lights and temperature, etc.
This control extends past the walls of the facility and even into fulfillment. IoT devices can track customer deliveries to ensure they arrive on time, place stocking orders, and reinforce the supply chain as a whole.
Finally, IoT-enabled systems can monitor and control energy consumption to save businesses money and reduce waste production, lower their carbon footprint, and increase overall sustainability.
IoT in Manufacturing Case Study: ABB Group
As a global leader in power and automation technologies, Switzerland-based ABB Group has installed a wide variety of power and automation equipment around the globe, ranging from motors, drives, robots, and control systems to transformers, high-voltage and medium-voltage breakers, and low-voltage equipment.
Connecting these devices and systems to communicate and perform the tasks required to keep its customers safe and operational is at the core of ABB’s business.
Among the devices mentioned, ABB’s robots have become essential to the global economy, increasing efficiency and safety across various industries. However, the broad deployment of automation technologies has created challenges in monitoring and maintenance.
ABB’s customers need to know that their machines operate efficiently and minimize downtime when repairs or upgrades are required. The company has addressed these challenges through innovative IoT technologies, which monitor more than 5,000 devices in the field in real time.
Historically, ABB had to send technicians to perform device diagnoses in person. Now, ABB offers several cloud-based IoT solutions, including data aggregation, statistical analysis, and remote control rooms that provide real-time monitoring of individual machines and longitudinal analytics that allow for accurate predictive maintenance.
This proactive monitoring allows ABB and its clients to save on maintenance costs by reducing the time and effort required for upkeep and to reduce costs associated with unexpected downtime by fixing machines before they break.
There is debate about whether in-machine (on-site) or cloud-based monitoring and analysis are more effective. Rather than throwing everything into the cloud simply because it’s a newer application, ABB implements monitoring systems balancing these requirements, resulting in an approach capable of incorporating either or both longitudinal, cloud-based solutions and real-time localized monitoring to provide a comprehensive and effective service, depending on each client’s need.
ABB’s gearless mill drives (GMDs) are just one example of remote monitoring at work. GMDs provide a substantially more efficient means of grinding ore into smaller particles that are more easily processed, a powerful innovation in the mining industry.
While these machines typically operate smoothly, grinding is an intensive process that puts extreme wear and tear on the machine. Failure can delay operations by days or weeks, resulting in substantial losses for the mining operation.
With real-time GMD monitoring, ABB can alert customers in time, allowing maintenance workers time to address any machine problems proactively and prevent unplanned outages.
In one such case, ABB was able to recommend a simple, 30-minute stoppage to replace clogged air filters, saving the client a significant amount of money just by avoiding unplanned downtime.
The deeper knowledge of its machines and how they work has also enabled ABB to add value for its clients by bringing increased efficiency to related operations. In the marine industry, ABB provides electrical components for hybrid-diesel engines.
Though its work is focused on the electrical element of the hybrid engines, ABB’s data collection and analysis have empowered customers to improve diesel operations and avoid costly diversions to conduct repairs, saving time and money.
ABB’s willingness to adjust toward new strategies and services can provide a great model for other companies looking to improve their IoT innovations.
“We originally started by monitoring electrical machines in hybrid systems, but as a result of that monitoring, we started to find room for improvement in engine efficiency. Once we started looking at these engines as a four-generator power plant, we asked customers if they would like optimization.”
– Christopher Ganz, Group Service R&D Manager at ABB
IoT in Construction
Construction and utilities are another industry where IoT can do a lot of good. Its effects start with energy-efficient buildings, which can monitor heating, HVAC units, and lighting, reduce waste, and lower energy consumption.
IoT fulfills similar use cases on construction sites, such as in the manufacturing sphere, by monitoring the environment for threats and ensuring employees stay safe and sound.
However, its impacts also stretch to water management, where they can use sensors to detect leaks and monitor water quality. Last but not least, these systems can also improve the efficiency of installed renewable energy sources to save money and reduce waste.
IoT in Construction Case Study: Health Condition Safety (HCS)
HCS has adapted wearable technology originally developed for high-performance sports applications to reduce or eliminate many of the risks commonly associated with industries such as energy, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution, and large-scale construction.
Adaptable to almost any high-risk sector, the technology has real-time and long-term planning applications for workers, site managers, and even architects and engineers.
On a construction site, if a worker wearing HCS sensors enters a “danger zone” — such as the blind spot around a piece of heavy machinery — the system can warn the worker to move to a safer location or automatically shut down the machine.
“If you know the past and understand the present, then you can predict the future. That’s HCS’ vision for work-site safety; our tools are a big, important step in that direction.
Construction and other key sectors will always contain some risk, but by learning from employees, machines, and the buildings themselves, HCS is helping companies mitigate many of the biggest risks.”
- Peter Raymond, CEO at Health Condition Safety
IoT in Agriculture
Despite what the laymen may think, agriculture is one of the fastest-evolving industries. Farmers can leverage IoT to monitor and control crops and livestock in real time to increase their efficiency yield, and reduce waste.
Precision agriculture and livestock monitoring allow farmers to monitor the health and behavior of plants and animals alike, gather information on processes, plan for the future, and even intervene when something goes wrong.
They can do so remotely with drones and robotics, which can survey the land from the sky, apply pesticides and fertilizers, and even perform tasks such as weeding and harvesting.
On top of that, IoT also allows farmers to minimize their negative impact on their land and the environment as a whole. Sensors can track water usage, soil erosion, and air quality.
IoT in Agriculture Case Study: John Deere
Agriculture has not traditionally been a highly connected industry. Producers have been aware of what goes into the ground and what goes out the field gate, but data on what happens in between has been a blind spot until recently.
John Deere uses the IoT to connect each vehicle to a mobile online platform called JDLink, which gives farmers and their dealers remote access to fleet location, utilization, and diagnostic data for each machine.
Its John Deere Operations Center offers comprehensive IoT solutions for farmers, including wireless data streaming of production data, mobile monitoring, and real-time weather and crop reporting.
Networked sensors and historical and real-time data on weather, soil conditions, and crop status help farmers enhance the value of their operations by ensuring equipment operates reliably.
They optimize each job by ensuring that crops are planted and harvested when and how they will produce the best yields and achieving what John Deere calls “agronomic optimization” by engaging the trusted partners of the farmer to analyze data and recommend changes for future crop years.
Though John Deere’s connected machines help farmers increase efficiency and get more out of their operation, the company’s vision for connected agriculture extends well beyond the individual farm.
Ultimately, John Deere aims to transform the agriculture industry by using data to foster collaboration between farmers and others in dispersed sectors, including suppliers who provide seeds, fertilizers, and other materials to equipment manufacturers, retailers, and other agronomic specialists.
With real-time data transfer and remote visualization, trusted advisers can be involved in up-to-the-minute decision-making without being physically present at the farm site.
For John Deere customers that utilize this connection, their dealer can remotely diagnose a machine malfunction, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. In real-time, growers can connect with retailers and buyers to manage supply and product transportation.
That’s not to say what John Deere is doing is easy. Companies in different sectors of the agriculture industry aren’t used to working together.
They often see each other as rivals or view cross-industry partnerships as competitive threats. But neither cultural nor technological challenges are stopping John Deere.
“By and large, the decisions farmers make result from the mental heuristic they have, the computer that sits between their ears. Producers get an opportunity to grow a crop 40 times on average, and every time, in most cases, they’re betting the entire operation on their past experiences.
Farmers today are under significant pressure to produce more with less, all while managing greater operational complexity. We want to try to bring more insight into it by enabling better agronomic decisions, machine performance, and job performance.
We see our efforts to bring IoT to agriculture as a natural extension of what we’ve been doing for 178 years,” Pinkston said. “Our goal is the same as it has always been: helping producers be more efficient and effective and ensuring they’re more profitable.”
– Patrick Pinkston, Vice President of Information Solutions in Agriculture and Turf Division at John Deere
IoT in Transportation
The Internet of Things is also revolutionizing the transportation industry. Smart logistics systems allow providers to track their supply chain in real-time, providing insights into the delivery process.
For example, IoT devices allow connected vehicles to communicate with each other to help reduce congestion, improve safety, and increase fuel efficiency.
These sensors can track the vehicles’ performance and maintenance needs. Autonomous cars can notify each other of their presence and avoid collisions; route optimization tech helps prevent traffic jams.
IoT in Transportation Case Study: Mercedes-Benz Group & IBM
Since its founding in 1924, the Mercedes-Benz Group (formerly Daimler) has become one of the world’s premier automotive manufacturers, producing highly recognizable brands such as Mercedes, Maybach, Smart, and Freightliner.
Not satisfied with using IoT technologies to revolutionize internal operations, Mercedes-Benz turned to IBM to help launch car2go, an on-demand fleet of eco-friendly Smart cars that users can reserve through a mobile app.
Car2go represents a bold reimagining of the automaker’s role in the broader transportation industry, and none of what it does would have been possible without the IoT.
Sensors and wireless communications allow the company to monitor individual vehicle performance, analyze data to increase efficiency and provide an accessible network of vehicles to its customers.
An intuitive mobile app allows members to take any car2go vehicles distributed around them or reserve a car for future use. This provides customers with easy access to a vehicle when needed, without requiring them to purchase a car or pay for a parking spot, which can be very expensive in the large cities car2go serves.
Mercedes-Benz’s use of IoT technology allows creative collaboration with adjacent industries. For example, user-specific data makes it possible to offer customized insurance policies for the user and trip instead of traditional policies based on aggregate data for all users.
IBM has provided the technological expertise and tools and fostered the cross-industry relationships necessary to make car2go a success.
In conclusion…
While the Internet of Things is still in its comparative infancy, IoT technology is already doing a lot to revolutionize many of the most important industries. Despite the challenges the space suffers, it ultimately provides more benefits.
You can hold off on completely interconnecting your home for now. But the truth is, the time is ripe to start experimenting with implementing IoT solutions into your company’s processes. As the tech becomes more easily available, more competitors will jump on.
And you don’t want to get left behind.