You may have heard a lot of buzz about the IoT or Internet of Things. It is being discussed with regard to both business and consumer goods. Technology articles and mainstream TV commercials are all using this term much more in recent weeks and months. In the world of business, it pays to stay on top of new trends, ideas, and terminology. The more you can learn about what is trending or what is coming strong in the future, the better you will be able to adapt and determine if it will have any effect on your current business model. Greater Boston IT solutions through a trusted provider like Synivate can help you to stay ahead of the curve and be ready to respond to customer demands.
What is the Internet of Things?
This term is used to refer to the billions of physical smart technology devices that are connected to the Internet. These devices are used to collect and share data. Changes within the market, such as low-cost processors and widely available wireless networks, help make it possible to include many different types of products and devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) market. There are many advantages to this technology, as it is really helping to bring the digital and physical worlds together for the benefit of businesses, consumers, and everyone involved.
So what types of devices can be considered IoT? If the product can be connected to the Internet and controlled in that way, it can become transformed into an IoT device. One example would be a lamp that can be turned on and off via a smartphone app. This is just one of many different ways that consumers are already using smart technology to use the Internet of Things in their daily lives. Cloud computing services enable companies to collect and store data, which can be used to enhance the experience for the consumer.
Computers, Tablets, and Smartphones
It is important to note that these devices are NOT considered to be part of the Internet of Things (IoT) spectrum. Computers, tablets, and smartphones all connect to the Internet, but they do not communicate independently from a physical human action. While these types of devices are much more powerful and beneficial than they have ever been in the past, and they can, in fact, be used to connect with IoT devices, they are not IoT devices themselves.
However, other things that are similar to computers, tablets, and smartphones, such as fitness bands and smartwatches, can sometimes be considered IoT devices. The key is the way that these devices communicate and connect to the Internet, not necessarily what they do or the services that they provide. The Internet of Things is about adding intelligence to basic objects so they can be interacted with or used without direct human contact.
IoT and Business
Some of the most successful early examples of Internet of Things occurred in the business world. The use of RFID tags to keep track of assets and equipment is used across many different industries. The cost of adding tags to objects has become extremely affordable, allowing companies to keep track of expensive assets to enhance their abilities. However, today’s businesses aren’t looking as much to how IoT can work to improve their business model, but how they can use it to provide smart devices and products for their customers. Homes and offices are now filled with a variety of smart devices, creating valuable tools for just about every consumer demographic.
The Internet of Things is already quite large and is growing bigger every day. Studies reveal that by the end of 2017, there were already approximately 8.4 billion IoT devices in use, a jump of over 30 percent from just a year prior. Industry experts estimate that by 2020, there will easily be over 20 billion IoT devices in use by businesses and consumers, creating a huge market for IoT enabled products in the US and around the globe. Smart technology is definitely the wave of the future.
It is essential to work with Greater Boston IT Solutions through Synivate to see how cloud computing services and other related options can be used to your advantage. Whether it’s your goal to build smart technology devices or to simply use them to further your company growth, the more you can learn about the Internet of Things, the better. Contact Synivate by calling 617-517-0704 and speak with one of our consultants about the professional solutions and services we provide in the Greater Boston area.