Some industries have been faster than others to adopt the internet of things
The Internet of Things stands to bring the power of digital technology into a range of fields. While every field will likely see some impact from the IoT, some stand to benefit by being early adopters. Here are a few of the industries that are adopting the IoT early on.
Google Navigation and similar apps are already taking advantage of IoT principles by detecting slow traffic through users’ devices. The transportation industry can use the IoT to determine which routes are most effective. It’s possible to track vehicle performance as well, ensuring that problems are detected early on. Success in the transportation industry is about eking out small advantages over competitors, and the IoT can deliver an edge.
Much like the transportation industry, the retail industry lives on the edge of profitability. Ensuring a store’s layout is ideal is crucial for making the sales needed to make a profit, and data is crucial for making the right decisions. Another advantage of the IoT is its ability to track results quickly. Stores can try an array of strategies to find those that work, and they won’t need to wait for weeks or months to gather valuable data.
One of the earliest adopters of the IoT concept is the electrical industry. Reading meters is a significant expense, but smart meters provide faster responses and instant access to information. They also reduce the possibility of tampering, and they can provide more accuracy that analog meters used in the past. Smart sensors along the power grip can provide a detailed overview of the system as a whole, letting electrical companies send only the power that is needed to avoid waste.
It may seem surprising that agriculture, a field that’s as far from high-tech as any, is a leading adopter of the IoT. However, the sheer size of modern farms means that sensors are invaluable tools. Furthermore, farms with a sufficient volume of sensors are easier to automate, ensuring more efficient use of water and power and reducing the amount of labor needed. Modern IoT agriculture systems are sophisticated; measuring nitrogen levels in soil, for example, lets automatic tillers lay down fertilizer precisely where it’s needed, which leads to better crop yields while further reduce labor requirements.
The healthcare field covers a broad range of activities and interactions, and the IoT can help most of them. Hospitals can use real-time IoT data to make the most of their limited resources and to provide better patient interaction. The IoT can also ease the transfer of patient data, letting medical providers spend less time wrangling paperwork and more time with patients. Data measured over time makes it easier for hospital administrators to schedule doctors, nurses, and support staff, further reduce operating expenses.
Cities are large and unwieldy entities, and gaining an overview of them is challenging. Instead of relying on reports for employees, cities can instead use IoT data to make sense of their complexity.
Cities are dynamic places, and handling events, both planned and unplanned, is a real challenge. Real-time data supplied by the IoT makes dealing with unusual circumstances more manageable.
The IoT is expanding, and more industries will eventually incorporate the IoT paradigm into regular operations. Over time, more and more employees, managers, and planners will find themselves relying on IoT data as part of their daily jobs. Technological fads come and go, but the IoT idea is here to stay.