IoT Applications

Key Factors to Consider for Cellular Connectivity in IoT Product Design
admin
May 16, 2023
IoT

Key Factors to Consider for Cellular Connectivity in IoT Product Design

The Internet of Things, which had just a few applications before, is now part of almost every sector. Beginning from a smart bottle to a smart home, from smart buildings to smart towns, IoT has impacted every sector and will continue to do it. The integration of other technologies with IoT is also churning incredible results. Sectors, not part of it till now, are planning to embrace it with full potential.

IoT is diverse today, with a broad range of devices and applications connected with cellular connectivity solutions. By exploring various factors, product designers can possibly make the best connectivity options that suit the IoT solution.

This way, they are able to optimize the live operations of devices after they are deployed. Flexible connectivity is best for many installations, and to enhance this, the eSIM, wherever it is relevant, can support making the product more agile.

What aspects to keep in mind while considering cellular connectivity

Getting the proper cellular connectivity for IoT devices is crucial; otherwise, the whole purpose will be negotiated, leading to minimum output.

While designing for the IoT, one should consider the following aspects:

  • Device: The first thing to consider is the device because its deployment characteristics impact the choice of cellular connectivity. The aspects to consider are the lifespan of the device and the amount of power it requires to stay deployed. Mass deployments in remote areas, at the global level, or expansive locations require continuous power as they will likely stay in position for an extended time. 
  • Data: The second thing to consider is data- what type and amount of data will the device need to exchange? The device may send only a tiny amount of data or need higher bandwidth to exchange videos. It is essential to consider how the device application may develop over time, for instance, from sending audio files to adding video. It does not matter what data or volume is being transferred; the connectivity should be secure because mass IoT deployments offer a large attack surface with constant risk. Therefore, it is vital to consider data value and multi-network resilience. 
  • Distribution: If we talk about distribution, then we can simply say that it is a crucial consideration because network options and commercial arrangements will differ for national, regional, and international deployments. Having a single stock-keeping unit (SKU) for devices is always the best option, but that may not be feasible if devices targeted for different markets have different SIMs. In such cases, region-specific SIMs are to be implanted when devices reach their destinations for late-stage connectivity.
  • Coverage: This concerns the wireless technology which is used to connect devices. Low power wide area networks (LPWAN) (NB-IoT and LTE-M) are in favor, but their global coverage is quite in demand, and even at a national level, there are gaps. Make sure that your device has coverage and that there is no possibility you’ll need to deploy to countries with no LPWAN.

The phasing out of 2G and 3G

Many IoT applications were designed to connect over 2G and 3G. These networks are now being phased out; if we take the case of 3G, then switch-off has already occurred in many regions or is being listed in the to-do list in coming years. The main reason behind all this is that mobile network operators (MNOs) are trying to free up the spectrum for next-generation, cost-efficient, and better revenue-generating technologies. Most companies that use 3G for connecting IoT deployment will hold no place in their migration plans. 

But in the case of 2G, everything is slightly different as this technology has been entrenched in large deployments of IoT devices and machine-to-machine (M2M), especially across Europe. Therefore, there is a high chance that 2G will not be disrupted in many countries until the end of the decade. While this might sound like a far-off thing, future planning is critical for devices deployed for many years. 

There are 2G/3G connectivity options, each with its own features. These should be evaluated to assess their suitability for a new IoT device in design:

NB-IoT

This is the best solution for stationary IoT devices that share small amounts of non-real-time data, are solar or battery-powered, and are located where other technologies would not be able to get a signal. NB-IoT provides low hardware and operating cost, making long-term mass deployment viable. It is battery effective and can support devices that stay in the field for a long, like sensors with low and intermittent data. It also has full signal penetration, the most profound reach of any low LPWAN, and can cope with basements or underground car parking even if sensors are installed below street level.

  • LTE-M (Cat-M1): This provides the powerful throughput speed and bandwidth of any LPWAN technology to manage the over-the-air (OTA) updates of the future. It also sustains a wide range of IoT applications but is best for low-power devices that need higher speed or two-way data transfer, like those supporting SMS or voice services. It can be used for both mobiles as well as stationary devices, as it allows cell yo cell roaming. However, as already mentioned, some deployments would need help with either NB-IoT or LTE-M for the coverage causes. Today, neither LTW-M nor NB-IoT is available on 4G, and NB-IoT is currently not supporting eSIM.

In cases where these limitations make LPWAN useless, companies can consider the following:

  • LTE Cat-1 and Cat-1 BIS: LTE Cat-1 (Cat-1 BIS being the single antenna version) is a grown technology. Hardware costs and power consumption are pretty high in comparison with LTE-M and NB-IoT, but for some usage, the advantages will overshadow this issue. It receives global support as Cat-1 is a standard 4G technology, and traditional roaming agreements mean global network access is possible using a single SIM SKU. It is appropriate for mobile applications and goes well with eSIM also. Lower latency and increased bandwidth make Cat-1 a better option for 2G/3G and sustain a wide range of IoT applications. It fits nicely for low-power IoT devices that need high-speed and two-way data sharing or mobility. It also has a three-to-five-year battery life or application that uses rechargeable batteries.

eSIM adoption is already in process, and it is anticipated to be adopted within smartphones, enterprise IoT, and the wearables markets, with integrated iSIM technology following 2025.

As per research conducted by Counterpoint, it is estimated that shipments of eSIM-based devices will cover almost two billion units by the end of 2025 from 364 million in 2019. The report also shared that most eSIM-based devices will have a hardware chip-based eSIM solution until 2025.

eSIM for flexible connectivity

eSIM is one of the best technology, known for its flexibility, and also supports OTA provisioning of network operator credentials. This implies that the same SIM can be used in each device irrespective of where they go, as connectivity can be provisioned later. It delivers the single SKU essential for operational simplicity, particularly for large international IoT deployments. This makes manufacturing more uncomplicated and more streamlined, and connectivity uses local networks at local rates.

Additionally, eSIM allows in-life network operator changes without needing to swap out SIM cards physically. Through this, companies can leverage new commercial arrangements and attractive deals.

There are a few points to be taken care of while designing IoT devices with cellular connectivity. First, the device themselves, the data they will share, and the targeted areas where they will be used. These aspects will be crucial in determining the right cellular connectivity choice.

The second point to consider is that network technologies will not exist forever, as companies who have already done or are in the process of migration from 2G and 3G will understand. Hence the lifespan of the technology is another factor to be kept in mind.

The benefit of some technologies is their flexibility – the eSIM, wherever possible, brings agility to IoT deployments. In all, an IoT connectivity platform provider can help in determining optimal cellular connectivity for each IoT use case. To enjoy the leverages provided by the IoT system, one should never ignore the importance of cellular connectivity and whether the device is compatible with it or not.

By embracing an intelligent approach to connectivity and choosing an IoT connectivity partner that comprehends the potential eSIM brings but also understands the importance of managing different use cases in different countries in different ways, IoT organizations should ensure that they can provide optimized IoT connectivity continuously. Different countries follow different regulations; like Brazil does not allow permanent roaming for IoT devices, they can connect by using a local carrier only. Thus, the case of keeping connectivity streamlined and seamless just by having a single connectivity platform from one provider is attractive. The platform provider can handle all the changes and manage all the integration. Apart from this, deals of this type protect the customer organization from changes like geo-political changes that might compel an individual organization to reconsider its connectivity provision.

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Skills and Apps Needed for IoT Mobile App Developers
admin
July 25, 2022
IoT, Mobile Apps

What are Skills and Apps Needed for IoT Mobile App Development?

Nowadays, it is quite apparent that most of the Internet of Things that is IoT solutions or services are dependent on mobile applications. If we look around, we’ll find that either for industrial or consumer or commercial use cases, mobile applications are important user interfaces to interact, configure and control connected devices or digital services in an IoT system.

Many traditional mobile application development companies share that they are ready to embrace IoT but add that creating IoT applications requires much effort and expertise.

Suppose a traditional app development includes IoT as just one of their mobile capabilities. In that case, it should be considered a warning flag because IoT requires knowledge and expertise, which comes with focusing on IoT over a long time.

What are Important Mobile App Skills for IoT Developers?

Bluetooth Low Energy:

Bluetooth Low Energy enables smartphones to connect directly to IoT devices like sensors, smart appliances, and others. This allows mobile apps to perform works like collecting data from the devices or controlling or configuring the behavior, provision network credentials and updating the device’s software, and many other things.

This BLE is based on the same radio technology as traditional Bluetooth but consumes less power. This feature makes BLE the best for battery-powered IoT applications that do not send or receive a large amount of data. BLE provides support for modern smartphones. It is especially useful in providing network credentials, like sharing wifi SSIDs and passwords to an IoT device. The important point is to do this securely, mandating know-how beyond the basics.

Besides this, working with BLE demands knowing the communication protocols and unique behaviors of the IoT devices. This implies knowing how to troubleshoot the problems and debug issues. Other than this, it also demands experience working with the embedded microcontroller systems that power most devices. The traditional mobile app firms often do not get this type of experience. Pertinent details of the nuances of BLE in different mobile application frameworks like React Native, iOS, and Android environment is also important. Every framework or environment works differently.

Zero-Configuration Networking:

Zero-configuration or Zeroconf is another way smartphones can detect and interact with nearby devices. This system is less used than BLE for this purpose but is often employed for communicating with devices connected to the smartphone’s local wifi network. There are different protocols available that permit the mobile app to discover devices present in the network without needing any special network configuration. Therefore, these protocols are altogether known as Zero-Configuration Networking. These protocols consist of MultiCast DNS (MDNS) and Apple Bonjour.

Smartphones transfer different messages on the network to detect specific device types. The devices supporting the protocol will react with their service name and IP address. This allows the smartphone to develop a direct connection with the device. It is important to have skills and experience with networking and embedded devices for implementing Zeroconf networking.

IoT Cloud Service Integration:

Most of the IoT mobile apps integrate with IoT cloud services. This integration to digital services operating in the cloud allows users to communicate with the devices even when they are not in the range. It also allows users to get useful insights from IoT system data. 

Cloud service providers offer many software solutions for IoT systems that can do things like route messages, process events, index devices, and aggregate data. Mobile apps interact with these services. 

Often, mobile apps for IoT communicate with custom cloud APIs to streamline the interaction between the cloud services and mobile applications. Having experience with REST API and HTTPS is important, and for IoT applications, knowing MQTT and GraphQL. 

Executing good security protection is crucial when connecting to cloud services. To establish this, it needs expertise in methods for authenticating user accounts and setting up access protocols. The entire system ensures that the right users and systems access the right resources, not others. Establishing good security is not a small task and demands precise knowledge of the IoT system and its implementations. Therefore, mobile app developers holding loud experience, specifically IoT-oriented cloud services and patterns, are highly useful for developing great mobile apps for IoT. Holding a good connection with multiple cloud service providers and their capabilities and subtleties add a lot of worth. This also helps select the most optimal services and their providers for specific purposes.

Interfacing with IoT Devices:

IoT system connects the physical devices using networks to digital services and user interfaces. To perform the functions, physical devices have computing capabilities embedded inside them. These small compute consist of external interfaces to get sensor measurements, drive the display, store data, etc. We already discussed that mobile apps often connect to IoT devices over BLE, but the data shared over BLE varies by device type. The way data is collected and sent over BLE depends on the firmware operating in the device. The data available could be in any format, including binary. To exploit this data and debug any issues when they come up, it is important to know decoding, encoding, serialization, and bitwise operations.

Knowing how the IoT device works is important to understand the data needs. This may need reading datasheets and specification documents and reviewing the embedded firmware. Having information about embedded systems mobile makes this process seamless and more efficient.

Security:

IoT systems run on networks and manage important and private data. Therefore, they become the target of attacks from cyber criminals, security researchers, and others. Hence, IoT systems should have good security measures to safeguard the products and brands. 

Authentication of users and devices is an important part. Mobile apps should ensure that users trying to log in are valid and even detect invalid users. Depending on the account, the user should have unique permissions and data access policies. Along with this, mobile apps also need to ensure that any device a user attempt to connect to is authentic and has not been tempered. This is only possible using cryptographically signed software and digital certificates. The data shared between devices and mobile apps should be encrypted. Mobile apps play an important role in updating the firmware of the specific connected devices they are developed to support. This requires securely downloading firmware files, verifying them, and transferring them over the device. To create such systems, it is important to have end-to-end security knowledge. Experience with data access policies and Over-the-Air firmware updates with cryptographically signed firmware is also important.

Cross Platform Development:

Well, there is no need to put effort twice and write two apps when you can have one? Earlier, there was a need to develop two separate applications for Android and iOS.

However, today there are cross-platform development frameworks that serve both. This implies that a single development project can offer mobile applications for both Android and iOS. It has been found that cross-platform development frameworks like React Native and Flutter can provide excellent results in minimum time. These frameworks permit developers to write code in a single language and render applications in native code. The native code varies between Android versus iOS. This means there is no difference in the performance. The final mobile apps perform well and provide the look and feel that Android or iOS users expect. These frameworks have been employed in thousands of web applications and mobile applications. Using a common framework for web and mobile applications adds many advantages to the consistency of user experience.

Mobile App Architecture for IoT:

Mobile apps for IoT should look great and operate flawlessly. The best people to develop the user interfaces must necessarily be the developers with a good grip on core functionality.

Suppose a company delivers the core IoT capabilities for an app inside a bundle of software that partner companies or customers can use within the mobile application. This enables them to focus on developing a seamless user experience without considering the complexities of the IoT features underneath. Your developer should pack the core IoT capabilities into mobile software development kits that can summarize all the IoT complexity into a compilation of software that reveals clear APIs to other mobile app developers.

These SDKs, i.e., software development kits, have APIs for cloud connectivity, device data access, account management, etc. This allows mobile developers to have less IoT complexities experience and access to the IoT APIs to prioritize the application’s user-facing features.

Summary

These are a few reasons advocating Mobile Apps for IoT are unique and require unique skills to develop. These consist of IoT-specific mobile app development features like BLE and the cross-domain experience like cloud and embedded.

If you wish to add great IoT experiences for customers, collaborate with a company with a forte in IoT development and implementation. Connecting with an experienced mobile app development company can improve your business and provide a greater user experience. IoT is the next-gen technology with the only objective of simplifying the existing complex system. It also ensures that customers don’t struggle while using apps or services, and on the other hand, it saves time and cost for the service providers.

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How do Cellular Networks in IIoT Promise Scalable and Secure Connections
admin
March 2, 2022
IoT

How do Cellular Networks in IIoT Promise Scalable and Secure Connections?

Internet of Things has been an exclusive topic to be discussed for the last few years. We all know about the opportunities it unveils in business. How adopting this technology can add more benefits and success to the company. But do you know how the choice of connectivity can affect the performance of the solution offered by IoT? One must consider the network, its effective range, reliability, device battery use, how much data of different types it can transfer, and the speed for implementing Industrial IoT projects.

Many connectivity options are available, and cellular connectivity is the most popular as it is a simple, scalable, and secure way to connect industrial IoT devices.

Today manufacturers all around the world are stepping ahead to make their business competent and more efficient by integrating it with IoT applications as it can boost productivity, reduce equipment downtime and enhance the efficiency of factory operations and processes.

Cellular IoT networks and devices are cheap and widespread, alluring more interest. Many organizations have already deployed cellular IoT networks to cut out the different business problems and start smart manufacturing. Organizations establish connectivity to gather data from various devices to adopt these projects successfully.

Cellular Connectivity In Industrial IoT Application

Integrating connected devices with cellular connectivity has been a long-time attempt of industrial engineers in creating autonomous manufacturing equipment and factory automation systems. Mobile technology has offered the skill for organizations to seamlessly accelerate the speed and extend the data processing capability of the systems.

Cellular connectivity empowers companies to transmit and process large amounts of information in a jiff without the requirement to send all the data through a centralized IT infrastructure. This provides organizations with an opportunity to execute strategies for machine health monitoring with the aid of wireless industrial IoT sensors without any requirement to construct their infrastructure.

Influence of Different Cellular Standards on IoT Connectivity

Cellular connections are pretty flexible with different protocols. Mostly LTE, i.e. Long Term Evolution is the prevalent worldwide approach. IIoT service providers prefer it because of its lower cost, ease of implementation quality, and less power need.

Device vendors are launching new cellular IoT devices, gateways, IoT inclined routers and new solutions that fit into IIoT solutions like IoT apps, IIoT system integration, and device analytics.

Including cellular connectivity to extend IoT solutions will boost the range of Plug and Play Sensors applications, enhancing the efficiency of Industrial IoT roll-outs and fast reconfigurations to fulfil the business requirements. Robust connectivity is necessary to achieve critical information about the health and performance of the machines; hence industries are focusing on getting the latest technologies that provide faster and more precise information. For successful deployment of cellular IoT systems, solution providers and multi-national end-user companies seek solutions that offer worldwide support (2G, 3G, and LTE). These are already becoming part of businesses scaling IoT solutions and assuring seamless deployment worldwide.

eSIM

Cellular standards impact the performance, range, ease of development, reliability, security and cost of implementation for expanding IoT in the manufacturing industry. Traditional sim cards which are utilized in cellular IoT devices are confined to single network carriers. They need a technical to manually insert or replace sim cards which cause deployment bottlenecks, especially in remote locations.

These challenges can end with the latest eSIM platforms, which have a non-removable chip that can download the carrier profile over the air and permit multiple telecom providers to programme in advance so that the device can choose the best connection.

IoT devices with eSIM have a single sim card with a cellular module that offers the ease of deploying anywhere globally and guarantee dependable connectivity due to their ability to switch carriers without any need for physical human interaction.

These devices are a blessing for monitoring machines in complex and remote areas and help to slay logistical challenges during movement. All these features provide speedier scalability for IoT applications.

Benefits of Cellular IoT Connectivity

Today, cellular connectivity is attaining unexpected height for implementing integrated machine-to-machine communications that facilitate wireless condition monitoring of industrial assets. This is all possible because Cellular IoT connectivity enables high network dependability. The cellular IoT devices data (transfers with high data rates) are not disturbed by bad weather conditions. The distance between the device and the base location does not impact it compared to other wireless communication options. This shows that cellular connectivity provides the best coverage and the capacity to avoid overload problems. It also offers greater freedom of mobility that supports obtaining connectivity even in complex environments where equipment is not stationary. 

Mobile technology impressively transforms Industrial IoT applications and solutions because of its advantages. In IIoT, various manufacturing verticals will keep using cellular IoT devices as the most successful implementation.

Digitalization

Digitalization of manufacturing operations guarantees lowered downtime & enhanced productivity, and cellular networks are essential to accomplish it. Cellular networks provide organizations with the opportunity to use these technologies to speed their Industry 4.0 journey potentially.

The availability of cellular network coverage eases the work by making it prompt and cost-saving for manufacturers to keep a watch on industrial assets even in remote areas. The incoming of 5G provides a more robust opportunity for organizations to leverage data through faster connections, ultimately improving capacity to handle real-time information to discover the most fitting and highly potential Industrial IoT.

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How are Wearables Improving the Connected World Concept
admin
August 4, 2021
IoT, Technology

How are Wearables Improving the “Connected World” Concept?

Today, if we look around, we can easily sense that we live in a connected world ruled by sensing technology and intelligent devices. Every organization is attempting to climb the connected ladder between brands and customers to launch the most efficient and innovative product in the market. Few Research Centre took a survey and shared that wearable is the most popular smart device as one in five Americans owns it. 

Wearables are changing the way of communication, monitoring and sharing information between consumers. They are playing a pivotal role in progressing the concept “connected world” we are living in. Even after having many desirable features, the overall wearable market has not hit dynamic market growth as analysts predicted. 

Ericsson shared that almost 1 in 10 wearable users no longer use their wearable devices, and one-third have already abandoned them after a couple of weeks. The main reason behind this unpredictable behaviour is that consumers do not know what they need. 

For lifestyle purposes or health reasons, customers try wearables as an experiment or eagerness and forget about it if they are unimpressed by the inadequate functionality of the connected device. On the other hand, instead of investigating the customer’s requirements or addressing customers’ needs, brands are just throwing products out to the market to know what functionality is beneficial and marketable. 

One of America’s renowned multinational technology and e-commerce companies recently announced a catalogue of half a dozen different smart wearable products.

Based on the people’s curiosity and past experiences, researchers still conclude that wearables could make their place in the market. International brands are aggressively working to produce wearables that can stick in the market. 

The COVID-19 pandemic hit has also caused a significant impact on the wearables market. Gartner shared about the shift in the choices of people amid COVID. In 2020 wearable market saw a momentary push in heath wearables which concluded that customers and vendors are more interested in health-focused wearables. 

Therefore it is pretty clear that niche products do not meet customer needs. Consumers are looking for multi functionalities in a device or say “all-in-one” wearables are winners. But to develop such wearables, there is a need for more functionality, low energy consuming sensors and other latest technologies.

Sensing the Wearable demand

IDC predicts that there would be over 55 billion connected devices globally by 2025. This implies that every person on earth would own seven or more connected devices. The entire design should have the right factor, along with portability and user-friendliness. At the heart of this design are embedded sensors. 

From consumer wearables that support a healthier lifestyle to medical wearables that help decide a patient’s vital signs by sensing components promptly are some of the advanced help these technologies offer to lives, consumers enjoy the safety, productivity, and health incentives. 

The embedded sensors allow complex interaction between people and devices, enhancing the user experience to make daily interactions with smart technology more comfortable and natural. These sensors make it feel like the devices around us intuitively understand what we want them to do. Important needs of embedded sensor technology for connected devices are small size and low-power consumption and overall ease of ‘wearability’ for added comfort and functionality.

Small and low energy consuming sensors offer the best way of tracking a person’s health, physical activity, exercise; RF components assure the best connectivity and location determination, and wireless charging makes everyday life much simple, and it is almost as if the devices “charge themselves.” 

The most crucial feature of sensor technology is to make our lives more convenient through seamless, simple interactions between people and sensing devices so that users can emphasize their other essential works.  

It is evident that with an advance in wearable industries, there will be a requirement for more accurate, reliable and compact sensing technologies for long-term functionality in wearables. 

Functionality comes with Challenges

Consumers expect “all-in-one” smart devices, and wearable devices are moving towards that. From texting to calling, timekeeping to vital monitoring is becoming part of today’s wearables. However, adopting this “new standard” carries challenges and issues with wearable battery life and power management structure.

No doubt, it is tough to compact multiple sensors for capabilities into a thin, small and lightweight device. The addition of new functionality drags a challenge of power management.

Ways to overcome efficiency issues include:

  • By transferring data wirelessly by using LoRa, NB-IoT, etc.
  • Unloading high power functions to solutions like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
  • Selecting an effective microcontroller (MCU) for power management purposes to reduce power consumption – especially when the device is not in use.
  • Utilizing pin-type charging or wireless charging rather than a USB plug-in connection.
  • Improving overall sensor technology.

Wireless power is becoming part of a multifaceted world of small things. Designers demand a highly integrated semiconductor solution with minimum loss rates, robust performance, and outstanding linearity.

Boosting Battery Technology

Battery life is the most significant barrier to the growth of wearable tech today. Smart wearable devices need efficacious power management to run many various functionalities at once. Customers demand batteries that last for a long time and are easy to recharge. Most wearables have lithium-ion (Li-ion) or Lithium-ion polymer (Li-poly) batteries; these conventional batteries only fit basic on-functionality wearables with simple sensors and low power capabilities. They are unable to keep up with the demand of adding more functionality to a single device.

In the end, it’s the solution that is evaluated no matter which battery is installed in it. Semiconductor companies are endeavouring to address this need for new battery alternatives by designing battery management technologies, especially for wearables, instead of new battery technology.

What About Security?

Tracking health and location details, collecting personal and contactless payment information are some of the uses of wearables in daily life. Wearables are immensely collecting sensitive user data, causing security issues to the forefront, especially IoT security.

As per the report shared by Nokia’s Threat Intelligence, the percentage of IoT infections increased by 100%in 2020 and IoT devices make up 32.7% of the total infected devices now.

Wearables are an extension of the user’s smartphone; both devices create a significant security risk for the customer and connected wireless network if not secured properly. If a wearable or mobile phone is connected to a public network, it could be at high risk of valuable information piracy if the security infrastructure is not updated. It could be a great chance for hackers.  

Currently, there is not enough space to improve security measures in wearables due to their small form factor. However, manufacturers are adding two-factor authentication, facial recognition, active sensing, and fingerprint sensing to shield wearables from end to end thoroughly to maintain security. 

Safe, guarded, and efficient high-value semiconductor components will support IoT in the connected world.

IoT Connectivity Future

Wearables will speed up the merge of the digital and physical world. PwC highlights that wearable technology has just started influencing enterprises; in the coming future, semiconductor companies will lead this enterprise charge by delivering a better and high-value semiconductor for the fast-growing IoT application. With the availability and integration of more intelligent technology like artificial intelligence, connected devices will become more automatic, providing a world where our devices take better care of us.

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How is IoT Making Buildings Smart and Efficient
admin
July 21, 2021
IoT

How is IoT Making Buildings Smart and Efficient?

Internet of Things is making space for its growth in almost every sector. We can say that the day is not far when the Internet of things will become a primordial need of every industry. It has just not changed the outlook of the manufacturing or retail or logistic industry or dairy but is contributing in enhancing the profits as well as helping in providing better service to customers. 

So, today most of the sectors are willing to adopt the most innovative technology, i.e. IoT, because of the favours and benefits provided by it. As per surveys, the global IoT market would grow by $421.28 billion during 2021-2025 — a CAGR of 33% and $8 billion in 2019 to $19 billion by 2027 in the construction industry. 

Well, if we talk about managing facilities and buildings, you might take some time to calculate the work and task and feel burdensome. Maintaining facilities in a building requires effort and cautiousness because a bit of delay may end up in an unhealthy environment along with disappointment. 

So, let us see how IoT applications are helping in managing facilities and buildings. 

Today, facility managers have to work proactively to stay competitive and ahead of the curve. They should have knowledge of technology and innovations. They should offer new digital services and ensure that their buildings are adapted for the future while ensuring the most reliable environment for everyone who will be using it. 

Let us check some of the ways through which IoT is improving buildings and facilities. 

How is IoT improving facility management?

Internet of Things-enabled devices can improve facility management and make premises a better place for employees and everyone else working with the organization.

The advantages of including IoT in building management are:

  • IoT reduces operational costs by creating cost-effective, energy-efficient buildings that operate efficiently and handle resources in the most optimal way.
  • IoT keeps employees safe and healthy by encouraging clean, tidy, and hygienic environments that are regulated and cleaned as per the need caused by the constant movement of humans.
  • IoT promises to maximize productivity, ensuring all team members have everything they require to complete their tasks and stay relaxed and concentrated all the time.
  • IoT devices ensure safety and risk mitigation; they detect risk areas, automate relevant action, and keep physical and digital assets safe and secure as long as possible.

Facility Management Examples:

Managing Desk and Workplace Occupancy using IoT:

As the COVID-19 pandemic has hit globally, one of the biggest challenges was running a business to sustain the economy. Most of the organizations and companies adopted the startling trend and provided remote employment. There is a massive rise in remote working, i.e. from early COVID-19 to March 2021; remote employment increased from 15% to 70%. 

It is supposed that this work from home facility won’t be a temporary change- about half of the employees expect this work from home culture would continue for them into the near future, and 31% believe it will be permanent.

Internet of Things can support businesses in managing their premises effectively and efficiently during this challenging time. In coming years occupancy can fluctuate between days as we move towards a model where employees will join the office a few days each week. 

IoT enabled devices such as sensors attached to desks can trace, predict and inform office occupancy. It creates digital plans that would allow employees to find space promptly. It offers the tools to optimize the existing space by grouping desks as per the need of the office. IoT even saves energy and helps in freeing up space for new uses.

Air Quality Monitoring using IoT:

Air quality issues have been a significant concern, but pandemics brought this issue into the spotlight. Air quality and proper ventilation have always been a priority concern in offices. Before COVID-19, poor ventilation has caused:

  • Easily disease developed
  • High possibility of respiratory diseases such as asthma
  • Allergies
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Dry eyes

Improper ventilation also impacts productivity- one study saw that poor ventilation at the workplace decreased employees’ cognitive ability, making them perform worse at their jobs and decreasing their productivity. 

One of the best solutions to this issue is adopting IoT devices to measure air quality conditions such as humidity, temperature, CO2 levels, etc. This feature enables pinpointing the areas for concern and taking relevant actions to create a safe and healthy environment for employees which ultimately improves productivity for the entire team.

Washroom Monitoring using IoT:

A clean washroom is a priority and no doubt, keeping a restroom clean in a busy office with limited cleaning staff and resources is challenging. Keeping the washroom tidy is an essential part of managing a pleasant, healthy and safe environment.

Thankfully, IoT is a saviour in this situation also. IoT devices can track the washroom business, enabling the prediction of when rooms will require cleaning and how many times in a day.

Thus, one can allocate a building’s cleaning resources more efficiently and help cleaning staff spend time more effectively. Therefore, this helps develop a cleaner and more enjoyable environment for employees in the organization and reduces extra expenditure and saves resources.

Conclusion:

Smart buildings hold a great scope in future. IoT is becoming part of every sector. It is widely used, more affordable and can manage a wide variety of jobs. No doubt it will soon become part of the furniture in offices and other commercial building globally.

We can doubtlessly say that IoT technology is ideal for facility management and brings the smart building revolution. It just not benefits the organization but also take care of employees. It smoothens the working process of the organization without compromising on quality.

If you become a part of this expanding trend now, you’ll be capable of managing your facilities in the most effective, productive and cost-efficient way. But if you are still in a dilemma and choose to work using the old-tradition method, you might face failure and loss.

So, don’t waste your time and become a part of this trend.

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How is IoT Transforming the Retail Business?
admin
June 30, 2021
IoT

How is IoT (Internet Of Things) Transforming the Retail Business?

Today, almost all industries are utilizing the benefits offered by the Internet of Things. One of the biggest markets affecting the industry, i.e. retail industry, is also encountering an exciting transformation with innovative IoT applications.

Retailers and marketers are enjoying unlimited opportunities with IoT applications to collect and produce more intense insights into customer response and purchasing patterns.

IoT applications aids retailers in increasing productivity, sales and enhances the overall customer experience. Such benefits have improved the image of IoT and made it a centre of attraction among retailers across the globe.

Marketers and businesses expect the revenue of IoT in retail to stretch around 35.5 billion USD by the end of 2025. Today retailers can use IoT technology in their business in different ways to get the most optimal result.

How IoT helps retailers in improving business?

Nowadays, retailers are adopting IoT to enhance customer experience, reduce costs, drive growth and enhance overall performance. Let’s see how IoT supports retailers in improving business.

Smart Shelves:

In a retail business, it has been observed that a considerable amount of time and energy is spent in keeping track of items, i.e. to confirm the availability of a product and know the condition of the product. Using smart shelves is a better solution to end the hassle. IoT technology in retail helps automate monitoring products and reduces the possibility of any possible vandalism.

Retailers attach sensors and RFID tags on the shelves to monitor the products and gather the data. The readers have to scan products on both display shelves and stock shelves.

IoT enabled smart shelve informs the retailer about when items are incorrectly placed on the shelf or running low. It helps to control the management of inventory in a precise and cost-effective way. The RFID tags are attached to a reader that gives the smart shelves the capability to identify in-store thefts. Hence, it cuts off the extra expenditure spend on security personnel.

Automated Checkouts:

Most of the time, store’s checkout counters are the busiest place holding lines of customers for their turn to pay the bills. IoT technology has solutions for this issue as well. It resolves the issue effectively by establishing a system that can read tags on each item when customers leave the store.

The checkout system matches the items with RFID tags and automatically deduct the cost from the customer’s mobile payment application. The automated checkout system improves the customer experience and increases the probability of their revisit to the store for next shopping.

Personalized Discounts:

Loyal customers expect some privileges like personal discounts or rewards for their loyalty. One of the best ways to meet their expectation is setting up sensors that send loyalty discounts to loyal customers when they reach the specific products with their smartphones.

Another way is to adopt IoT to monitor those items that the customer has been searching online and send a personalized discount when the item is available in-store. Through engaging offers Internet of Things can surprise the customers and sustain their loyalty.

Thus adding IoT into a daily business needs foresightedness and creativity. The innovative and smart approach attracts more valuable and long-term customers.

In-Store Layout Optimization:

By Implementing analytics on the data collected using infrared sensors, the store’s layout can be optimized by placing the products at their appropriate place. Also, placing the popular products at the front and least liked at the back can offer a comfortable way to customers to reach the desired item.

Suppose a customer is searching for a popular Smart TV in-store, but it is placed behind an old DVD player’s stock; thus, it is blocking the way to the TV. This inconvenience might result in losing a potential customer. Therefore, in-store layout optimization plays a vital role in a retail business.

The use of IoT applications helps a customer find and locate their desired products in-store, help find the best route to reach their selected items, and check the details of the product provided by the smart shelves.

Optimized Supply Chain Management:

The RFID tags and GPS sensors attached to each product provides precise data about the products’ condition like temperature, humidity, time spent in transportation, and other product-related factors. When the collected data is processed and analyzed to gain insights, it can improve transport and the overall supply chain. In addition, IoT sensors alert the person in charge in case of any emergency and enable them to take necessary actions immediately to avoid substantial loss.

Conclusion:

Internet of Things is transforming the outlook of the retail industry by implementing smart solutions. The adoption of IoT solutions in the retail business can help in improving customer experience, reduce operational costs, improves inventory management and high-quality services.

By extracting valuable insights through IoT and Data analytics, retailers can manage and schedule their operations, including inventory management, supply chain, boost marketing conversions, and ROIs. Thus these features will attract retailers to adopt IoT into their businesses in the upcoming year to enhance their benefits.

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admin
November 5, 2020
IoT

Plan Your IoT Real-Time Data Streaming Process

IoT is the new demand, or we can say the requirement of technology. The changes, disruptions, upgrading, business demands, customers’ demand, everything queues to urge for the adoption of IoT. However, the adoption of IoT isn’t profitable until you are not stirring the best out of it. Nowadays, the most discussed topic in IoT is IoT real-time data streaming process. IoT data streaming is essential as it provides real-time decision making that is significant to many operations. An organization should have tools to accumulate data from sensors and devices then process it and transfer it to the database for analysis and real-time results.

Data streaming enhances performance and saves from the upcoming mishap as it sends alerts that prompt interference. For example, in a refrigerated truck, if a sensor reads a decrease in the required temperature, then IoT real-time data streaming and AI models will provide alert that the needed temperature is disturbed and it might cause the spoilage of the product.

Why organizations need IoT data streaming?

Well, data streaming is required to attain smooth operations and to get prepared for future challenges. It allows organizations to take prompt decisions and actions.

In short, Organizations use IoT data streaming for:

  • Detecting illegal network access
  • Recognizing upcoming machine failure before it actually occurs
  • Monitor the changes happening in a patient’s health and notify the doctor for the same before any mishap happens

Not just this, real-time data streaming also improves the organization’s competitive position. Let’s check an example of a clothing store. Today, some of the clothing stores are installing smart mirrors in their shops to provide better customer experience. Through smart mirrors, potential customers can virtually try on different dresses or items or get a specific look without any hassle of physically trying them on.

As per the market researcher MarketsandMarkets, the streaming analytics market may grow from $12.5 billion in 2020 and extent to $38.6 billion by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate of 25.2%.

IoT applications and expansion of GPS and geographic information systems that are used to monitor, trace and map events in real-time is essential pillars of data streaming process.

Do you know how the data streaming process runs?

The data streaming process involves three components: software, an operational database and an analytics engine. The operational database runs in real-time, whereas analytics engine extracts the data to provide insights.

For first-time data stream deployment, organizations gather all the three crucial components, which need awareness with the process steps and understanding of the complexities of the tools which are used in each step of the operation.

The first step involves ingesting the IoT data using some message streaming software or message brokers like Amazon Amazon Kinesis Data Streams or Apache ActiveMQ.

Once the ingestion is completed, in the next step ETL tool, i.e., extract, transform and load tool prepares the data for import into an analytics database. This type of process is typically an operational database based on a SQL platform. Organizations must create real-time analytics and machine learning models and applications to obtain useful business insights from gathered data.

It is noticed that many IT departments adopt this methodology, but with the emergence of the latest technology, there are many automated methods and platforms. There are data streaming and analytics services or platforms which simplifies the architecture and mechanics like Splice Machine SQL database and Confluent Platform or machine learning models.

What are the four best data streaming practices?

Organizations that build their process from the start and are looking for an off-the-shelf offering should check the following four best data streaming practices.

  1. Opt narrow business cases: The first practice one should follow choosing business cases which are solely dedicated to IoT data streaming that provides efficiencies, customer satisfaction, cost-saving and increased revenues. For instance, use of IoT data to detect which machines require high priority maintenance and if not provided then will fail on any assembly line, monitor network endpoints to block unauthorized access/ attacks or to trace the positions of the shipment.
  2. Simplify the design: Organizations should simplify the data streaming architecture to accelerate the time from insight to streamed data and cut-off the excess manual-coding. There are tools like Apache Kinesis Data Streams that automates the data ingestion operation, automate the ETL transportation of data into databases and removes the dependency on IT to facilitate the above function through extra coding. Splice Machine database also simplifies the operations as it automatically stores test database sandboxes. Thus, a user has to issue a single command and does not need manually set up the test database by a data analyst.
  3. Clean the data: Everything is essential in the data streaming process. Clean data is equally critical as architecture. The data cleaning process occurs at the time of data ingestion and happens in the processing/working of an ETL tool. Well, if an organization desires to automate portions of these operations, then must contact and work with their vendors and vendor’s toolsets to promise that they are capable of meeting the cleaning needs.
  4. Acknowledge the near-real-time & batch process: It is not suggested to perform every analytical function in real-time. Some data processing are periodically performed, near-real-time intervals like after every half-an-hour. In batch processing that is delivered during the day or overnight is also significant. Before the implementation of the process, organizations should find out which process need real-time and set workflows accordingly.

Well, to churn profits from IoT, it is necessary to know how to efficiently use it. IoT, along with other technologies, allows you to get a clear vision through data. The useful data enables you to take prompt decisions, and actions to stop the looming loses and mishaps. The IoT data processing is the best way to enjoy the best of IoT and make business operations smooth and efficient. Connect reliable and proficient IoT service providers to know more about IoT, get idea and services for IoT data processing. Your business needs IoT touch; don’t waste your time anymore. Connect us.

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