What the hell is that? Aisha Hillary from Tigerspike explains.
Work, human interactions, commerce, and broader society are fundamentally changing. Currently the average household owns five connected devices and it is forecast that by 2020, there will be over 30 billion connected devices worldwide. All emerging technologies look to leverage The Internet of Things (IoT), all consumers are getting excited by it and all organisations need to find ways to harness it.
Falling technology costs, developments in cloud computing and ubiquitous mobile data networks are all driving the growth of IoT related products and services. Smart devices are getting more intuitive however businesses do not know the full implications and how to take advantage of this increased connectivity.
The challenge facing industries is how to turn the 30 billion connected devices into tangible solutions that drive ROI. Following are just some of the smarts organisations need to consider to enhance experiences with consumers and employees;
1. Smarter self – Consumers are now more informed than ever with devices such as smart watches, electronic tattoos and pills with built-in sensors, all improving health, weight and wellbeing. As connected, personalized devices become the norm, organisations need to consider how to integrate with these applications to create utility and proactive, relevant communications.
2. Smarter home – Consumers are connecting their homes to their smartphones. Connected water meters, lights, baby monitors and other electronic devices will allow consumers to track and control energy consumption, improve intrusion detection and other remote trigger applications. Consider how you can improve consumer engagement, tracking, productivity efficiencies and cost saving within the enterprise through these connected smarts.
3. Smarter enterprise – Connectivity in the enterprise improves collaborative working practices, data intelligence and supply chain logistics. Technologies such as beacons and sensors assist indoor navigation, two-way communication, transactions, interactions and real-time notifications, all able to enhance an event experience. Understanding how these new technologies, such as iBeacons and RFID can be used to trigger messages, replenishing stock, track shipments and guiding consumers or staff along an accurate path, all create more efficient and relevant experiences.
4. Smarter cities – Technology is making our cities smarter. Structural monitors now measure vibrations and material conditions in buildings, bridges and historical monuments, rubbish levels in containers to optimise rubbish collection routes and weather adaptive street lights save energy and prevent road accidents. Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles can also reduce travel congestion and driver and pedestrian incidents. How can you plug into this technology to improve your own event or experience?
5. Environment – IoT can help harness and protect natural resources and the environment. Sensors can monitor the onset of earthquakes, sea levels, combustion gases, soils for optimal forest growth, soil moisture and earth density. Smarter energy devices aid energy harvesting, awareness; safety and can create more convenience for our customers.
By 2020, IoT will create $1.9 trillion of economic value add. Personal media devices are at the centre as you monitor via a mobile interface, control via an app or receive alerts through sensors. With 75 per cent of businesses already exploring this space and only six per cent believing it is ‘hype’, now is the opportunity to create that different experience and leap ahead of the competition.
For more information on technology and connected devices go to the Tigerspike blog.
Tigerspike is running free educational workshops over the next couple of months. Details below:
The Internet of Things: the realities and opportunities for business
– Singapore: Wednesday 14 May
– Melbourne: Wednesday 21 May
– Sydney: Thursday 22 May
– Japan: Tuesday 27 May
Driving ROI in the Enterprise through mobile technology
– Sydney: Wednesday 25 June
– Melbourne: Thursday 26 June
– Singapore: Wednesday 2 July
– Japan: Tuesday 8 July
Beacon Demonstrations
Throughout May, Tigerspike will be hosting demonstrations in each of its offices highlighting how different industries can harness Bluetooth Beacon technology to enhance location accuracy, navigation and two way communications, indoors, with our own custom built solution.
Register here for further details: events@tigerspike.com
