IoT is rapidly moving from a ‘nice to have’ technology to a critical asset, and that’s clear in both the number and power of IoT solutions that cropped up this year. We’ve seen innovations that will significantly improve customer quality-of-life, deliver savings, and perhaps even save lives; all through devices talking to each other.
Healthcare
2018 saw the partnership between health and IoT grow stronger than ever, leading to some amazing leaps in healthcare tech. Through wearable IoT devices that gauge body vitals, it’s now possible to remotely monitor patient blood sugar, heart health, blood pressure and more. Doctors are put in control through said data and can take immediate, preventative measures if necessary; all while the patient is in the comfort of their own home, cared for by loved ones. Remote monitoring is also a game-changer in the storage of medical resources: blood and organs that are preserved for transplant are safer than ever with solutions that track the temperature of storage units and provide alerts when conditions are abnormal. Operators can also perform predictive maintenance on valuable healthcare equipment that’s protected by data-gathering IoT solutions.
Retail
IoT made some serious waves in the retail sector this year. Mobile-first marketing tech hit shop floors: customers can receive brilliantly timed and personalised messages when entering store premises that remind them of birthdays or seasonal holidays and suggest gift ideas. Amazon, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s began trialling checkout-less shops, which use cameras and IoT sensors to turn queueing nightmares into smooth pay-as-you-go experiences. With the onus being on the customer to scan barcodes and pay for items in their digital basket, there’s an increased need for security; a need that is being met, according to data from Gartner.
Security
What with such heavy investment into trailblazing tech, the protection of information and securing of assets is at the forefront of decision-makers minds. There’s no doubt a multitude of innovative IoT solutions hit the market this year; but that’s not to say security is slacking. More and more measures are being taken to make sure data and assets are kept safe—Gartner’s figures suggest that businesses spent a collective £114 billion on security this year, a 12% increase over 2017. For those looking to invest in IoT, this is reassuring evidence that security consideration and associated spend are matching the speed of innovation and invention.
It’s been a great year for IoT solutions—and with 2019 around the corner, we’re very excited to see what game-changing tech is on the horizon!
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