The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to transform nearly every industry with new levels of safety and efficiency. Advancements in connectivity, sensors, cloud computing, and AI lay the foundation for everything from mobile healthcare and autonomous driving to traceable shipping and greater hygiene.
But the actual adoption of IoT solutions has been neither rapid nor universal.
The reason? Building an intelligent product that delivers flawlessly and reliably requires significant development time and capital investment — no matter your industry. You need to consider the device’s viability, scalability, and broader connectivity infrastructure. Enablement platforms are key to overcoming these development challenges — so you can deliver on the promise of IoT for your industry.
New technologies turn IoT into a big opportunity
Global IoT adoption hasn’t been immediate, but growth is steady. According to McKinsey, 25 percent of businesses used IoT technologies in 2019, up from 13 percent in 2014. Larger enterprises, who were early adopters of IoT, are now looking to scale their IoT pilots. And McKinsey projects that smaller to mid-sized enterprises stand to benefit the most from the latest IoT technology advancements.
In addition, greater availability of sensors and technology solutions for data management and connectivity make IoT newly accessible across industries for companies of all sizes. New sensor technologies land improved sensor fusion algorithms — along with increased computing power and 5G technology — all enable new use cases, particularly for lower product tiers.
Despite the widening opportunity, a number of development challenges exist. For example, does your business have the domain expertise to create intelligent versions of existing offerings? Products that once relied on mechanics, like a vacuum cleaner, now function more like a computer with a software component, sensors, processing unit, and corresponding connectivity solutions.
In a 2018 survey conducted by Forbes, 90 percent of respondents reported experiencing significant barriers to successful implementation and expansion due to a lack of IoT expertise and in-house skills.
Another challenge is the ability to deliver value based on insights and triggered responses. The IoT technology stack includes three crucial layers: properly integrated devices, connectivity solutions, and edge/cloud computing. Expanding the network introduces confusion and doubt over how to create interoperability with legacy systems. Furthermore, IoT devices create new endpoints, increasing network vulnerability and introducing new security concerns.
Finally, new connected products and their corresponding IoT infrastructure typically require a lengthy, costly development process including multiple iterations — and a high level of risk. Without the needed experience and capabilities to prove ROI, it’s difficult to foster buy-in across your organization.
Enablement platforms are your IoT solution
IoT enablement platforms help you tap into the growth potential of IoT faster and with less risk. You test, build, and scale your product idea without investing in hardware — and with the reliability of proper integration and connectivity.
Our iENBL platform also allows you to take advantage of pre-tested and prototyped devices, saving you time and money. And since the platform includes devices that have already gone through all of the development phases, you have the data you need to drive consensus at the business level.
The architecture from these devices offers you a tested, scalable foundation to create your own customized product. Plus, you get a head start on creating an integrated IoT ecosystem, since iENBL combines low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) technologies with sensors, actuators, GNSS, and other connectivity options like BLE or Wi-Fi .
Start ahead, from start to finish
We want to help you build intelligent products for a better world — from start to finish. We’ve taken the time to develop design expertise across the entire IoT ecosystem in a number of industries so you can take advantage of the latest innovations, faster.
But ideas are just the beginning. With iENBL, you’re starting ahead with trusted designs and a partner with the manufacturing expertise to bring you all the way to delivery.