The Internet of Things (IoT) is going to be awesome and change the way we do everything.
Just as soon as we figure out what it is.
That’s one finding from a study conducted earlier this year by trade groups in the UK. According to the study, more than 40 percent of respondents were unfamiliar with the term “Internet of Things.”
So, what exactly is IoT? According to Techopedia, “The internet of things (IoT) is a computing concept that describes the idea of everyday physical objects being connected to the internet and being able to identify themselves to other devices. … The IoT is significant because an object that can represent itself digitally becomes something greater than the object by itself. No longer does the object relate just to its user, but is now connected to surrounding objects and database data. When many objects act in unison, they are known as having ‘ambient intelligence.’”
In lay terms, that means that all sorts of appliances and equipment and tools can now talk to each other, making it possible to optimize for efficiency, gather data and more.
IoT has been at the top of annual trend lists for several years running, according to Energy Manager Today, but still has a ways to go before fully taking hold as the way commercial, industrial and manufacturing facilities are built and operated.
What are the barriers to full IoT adoption?
Legacy systems and piecemeal approaches. Retrofitting existing systems is a challenge.
Security. Some IoT products and tools have been used to exploit internet security weaknesses and launch attacks. That’s on top of the risk of having sensitive internal data available on the internet for exposure. It’s a concern for facilities managers and security professionals that must be overcome.
Funding. Upgrading can be an expensive proposition, especially if the business case isn’t clear.
What’s keeping you from fully embracing IoT for your facility? Where does it make sense to move forward with proven applications? How can IoT be installed securely? We can walk you through these questions and more. Call us at (800) 567-1180.