7 ideas to help you prepare for The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) sounds more like JJ Abrams’ next sci-fi thriller than a major inflection point in business technology.

Which makes the fact that IoT is about to invade the business landscape on a massive scale somewhat ironic — and wholly appropriate.

Enterprises have been tossed by some momentous technology waves in the last few years, such as big data, the cloud, mobility and social networking. Yet the Internet of Things — connected, data-generating devices embedded in everyday objects — is more than just another wave.

IoT means that much of the physical infrastructure around us is going to be connected to the internet. IoT is like those other profound technology changes we’ve already experienced, only on steroids — it’s that big.

Business executives and technology managers need to comprehend the implications and open their minds to the possibilities of IoT for their organization, and prepare accordingly.

To that end, here are seven important points in considering the Internet of Things.

1. Take the long view.

People need to be prepared that this is a long-term proposition. They have to understand that IoT means fundamental change for business.

The Internet of Things is in its early days, and most implementations are still relatively simplistic — but that’s changing fast, as IoT technology, from end-point devices to data integration and analytics platforms, increase in number and improve in capability.

At the same time, businesses are beginning to grasp the advantages of IoT both in terms of improving operational efficiency and extending external business opportunities.
And while some enterprises might be leery of yet another Big Bang technology promising to revolutionize business, IoT is just that — and it will take commitment to make it work.

There’s no quick-and-easy, silver-bullet thing to it. It has to be fundamental and at the core of their business.

2. Remember it’s all about the data.

To get the value of IoT, you’re going to have to deal with a ton of data.

Most current IT systems work with data that’s meaningful or high in value, like the results of a transaction. IoT flips that equation, generating a very high volume of relatively low-value data and, most likely, at high velocity.

Little tiny bits of information coming in a constant tsunami that need to be processed and contextualized on the fly in order to glean value.

Organizations will achieve the business advantages of IoT only when they can capture, sort, piece together and make sense of that data. That means they need to be able to collect, store and retrieve data from a variety of devices representing many different operating systems, protocols and standards.

They have to be prepared to embrace new technologies that will help them make sense of, yet again, a whole other set of data that’s different than what they’ve dealt with before.

3. Push more intelligence to the edge.

The “things” of IoT represent an ever-growing range of devices: chips, implants, sensors, transponders, even cameras and motion detectors. One of the developments driving IoT is the cost/capability equation described in Moore’s Law, which says that the processing capabilities of those end point devices will continue to increase while their cost goes down.

As we move forward, those ‘things’ are going to get much more intelligent. Savvy enterprises will look to exploit that by constantly improving edge devices, making them smarter.

For instance, consider a vehicle that can anticipate road conditions based on a dynamic stream of weather data and respond appropriately in advance to icy or flooded surfaces.

I should be able to change the behaviour of the device, have it be able do something differently, based on input that I’ve given it.

Another advantage: Devices with more intelligence will help minimize back-and-forth with the data centre and across the network, mitigating potential performance bottlenecks.

4. Integrate, don’t isolate.

Organizations should avoid unnecessarily isolating IoT data in a silo. Don’t be afraid to bring IoT data directly into your business applications for the benefit of improving them and removing blind spots from how your business runs.
The data generated by IoT devices can add to the effectiveness of major enterprise applications like CRM, ERP, and supply chain. For instance, more specific data about workflow generated by motion detectors could help improve business process applications and perhaps hone HR policies.

Once integrated into enterprise applications, IoT capabilities can be expanded easily into other areas. Using IoT, for example, retailers increasingly add value to shoppers’ in-store experiences, and improve their “stickiness”, by enabling location-based special offers via shoppers’ mobile devices. This extension of IoT is now moving into homes as well as into the family car.

5. Start small, think big.

Conventional wisdom says that, with any technology project, start small and target a foreseeable return on investment. IoT is not an exception to this.

But don’t let conventional wisdom interfere with points #1 or #4. The Internet of Things is, by definition, a very big idea, and organizations should plan on incorporating it into as many enterprise areas as possible.

6. Embrace the synergies.
Think about IoT as complementary to, rather than superseding, major technology projects like big data and cloud implementations. In fact, IoT works in conjunction with those to great effect.

Big data analytics, of course, is a crucial tool for gleaning actionable data from the IoT tsunami. And IoT implementations will benefit from the flexibility and scalability provided by cloud services, especially as enterprises start out with several hundred IoT devices, potentially ramping up to tens of thousands.

IoT is at this nexus of technology advancement, and that’s what making this possible.

7. Don’t dither.

Don’t get caught flat-footed. A lot of companies were late getting into smartphones or building mobile apps for phones and are still playing catch-up.

Unlike previous efforts at ubiquitous networking, notably RFID, IoT is proving itself practical and effective.

The technology is here, and technology managers need to get familiar with it, especially as line-of-business managers already may be building IoT applications into their business plans.
They’re going to have to roll up their sleeves and figure out the right path to adoption for their organizations, and they should be getting started now.

The writer is the Oracle Kenya Country Managing Director