How the Internet of Things means business for you

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the billions of objects fitted with specially designed sensors which are connected to the internet. The applications range from the mundane (think your photocopier, coffee machine and that fish tank in your reception area) all the way to life-changing with safety equipment, security systems and advanced medical technology.

Here’s what could be in store for your business as IoT technology continues to evolve.

You might introduce new products and services.

If your business offers a product, you can explore ways to add connected sensor technology to your range. You could then offer a value-added service to help your customers monitor their products.

For repairs and maintenance, rather than spend time on call-outs, you could use the connected technology to check your customers’ products, then diagnose and perhaps even fix the problems remotely.

You could streamline your business processes.

On a basic level, imagine a stationery or supply cupboard that knows when you are running low on essential supplies and automatically orders these for you.

Perhaps you would like an inventory that manages and reports its own stock take through sensors and smart tech. Maybe you want to easily manage and monitor your security and surveillance systems from your own devices, wherever you are.

You might take a new approach to the way you use energy.

Rather than rely on historical data, new technology will help you track your energy use in real-time. This means you could see instantly the impact that certain machinery, lighting, air-conditioning and other equipment and systems has on your workplace energy use – so you can make adjustments on the spot. 

This could help you save a significant amount of energy and money from your bills.

Your office environment could improve.

Instead of relying on manual thermostat changes your air-conditioning could be run on sensors that knows your building’s occupancy and patterns of use.

Sensors on your lighting could be programmed for certain times of day or switch off lights in rooms that don’t get used all day, such as break rooms and meeting rooms.

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