Predictions 2014: It’s the time of year when we reflect and prognosticate. 2013 was a fantastic year for the Internet of things (IoT) and 2014 will be better. What’s hot and what’s not for IoT in 2014…
Hot
- The industrial internet — Ok, it’s not sexy, but everyone deserves a little love. Connecting all those electro-mechanical devices in the industrial sectors will drive huge increases in productivity and cost savings. The industrial internet is going to be a big area of development in 2014.
- Creating a link between IT and OT functional areas — The need for IoT solutions are recognized by OT (operations technology) employees, but IT (information technology) employees must be involved in the selection and implementation process. Too often these two organizations – OT and IT – aren’t in synch so IoT projects are thwarted. Let’s change that in 2014.
- IoT solutions for smaller sized businesses — 99% of the businesses in the world are small and medium-sized businesses. There are solutions – fleet management, security/surveillance, point-of-sale, building/energy management and others – that can be productized for smaller sized businesses.
Not
- Modules — I know they are an important part of an IoT solution, but being a necessary evil doesn’t mean you can make the “hot” list. We anticipate continued lack of differentiation from module manufacturers with ample product for just about all needs.
- Partnerships without any sales potential — It never ceases to amaze me that partnerships happen when the channel-to-market between the two partners hasn’t been fully explored. In 2014, it’s time to kick those partners to the curb and move on.
- Resellers without industry expertise — Gone are the days when a reseller, MVNO or other selling partner could ignore the detailed needs of specific industry sectors or application requirements. Either have a tight game or leave the playing field.
2014 will be a great year for IoT. If you’d like more information, please contact us.