IoT Expansion Across Industries

Article

Smart homes, where everything is controlled from the phone, wearable devices that read your health indicators are the things that we have heard about thousands of times. These devices are no longer a distant future, but our everyday reality. Internet of Things is a technology with enormous potential to improve human life and it impacts just about everything we interact with on a daily basis.  

As in any other field, IoT application development also has its own trends. So, which trends will stay with us in the next couple of years?

Retail and storage 

IoT in retail is helping entrepreneurs improve their business and customer service. IoT can be used to monitor product expiration dates and track shipments. By 2025, the spread of IoT technologies in retail will reach more than $ 35 billion. 

How IoT Trends Can Improve the Retail Industry?

1. Personalized content 

The Internet of Things is a tool aimed at improving communication between the customer and the brand. Dedicated sensors can track customer actions and share this data with the company's marketing team. It is easier than ever to create personalized content for specific segments to help customers find the product they want quickly. 

2. Store navigation 

The lack of a well-thought-out system for moving around a large store is one of the common problems that can become an obstacle in the path of a potential buyer. IoT devices with built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and VR technologies can simplify navigation and help shoppers find the product they want faster. 

3. Delivery Tracking  

The Internet of Things has made online shopping available to all users, this technology allows the seller to update the delivery status so that the user can see the current location of the order. 

IoT & Voice Recognition  

No matter how popular messengers are, for most people, live voice communication remains the most familiar way of interaction. IoT devices that can be controlled by voice are especially helpful for those who value their time and don’t have extra time to spend typing.  

What factors made voice-controlled IoT so popular? 

- mobility of voice devices 

- widespread use of smart speakers 

- progress in natural language processing 

Voice assistants 

Virtual assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Cortana, Apple Siri or Google Home  are becoming more commonplace in households around the world. They know how to connect to other smart home systems (lighting, heating) to automate our daily lives and make it more comfortable.


Smart office 


For a comfortable office environment, employees need an environment that helps them stay productive throughout the day. The organization of the workspace directly affects how comfortable a person will feel in it. The trends of the Internet of Things are influencing smart offices as well.

What can a smart office do? 

- control air temperature and humidity 

- adjust room illumination depending on the time of day 

- simplify interaction with the security system 

- create a booking system for meeting rooms  

IoT trends in a smart office 


Office management from different locations 


Smart office technology allows us to find out what is happening in the office from anywhere in the world in real-time by using cameras equipped with computer vision, motion sensors, and multipurpose trackers. It can track any activity inside. In addition, the smart office uses a pass system to keep track of visitors and deliveries. All data is available for viewing in a single interface, which is supported on a computer or smartphone. 


Management and booking of rooms 


The Internet of Things can help you schedule appointments and schedule meetings. Employees will be able to make appointments, book the necessary equipment and confirm their presence or absence remotely. Company managers will have more time for real tasks because they will not need to figure out where to hold a meeting or call in an emergency mode. 


Access and control 


If there is a need for increased security and access level management (banking or military institution), IoT solutions are needed that to make sure workflow is not interrupted. Biometric authentication methods already exist in closed areas - fingerprint scanning, retina scanning, voice, and face recognition. 

In the future, this trend of the Internet of Things will capture 80% of companies. IoT-equipped offices are not just about controlling temperature or lighting using a smartphone but creating comfortable conditions to establish a more efficient and safer work environment. 

Even such minor details, as a smart speaker in the kitchen, can significantly improve the overall mood of the team. We spend 8 (or more) hours a day in our offices, so why not make the routine enjoyable? 

Internet of Medical Things

The Internet of Medical Things is an IoT that works to improve medical processes and helps professionals monitor and analyze a person's health status.  IoT technologies will help with timely assistance to save lives and improve the very field of medicine - from remote monitoring of a patient's health and disease treatment. 

Instead of the usual paper medical records, they will be electronic records. Instead of regular visits to a therapist - data on the state of health of patients on the devices. 

What can we expect from IoT trends? 

- Rapid diagnosis and timely treatment of diseases by analyzing health data collected from a wearable biosensor 

- Automation of routine processes and autonomous data storage 

- Home monitoring with biometric scanners 

- Air quality sensors 

- Sleep phase tracking 

- Remote patient monitoring 

The constant flow of data will make analytics more accurate, this will allow identifying problems in the human body before they become serious. In the future, patients will not need to travel to the hospital to receive treatment, they will get it remotely. 

Reducing readmission rate 

It is unpleasant to stay in the hospital, but IoT devices now have a solution that will relieve patients of this experience. With the help of special devices, it is possible to monitor the patient's condition 24/7, which reduces the likelihood of re-hospitalization. This option will help in both emergency and preventive treatment. 

Tracking chronic diseases 

Chronic diseases are not cured but require constant monitoring to keep the patient's condition within the normal range. Virtual examinations, real-time monitoring and continuous contact with the attending physician are what the doctor ordered. 

Green Internet of Things 

Rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization also entail environmental problems. The more people there are, the more problems with the collection, sorting, and disposal of garbage appear. In environmental care, the trends of the Internet of Things have not been left behind. 

Green IoT offers solutions that help people conserve resources and use technologies that minimize waste.  

For example, a waste management system with shredding mechanisms, or a transport system in which cars can move at the same speed at a short distance from each other. This will significantly reduce fuel consumption. 

The eco-trend of the Internet of Things helps: 

Monitor expenses 

Special devices have long been monitoring how megacities affect the environment: they collect detailed information on air quality and the amount of garbage. To solve the problem of the negative impact of exhaust gases on the environment, for example,  Air Quality Eggs, an Internet of Things platform for combating air pollution. Essentially, this system collects air quality data from the residents themselves. AQE is widely used in America, Western Europe and East Asia. 

Manage resources 

The Internet of Things helps track energy use and waste consumption. Smart sensors collect and transmit energy consumption data to specialists. For example, a thermostat uses the collected data to remind users when to turn off the heating, and water management sensors warn that soon the desired level of water consumption will be exceeded. 

Summary

The IoT technology industry is capturing or has already captured us. This is a promising niche in which every business will definitely find a place. IoT trends will increase the level of user engagement, and with it, the conversion. 

A professional development team will help implement IoT technologies successfully to boost the company’s success.