International Data Corp. reported
that the three industries expected to spend the most on IoT this
year are manufacturing ($189 billion), transportation ($85 billion),
and utilities ($73 billion).
Security for IoT is paramount with
little in guidance for standards. End users are purchasing IoT solutions
without support of IT professionals, spending in the range of 35
to 40% of the IT budget, according to research firm Gardner.
In the logistics arena and RFID
readers, there are many protocols requiring middleware solutions
for communications. Integrators have relied on middleware applications
to batch process, store, and translate compressed raw data for transmission
over the network.
Aside from the middleware issue,
utilities use wireless meters for data collection, putting terminals
at each power connection with potential for wide spread access to
the utility grid and beyond.
New methodologies are available
from the service providers like zero-trust networks. The IoT platform
almost requires a zero-trust network with IP verification, for user
authentication for LAN and WAN users.
Our experience in Industrial Computing
has shown the benefit of IoT within the logistics industry. IoT
is expanding to all areas of the business community. Digital Transformation:
Should competitors share technological resources? The value add
is the ability to collect data from industrial devices and store
for analysis.
Artificial Intelligence can be used
to interpret big data. Early IoT examples were the use of “smart
grocery” carts used by grocery chains. With a local GPS tracking
system, the location of each grocery cart was mapped as the shopper
went through the grocery store isles. The intelligence gathered
allowed analysis of path discovery and items purchased. The grocery
could design shelf layout for maximum returns.
The Future of 5G and IoT IoT will
continue to grow, and is currently limited within the 4G network
strategy. Most of the carriers limit bandwidth, and for most IoT
solutions to be successful, reliance on the “last mile" is the largest
failure point in the equation. As providers’ role out REAL 5G technology,
IoT will be able to expand beyond the current work around solutions.
Compression and middleware provide
a current solution, but real-time IoT will be limited until the
last mile solution is solved. Many Internet Service Providers offer
5G technology, limited to where there is fiber optic service in
core urban communities. Silicon Networks Group provides internet
service ANYWHERE in Rural America.