Businesses are always looking for new ways to harness the power of technology to help them achieve their enterprise goals. The BYOD trend has taken the corporate world by storm in recent years, but the success of mobility initiatives did not come without their fair share of planning and support. A new innovation is emerging and is poised to make waves for organizations!
That new trend is the Internet of Things, which is gaining traction and attention from nearly every industry. The IoT – where appliances and electrical devices are enhanced through an Internet connection – has numerous advantages to offer, but only when companies prepare for it appropriately.
Added stress on network bandwidth
One of the biggest obstacles that could hinder the IoT and its place in the business world is having enough network bandwidth to support all the connected devices. According to eWEEK, company IT departments are realizing the impact IoT will have on their network resources.
“It’s encouraging that the majority of IT professionals recognize the demands the IoT will make on their networks,” said Cricket Liu, Infoblox chief infrastructure officer. “Network administrators have struggled in recent years to stay on top of the bring-your-own-device trend, and the IoT will create an increase in end points that is an order of magnitude greater.”
In order to make the most of the IoT, but for their own use as well as to develop customer-level technologies, businesses must increase bandwidth to ensure proper support.
The IoT offers a range of possibilities
A recent survey completed by SOASTA and Harris Poll found that the majority of consumer respondents – 67 percent – are interested in the possibilities that the IoT has to offer. The IoT has the power to impact a range of items, and the study found that 39 percent of Americans are excited about how IoT apps will improve cars, and 34 percent are enthusiastic about smart home appliances. Respondents also noted that the IoT holds potential for heart, pet and child monitors, fitness devices, toys, drones, glasses and sports equipment.
Overall, 77 percent of respondents said they thought the IoT could improve nearly any activity, including those associated with fitness, work and school. And while many weren’t well-versed in the details of the IoT before the study, once it was explained, they looked forward to how it would empower their consumer technologies.
However, in order for companies to make good on these exciting possibilities and leverage the IoT to their benefit, they need adequate network bandwidth for support.