Aspenta argues global connectivity will be key for continued IoT success
Editor’s Note: With 2016 now upon us, RCR Wireless News has gathered predictions from leading industry analysts and executives on what they expect to see in the new year.
The connected world is fast becoming a reality. As 2016 begins, we can expect the growth rate of the “Internet of Things” market will be even bigger than what was experienced in 2015. A number of factors have come together to create the perfect opportunity for the IoT to flourish: growth of mobile networks, lower cost of hardware, new emerging business models and continued popularity of smartphones. Consumers and businesses are using wireless connectivity to monitor and control various devices, machines and appliances. These connected devices are the building blocks of the IoT.
We will see exponential growth in the IoT in 2016, as more connected devices are supported through cellular connectivity. At the same time, the manufacturing and automotive sectors – already strong market segments for gaining IoT efficiencies – will become mainstream industries for the IoT. As more initiatives enter the market to benefit from the efficiency and cost reductions enterprises will experience through IoT technologies, I except to see a bigger adoption of it and more widespread use of cellular IoT connectivity.
Growth will come from everywhere, but if there’s one key requirement I see for the IoT market in 2016, it is the ability to deploy solutions internationally. That means any connected device – whether it’s a smartwatch, or connected car, or sensor on a storage container or an oil field pressure monitor – will need to be designed and developed as a global product, including affordable connectivity. Every connected device need to work anywhere – and everywhere – a customer wants to do business.
In today’s Internet-dominated age, all business is global and businesses must increasingly consider the global consequences of their plans and strategies as global factors frequently determine their relative success in the marketplace. To maximize the potential of the “Internet of Things,” all these different devices and services need to be affordable and interact with each other seamlessly. Collaboration between companies from different sectors is, therefore, very important.
Devices equipped with global connectivity can accelerate time to market and increase innovation. Taking a global view has the potential to impact new product opportunities and efficiency that will power top- and bottom-line gains. Businesses that decide to introduce smart, globally connected products will see many new market opportunities by pushing IoT to its limits.
In the long term, I believe the “Internet of Things” presents very strong growth in all verticals and there are growing needs to develop and introduce affordable and efficient models others can build on. Currently, less than 1%of all the devices that could be connected to the Internet are indeed connected. The potential is tremendous and opportunities are limitless, and though the development of global-facing solutions the sky’s the limit for IoT.
Dr. Walid Moneimne is CEO and founding partner of Aspenta. With over 20 years in the IT and telecom industry, Walid has held senior executive positions at Nokia Siemens Network, Dell, Hewlett Packard and Xerox, working in the U.S., Europe and Middle East. He has a PhD in Computer Science and an MBA from HEC School of Management and The Wharton School.
