Known as a set of technologies that allow communication and data sharing between sensors, cars, household appliances, wearable devices and so many others, the Internet of Things (IoT) is able to meet varied goals, including in the business world.
Some of the solutions that are already in place around the world and in Brazil – or in the test phase for release soon– are devices focused on health, transportation, agribusiness, industry and logistics.
And, unlike what you think, Internet of Things is not just a technology, but rather the merge of several technologies to solve problems, generating value and speed for specific processes.
When connected, devices interact and exchange information, whether through the internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or VHF, UHF and HF channels, among others. It’s unlikely that you haven’t come across something connected to the Internet of Things, because it is already present in the automation of homes – the famous smart homes – in smart cars and in autonomous agriculture.
But these are just the most popular examples, because IoT is able to do much more.
Secure Network
Specifically in Brazil, Internet of Things became more relevant in Agribusiness because it makes the country more productive, helping in reducing waste by better using existing fields.
However, connecting devices to handle such sensitive data in just one network requires maximum attention to security. The software used needs complete protection in all communications until it gets in the cloud, otherwise, it will be sensitive to the entry of hackers and malicious uses.
To better understand the need to ensure this, it is crucial to master the basic functioning of the Internet of Things and avoid minimum failures in your system, which is divided into 5 parts:
- Device
- Firmware
- Connectivity
- Cloud Platform
- Cloud App
If data is so important in a connected world, dealing with and treating each piece of it should not be different, and this should be the main concern to start in the Internet of Things world. And the way in which data is collected and systems are designed can mean the future well-being of a company.
Having good information is what makes a business competitive, so digitization helps both in faster decision-making and in anticipating problems, risks and trends that put the company ahead of competitors.
Reasons to adopt Internet of Things
By proposing innovative ways to manage and operate many processes remotely, the Internet of Things allows organizations to supervise remote locations while information is continuously fed and stored.
The low cost of “things” also shows how much technology is accessible and available for the most varied types of business. It is not necessary to have complex systems to get and handle data from Internet of Things.
The study led by BNDES, in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication (MCTIC) and conducted by the McKinsey consortium / CPqD Foundation/Pereira Neto Macedo, reveals that the impact of Internet of Things on global economy will be of 4% to 11% of the world GDP in up to five years, which corresponds to between 3.9 and 11.1 trillion dollars.
From this potential, up to 40% should be captured by emerging economies and, in the case of Brazil, it is estimated that 50 to 200 billion dollars will result from this annual economic movement in 2025.
How to use
Check out some examples of Internet of Things application in business.
Smart Trade
The Internet of things helps to create smart stores and establishments, with sensors responsible for collecting from the operation of surveillance cameras to the consumption of electricity and the entry of customers.
Motion sensors connected to the company’s system can measure the number of people who enter the store and create data to capture the effect of campaigns, sales and product popularity. This point is interesting to integrate strategic sectors, such as sales and marketing.
Payment methods
Non-contact payment will be a customer’s requirement in the coming years, especially after the changes in consumption caused by the pandemic. NFC is already a common payment technology in several countries – and, in Brazil, more and more card machines already work with this possibility.
Technology allows people to pay using their smartphones, watches and smart bracelets or even cards in a non-contact version, in a safe and practical way.
Delivery services
The use of drones for deliveries is already becoming popularized, especially in retail. Soon, this will be a possible option for many sectors.
Do you know other ways to use the Internet of Things in businesses? Be sure to share with us in the comments ?
