What is the Internet of Things
More than a concept or abstract element, the Internet of Things (or IoT) stands out for its own characteristics: it encompasses devices and sensors capable of interconnecting and thus providing data and information to generate insights for businesses and individuals.
And all of these technological resources are part of our daily lives: from connectable appliances to cars, IoT is already present in homes, but also in large factories and industrial complexes. Let's give some examples.
Through sensors that monitor variables in an agricultural crop (rainfall, pest control, etc.), a producer can set productivity and return targets for their harvest. In another scenario, a smartwatch connected to a device can help a person with a chronic illness manage their medication intake and doctor visits. This is, therefore, the evolution of the idea of the smart home into something even greater, with repercussions for the culture and society in which we live.
“As experts in Industrial Automation (from pre-salt platforms to hydroelectric plants), we have been monitoring the development of industrial controllers. Approximately five years ago, we saw the opportunity to use this knowledge base in Internet of Things projects,” says João de Moraes, CTO of AYGA, a startup invested in by Insi.
“By combining our expertise with long-lasting batteries, increasingly affordable hardware, sensors (which consume even less energy, are smaller and more precise), cloud computing, and connectivity, we have been able to solve IoT-related issues. Today, for example, we can send data from a device to the cloud in a robust and long-range manner, consuming very little energy and at a lower price,” states the IoT technology expert.
It's important to highlight that the previous examples make the following clear: there is an ever-increasing narrowing between the digital and real worlds. IoT is, ultimately, the representation of the phenomenon in which devices serve as a bridge between data and people.
It's a technology whose applications are practically infinite, whether at work or in personal life.
In another example, we talk about solutions that emerge as responses to the creation of smart cities, more welcoming and responsive to people's needs.
Finally, IoT will be present in industries as diverse as:
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Product manufacturing;
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Automotive industry;
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Leisure and entertainment;
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Workplaces (to establish smarter offices or home offices);
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Healthcare;
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Retail, to name a few other examples.
As noted so far, IoT devices will provide the necessary database for the information they contain to produce new business models.
More than just devices that connect to the internet, IoT will empower businesses, which will be much faster and more efficient in meeting the demands and expectations of the most demanding customers and consumers.
"In terms of technology, IoT is a revolutionary piece, along with many others, such as Artificial Intelligence, fundamental elements of what we are experiencing today. With the expansion of communication networks, technologies become viable. But there are also networks analogous to cellular networks, which provide data communication," explains Diego Trindade of AYGA.
It is in these networks that data communication occurs between devices and makes data "speak," transmitting information that guides companies in their operations. ## When the Internet of Things Emerged The IoT is the result of a series of other technologies that were previously developed in various applications.
With the arrival of cloud computing and other interconnectivity solutions (such as Bluetooth, RFID or Radio Frequency Identification, and Wi-Fi), the IoT has enhanced its potential to become what it is today.
Another phenomenon that contributed to its development is the use of Big Data, where information acquired value for governments and private institutions.
Thus, embedded or microprocessed systems have evolved from remotely controlled modules (such as in NASA's Apollo spacecraft) to smart devices like those we have in our homes or for work (sensors, controllers, etc.).
In other words, it can be said that today's IoT is the accumulation of other technologies that have already contributed to streamlining people's lives.
The biggest difference compared to the past is that the democratization of remote monitoring technologies now establishes new possibilities for information. It fosters innovation and empowers people's development in their learning and workspaces.
How the Internet of Things Can Help Our Lives
The advancement of IoT occurs in parallel with that of other technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. This is possible because these technologies feed off each other thanks to the enormous amount of data we all produce daily.
According to Hootsuite, in February 2022, the incredible number of devices connected to the internet worldwide reached 8.28 billion. As of the aforementioned date, there were 4.95 billion users accessing the internet every day globally.
According to the report and with the growth of connectivity through IoT devices, data is becoming increasingly important as it moves from digital files to real-world social environments.
Thus, through geolocation, for example, it is possible to estimate the exact time of arrival of goods and their origin. Until they reach distribution locations, transported products (from food to manufacturing supplies) must comply with all appropriate transportation and origin requirements.
With IoT-integrated geolocation systems, vehicles such as cars, trucks, and trains can be controlled remotely, increasing safety for professionals in this sector. Furthermore, all transportation logistics can be based on data analysis for pre-sales, adding value to production by increasing margins.
And if we look at segments other than logistics, we'll see more application models for IoT-based solutions*, for example:
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IoT can also contribute to the management of pre-existing conditions and encourage self-care among patients;
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Through information collected by IoT devices, it's possible to establish metrics for improvements in public spaces and infrastructure;
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In domestic environments: with the proliferation and growth of voice assistants, access to information becomes instantaneous and consumable (who hasn't consulted the internet to find out what clothes to wear on their commute or which route to take to avoid traffic delays?);
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In the healthcare sector: devices that communicate with other devices to monitor a person's health and how they can improve their well-being;
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In the consumer sector: banks, stadiums, stores, and restaurants will be able to implement sensors that, together with apps, will encourage engagement with new products and services available in these physical spaces;
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In the extraction and civil engineering sector: mining, oil and gas exploration and refining, and even construction will be able to increase their operational efficiency and implement data-driven predictive maintenance models;
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In the management of large urban centers and promoting the use of data for security purposes, for example.
This is how the IoT aims to transform, through technology applied to data, the way we experience and live in our living environments.
Data, Digital Transformation, and the Internet of Things
As we have seen, exponential technological development continues to transform people's lives.
The widespread use of communication technologies and the use of data and information have established new ways of conducting and consolidating business in increasingly virtual environments.
In this context, companies across all segments and regions of the world have already adopted or intend to adopt digital transformation processes. In this sense, organizations become more competitive and able to pursue their new business strategies.
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But what is the role of the IoT, with its interconnected devices that provide data to computer networks, combined with internet applications, and the impact of this entire set in this new era of technological leaps for companies? And what is the role of people in this new transformation that stems from technology?
The discussion about the IoT and its application raises a series of questions to be addressed.
In November 2021, McKinsey Consulting, a global specialist in digital transformation, estimated that by 2030, the IoT would grow from $5 trillion to $12 trillion in market value. This is a technology segment with projections and opportunities capable of changing the entire production, logistics, and consumer industries. In the same research, According to McKinsey, 65% of this value will be focused on digital applications and solutions that directly impact the B2B industry.
"The IoT is so broad that it allows the development of projects that soon become products and services, such as cooktops capable of connecting to cell phones to make life easier for people in their homes," explains João de Moraes.
What the Internet of Things can contribute to companies
We are creating paradigms regarding how to use new technologies. Increasingly, companies are acquiring tools that optimize the intelligence of data and information to create products and services. And, through innovative practices, organizations grow to add more value throughout the production chain.
In the world of digital business, governance, transparency, and high productivity are essential for companies to reach their maximum potential and performance.
By adapting to market conditions through the use of data-driven technologies, companies can operate more advantageously than their competitors.
In this context, it's important to highlight the benefits of the Internet of Things in relation to the so-called Industry 4.0, which involves the use of physical and digital systems in the development of products that serve the entire production chain.
"With IoT technologies, which are ultra-low-consumption, combined with cheaper devices, we can track and anticipate the possibility of a load loss due to a lack of temperature control, for example. In this sense, IoT has applications that excite us about what lies ahead," reinforces João de Moraes of AYGA. Furthermore, with the interoperability of Industry 4.0 and IoT*, companies are improving their efforts to achieve Digital Maturity, the benefits of which are:
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Digitalization of operations: despite the significant presence of computers in companies' daily operations, many still perform operations manually and lack digital interfaces in their machinery.
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Connectivity: at this stage, companies develop and operate in a much more integrated manner, reducing the isolation between the various areas of the organization. The company's most widely used applications are interconnected for better cost control and business process monitoring.
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Adaptability: Constant adaptations, in addition to streamlining operations and processes, allow the company to delegate a series of responsibilities to leaders for rapid change management. Finally, the goal of adaptability becomes much more achievable if companies remove their data from computer silos. Thus, through information modeling, companies can more quickly adapt their business strategies to meet the demands of their sector.
IoT in the sustainable growth of organizations.
Digital transformation goes beyond the old idea of accumulating data for simple records. Information has become a valuable raw material for all organizations committed to growth.
For many of them, the use of information in conjunction with IoT devices ensures the provision of crucial data when implementing new solutions that add value to products.
“IoT is one of the major enablers, if not one of the main ones, of a large number of technologies. And for every challenge, there is a service network like 5G, which can be used by companies and individuals. IoT, for example, can be linked to other technologies to bring even greater transparency regarding the quality of products and the ecosystems that comprise them,” notes Cláudio Pose, Innovation and New Technologies Manager at Insi.
With the increased presence of IoT in companies, "soon, for example, companies will be able to perform preventative maintenance. And this is a trend: robots, AI, and Machine Learning are being incorporated into different industries to contribute to agendas such as ESG," adds Claudio Pose.
To achieve digital and technological development that translates into positive results, companies need to rely on true IoT experts.
Insi has expertise in digital cloud solutions and BPaaS (Business Process as a Service), which combines automation and robotics with human perspective and intelligence. BPaaS enables accurate, real-time analysis of company results, with robots monitoring the process and people managing and working with all this information. But this is just one of the possibilities this resource, which combines RPA, IoT, and human intelligence, can offer.
With the tools provided by With Insi's BPaaS** and its customized solutions, your organization gains competitiveness over its competitors and achieves greater performance in terms of information and data applied in business contexts.
Insi, together with Ayga, made a new investment in IoT by creating Flowen, a company focused on an innovative solution to combat water waste. Flowen provides intelligent management and monitoring of water supply networks. The platform's main benefits include increased efficiency, cost reduction, and transparency for consumers. Learn more by clicking here.
To contribute to the effective digital transformation of your organization, Insi specializes in technology applied to business, processes, and operations.