SMART CAMERAS, CLOUD PLATFORMS SHORTEN LONG TAIL OF THE IoT

This idea of connecting devices to share data predates the internet. It was the introduction of ubiquitous connectivity that really created the Internet of Things (IoT). Decades later we are still to realize the Internet of Everything. There are too many “things” that could be connected to the internet but simply may never be. Analysts talk about tens of billions of connected devices but, in reality, that number could easily be trillions.

Evaluating the return on investment, or ROI, is part of the due diligence behind any IoT project and often involves adding sensors and wired/ wireless connectivity to an otherwise “dumb” device. While sensors are not expensive and wireless connectivity modules are plentiful, the process isn’t free. As a minimum, it would demand resubmitting the project for compliance testing. It will require new processes for production, assembly and test. Aftersales support is also a huge consideration for connected devices.

Manufacturers are forced to choose whether to modify an existing product or wait until the next generation is developed. That could be years, meaning the benefits of the IoT may be out of reach for a long period of time. This delay is creating a long tail of devices waiting to be on-boarded to the IoT.