Preparing for the Internet of Things in the Enterprise

‘One practical example is demonstrated within the healthcare sector,’ says Adam Diggins, technology evangelist and content development manager at Toshiba. ‘Patients could wear devices that monitor their vital signs, such as heart rate or blood pressure, and communicate this data to medical practitioners. 

‘Another practical application could be the addition of sensors in manufacturing processes. When faults occur, sensors can send signals to central systems, which can save money for the manufacturers, who do not mistakenly sell faulty goods, and improve satisfaction for buyers, who are confident that they are purchasing a quality product.’

Manufacturing and healthcare are indeed two verticals that immediately stand out when you think about the opportunities presented by IoT, along with retail. 

This is because these sectors require a logistics and supplier network for the services they supply. If the materials involved in those networks were IoT-enabled, they could create more intelligent and efficient processes. 

‘The financial sector and government will not draw as much return, as these sectors do not have as many “physically moving parts”,’ says Hans Zandbelt, senior technical architect at Ping Identity. ‘But IoT will nevertheless be beneficial in supporting functions such as IT and office automation.’