IoT is transforming the way farmers collect data on their crops, livestock and machinery — and it’s enabling them to make more informed decisions about the future. This is having a significant impact on agricultural efficiencies and yields, and it’s giving farmers more control and visibility of their business.

Security

Farmers have expensive equipment, livestock and crops they need to protect from damage and theft — and it can’t all be within eyesight at all times. IoT-enabled visual surveillance systems and sensors can keep farm owners informed of any suspicious activity with real-time alerts. And farmers can set criteria so they only get alerted when something noteworthy has happened — not every time a tractor engine starts.

Equipment

If a combine harvester has a major fault or a tractor is stolen from a barn, that season’s yield is at risk. IoT sensors and telematics devices in this machinery can monitor and track its location and send notifications to the farm owner if it leaves a predefined perimeter.

Livestock

IoT sensors can be used in a variety of ways to help keep livestock healthier and increase meat and dairy yields. Sensors can collect data to help improve nutrition levels and devices can monitor animals’ movements to increase the success of calving. IoT is helping farmers achieve better quality meat and dairy produce.

Crops

A heavy storm or prolonged drought can take its toll on a farm’s crop yield for years to come. IoT can help farmers make better decisions for future crops by collecting data on key factors such as extreme weather and soil conditions. It can inform their plans for crop rotation, irrigation and harvesting — and increase yields as a result.

The connected vehicle is the most important automotive innovation in a generation. But we’re also seeing an overhaul of the entire automotive ecosystem that’s changing the way we think about transport.

Connected cars

For today’s drivers, IoT connected vehicle features like navigation and in-car Wi-Fi are at the top of the wishlist. And for manufacturers, connected cars are an unmissable opportunity to create deeper, more profitable relationships with these customers.

The connected vehicle encompasses many different valueadded services — for instance, monthly infotainment subscriptions, maintenance alerts that push drivers back to the dealership, and stolen vehicle recovery. And demand for these vehicles isn’t likely to stop growing any time soon. It’s estimated that over 380 million connected cars will be on the road by 2021.

Commercial fleet management

Commercial fleet operators — whether they’re running company cars, delivery vans, buses, taxis or trucks — are being squeezed from all sides by driver shortages, high running costs and increased customer expectations.

By adopting an IoT fleet management system that tracks how and where vehicles are being driven, operators can improve vehicle and driver utilisation, prevent breakdowns and theft, reduce accidents and insurance premiums, cut running costs through route optimisation, and even improve customer service by giving the public better access to travel information.

Usage-based insurance

Usage-based insurance (UBI) is creating the potential for manufacturers to build relationships with insurers to offer drivers a more complete service

IoT is transforming the healthcare sector. By connecting medical devices and sensors, IoT enables patients to receive more personalised care and live more independently. It’s also improving the effectiveness of clinical trials and ensuring cold chain integrity.

Connecting medical devices

Using IoT-powered mHealth solutions, medical staff can remotely monitor, consult with and even treat patients, avoiding the need for the sick and infirm to travel to a hospital or clinic.

This not only results in better care through more accurate data collection, but also lower costs and better utilisation of limited clinical resources — vital in a world with an ageing population and more chronic conditions to manage.

Independent living

IoT is helping vulnerable people live more independently in their own homes for longer, without the need for round-the-clock care. IoT-enabled wearables and sensors allow families and carers to keep an eye on their relatives, for instance locating them should they get lost, or raising the alarm if a person suffers a fall. Connected medicine cabinets can even remind patients to take medication.

Connected devices are also helping tackle the isolation and loneliness that immobile patients can suffer. Norwegian company No Isolation is addressing this issue with the AV1 robot equipped with a camera, microphone and speaker — enabling children with long-term illnesses to stay connected to their friends and classmates.

Clinical trials

IoT-enabled applications are already aiding in the research and development of new drugs and treatments, allowing clinicians to remotely collect and continuously monitor trial data, enabling deeper insight and faster reallocation of resources

Supply chain

Tracking devices and sensors in containers can naturally help prevent loss and theft. But just as importantly, they enable organisations to prove the authenticity of shipments to tackle counterfeiting, and make it easy to verify the condition of delicate stock. For example, it’s possible to show that the correct temperature has been maintained throughout the cold chain — providing evidence of compliance with industry regulations.

From the factory to the warehouse, IoT can cut downtime, improve safety and speed up your supply chain.

Smart factory

On the factory floor, time is money — that’s why utilisation is so important. IoT enables manufacturers of all kinds to drive output and product quality up. Sensors embedded in production line machinery can identify impending parts failure, enabling maintenance to be scheduled without unplanned downtime. IoT can track stock levels, alert to any delays in inbound parts or materials shipments, and help orchestrate production to minimise delays and waste.

Supply chain automation

Tracking vehicles, shipping containers and pallets as they move from suppliers through manufacturing to distributors and retailers delivers a host of benefits. It enables manufacturers to tackle loss and theft, give customers more accurate delivery estimates and recover stolen assets. The end result is reduced waste and a better customer experience.

Site safety and security

Factories and warehouses can be dangerous places. IoT can help manufacturers fulfil their duty of care to keep employees and visitors safe. Connected monitors worn by staff can automatically alert managers to falls or other accidents and guide first responders to precisely the right location.

IoT-enabled cameras can be fitted anywhere around a site without the need for a power source and give an instant view of any hazardous areas, as well as raising the alarm in the event of a break-in, fire or flood, thereby lowering insurance premiums.

Connected products

IoT doesn’t just help improve operations. Manufacturers can build connectivity into products themselves, enabling new features that improve the customer experience, supporting over-the-air updates to reduce the need for costly recalls, and gathering data about real-world usage that can guide future product development.

More dramatically, IoT enables manufacturers to move beyond selling products at all. Using IoT, manufacturers can shift to offering business outcomes as a service, with the price based on metered usage: a concept called servitisation. For customers looking to shift from capex to opex, as-a-service models are incredibly attractive.

IoT is already transforming automotive insurance. And it’s set to expand to other industries — having a similar impact for home, contents and health insurance. In the future, insurers will be the single touchpoint to monitor and manage customers’ risk — and all this data will feed into a single portal.

Car

Usage-based insurance (UBI) is taking off for cars: analysts expect nearly 50% of the world’s vehicles to be covered by a usage-based policy by 2030. And that’s no surprise given the potential benefits. Customers — particularly younger drivers — get an affordable policy that rewards them for good driving and puts them in control. Insurance used to be an annual process, but with the help of IoT it’s becoming a more flexible, usagebased experience.

Home

IoT in the home doesn’t just mean digital assistants and smart fridges — it’s making homes safer, more secure places. Remote real-time video surveillance can alert homeowners and police to possible break-ins — and provide evidence in the event of vandalism. IoT-enabled temperature sensors provide fast alerts in the event of a fire. And flood detection systems mean leaks can be detected even if there’s no one at home.

All of this reduces risks for insurers, meaning they can offer more competitive cover, tailored policies and lower premiums for homeowners. And the cost of in-home connectivity could be split with partnering utilities companies investing in smart meter rollouts.

Contents

Contents insurance can vary widely — covering anything from jewellery to bikes. And some of these items are at a high risk of being stolen. Discrete IoT devices can be installed in belongings such as TVs or boats so customers can track their location and have a higher chance of recovering stolen items.

This is enabling insurers to offer more competitive rates without shouldering any additional risk.

Health

Many people already have wearable IoT devices that they use to track their fitness. These can monitor exercise levels, blood pressure and heart rate, for example. They’re now increasingly being used by healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients with long-term illnesses. The data these devices gather is helping reduce risks for insurers.

They have greater scope to tailor policies and can deliver better offerings and services to their customers.

Retailers are using IoT to revolutionise the shopping experience by building in-store engagement, enhancing their marketing, monitoring footfall and maximising supply chain visibility.

Today’s consumers expect to be able to research a product online, try it out in-store and then purchase it from their mobile. And they expect their whole shopping experience to be consistent and joined up, no matter where it begins or ends. IoT is playing a big role in helping retailers meet these expectations and bring the digital and physical worlds together.

Digital signage

Retailers are competing to connect with customers, by offering more timely and relevant messages. Digital signage enables retailers to deliver regularly updated and personalised content to shoppers, based on the time of day, the weather outside or even the contents of their trolley. And it’s delivering tangible benefits — digital signage generates a 32.8% growth in repeat buyers.

Connected devices for staff and customers

IoT is reshaping the shop floor. By equipping sales staff with IoT-connected tablet devices, retailers can make it easy for them to serve customers from anywhere in the store. Sales staff get access to up-to-the-minute information on product availability, shopper history and upcoming offers, as well as instant payments.

Customers want instant solutions and exceptional experiences — and this doesn’t stop when it comes to trying on clothes. IoT-enabled mirrors are allowing retailers to communicate with their customers and personalise their experience on a new level.

Supply chain tracking

Retailers can benefit from many of the same IoT supply chain systems as manufacturers, enabling them to track the movement of stock from end to end, reducing shrinkage and damage. Pallet tracking reduces the chances of theft and improves the likelihood of recovery. And IoT has further supply chain benefits for retailers — for example, enabling supermarkets to prove the provenance of goods from field to fork or from factory to clothes hanger.

Retailers can extend this connected and automated supply chain right up to the point of sale. Connected cabinets are a new kind of vending machine that can monitor storage conditions and stock levels, ensuring that products, such as beverages, are always stocked and always at the optimum temperature. What’s more, in-store IoT gives retailers deeper insight into customer behaviour, enabling them to analyse which displays encourage customers to browse for longer.

IoT can help make the buildings in which we live and work more comfortable, efficient and secure.

Smart building systems

Commercial buildings are complex, and keeping systems like elevators, boilers, lighting, air conditioning, and access control functioning smoothly is a labour-intensive task. IoT can connect these systems and monitor their health in real time, enabling the building owner or service provider to manage them more effectively.

And they can also help improve building security and give business insight. With Digital Buildings, customers gain a detailed insight into dwell time, footfall and signs of a break-in. And any preventative maintenance can be scheduled without causing disruption to occupants.

In the home, the opportunity is around convenience. Smart home features enable the home to adapt to the occupants’ needs: turning on lights, ovens and entertainment systems as the owner walks in the door. Delivering these experiences is a great opportunity for providers to delight their customers.

Energy management

Building systems such as lighting and heating can be incredibly energy intensive, both in the home and in commercial properties. Automating these systems — for instance, turning off lights when a building is empty, or automatically adjusting air-conditioning — can save money and deliver compelling ROI. IoT-enabled energy management tools can sense the environment and follow business rules to govern energy use automatically.

Safety and security

Security cameras, intruder and fire alarms, motion detectors and access controls are an important part of commercial building infrastructure. But these systems are often proprietary,costly and unintelligent. IoT-based surveillance systems are easier to deploy — even without any power or network cabling — and feature advanced automation features that means they can, in many cases, replace the cost of manned guards.

Safety and security devices are one of the fastest-growing areas of the smart home market, too. These include not only burglar alarms and smoke alarms that alert the homeowner to events even when they’re away from the property, but a range of solutions to keep families safe: smart baby monitors, assisted living devices for the infirm, and trackers for pets and children.

IoT is the driving force behind the smart cities of the future, but it’s also providing the foundation for improving all kinds of public services now.

Connected street lighting

Lighting and maintenance account for as much as a third of council energy budgets. IoT-enabled street lights, for example, can be set to brighten when cars or pedestrians are nearby and dim when the area is quiet. These intelligent lighting systems also make it easier to identify blown bulbs — this reduces the workload for maintenance crews as repairs can be automatically scheduled when needed.

All of this makes it possible to reduce energy use and light pollution, cut carbon emissions and improve citizen safety. And there are other benefits too — the sensors in smart lighting can be used to collect data on air quality, for example, helping you put in place effective environmental measures.

Smart roads and parking

IoT can help solve congestion issues in today’s busy urban environments. Using road sensors and digital signage, IoT smart transport systems can route drivers away from congestion in real time. Smart parking can help reduce blackspots too, guiding drivers to the nearest available space — the benefits can be huge, given that nearly a third of commuter traffic comes from drivers looking for parking spaces. And there’s no need to dig up roads to implement the IoT sensors, installation in parking bays or meters is easy.

Using IoT to reduce road congestion can deliver many benefits. As well as improved air quality, the increased availability of parking can drive retail footfall, and it can make your city more attractive to businesses.

Public safety and crime

IoT can help keep citizens safe from dangers both natural and man-made. IoT connected cameras can be installed easily, even in rural or remote areas, helping detect floods and other threats to public safety, as well as crimes such as fly-tipping.

With high-quality footage, night vision and automatic number plate recognition, they can increase the chances of a successful prosecution. Connected devices worn by council workers and law enforcement can help not only guide staff to where they’re needed, but give them a way of calling for help in an emergency.

Mobile asset tracking also helps improve public safety — IoT-enabled sensors can pinpoint the location of your high-value, portable assets in real time.

Connected devices are pivotal to the future of the utilities sector. IoT is already enabling utilities companies to align supply and demand, secure their infrastructure and enhance customer relationships.

Smart metering

Millions of smart meters are installed in business and residential properties, giving customers accurate bills and saving utilities providers the cost of manual meter reading. Smart meters enable utilities to offer innovative new pricing models and branch out into smart home services.

At a grid-wide scale, utility companies can use smart meter data to better align supply and demand and detect problems. The emergence of Low-Power Wide Area (LPWA) technologies, such as Narrowband IoT (NBIoT), make it economically viable to deploy large numbers of low-cost, long-life sensors.

Infrastructure monitoring

But smart meters are just the start. For water and gas utilities, IoT sensors can help detect and isolate leaks from pipelines and tanks, as well as monitor the health of machinery in pumping stations to enable more efficient maintenance scheduling.

Monitoring water quality — for pH levels or contamination — can be done remotely, eliminating the need for manual checks. And the benefits don’t stop there. Using IoT to collect data and monitor your assets helps to secure water supplies and keep your people safer.

In electricity generation, IoT can monitor the output and condition of wind turbines and solar farms, improving uptime and capacity planning. And in transmission and distribution, smart grid technologies not only provide the kind of real-time monitoring that traditional SCADA systems offer, but also support microgeneration inflows from distributed renewables.

Site security

Many of the most important assets in the utilities industry are located remotely: substations, gasometers and reservoirs, for instance. They’re frequently targets for vandals. Smart cameras and connected alarms offer a cost-effective way to improve security and safety at remote sites, without the expense of manned guards. You can predefine events you want to know about — and only get alerts when you need to action something.