IoT takes top priority in driving digital transformation

The Inmarsat Research Programme study focusing on the enterprise application of the Internet of Things (IoT) has revealed that machine learning (38 per cent), robotics (35 per cent), and 3D printing (31 per cent) were key requirements for effectively delivering digital transformation for businesses.

The IoT is the inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles (also referred to as “connected devices” and “smart devices”), buildings, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity which enable these objects to collect and exchange data.

Inmarsat, the provider of global mobile satellite communications has just published findings that IoT has become the leading technology for digital transformation and it is the number one priority for 92 per cent of organisations.

Conducted independently on behalf of Inmarsat by Vanson Bourne, The Inmarsat Research Programme report, “The Future of IoT in Enterprise 2017, surveyed 500 senior respondents from across the agritech, energy production, transportation, and mining sectors, from organisations over a 1,000 employees in size.

The key findings revealed that almost all (97 per cent) respondents are experiencing, or expect to experience, significant benefits from the deployment of IoT technologies. Improved service delivery capabilities (47 per cent), better health and safety across the organisation (46 per cent) and greater workforce productivity (45 per cent) were identified as the top three benefits to be gained from the deployment of IoT-based solutions.

Mr Paul Gudonis, President, Inmarsat Enterprise, said “The development and deployment of IoT is a new phenomenon spreading over every industry in every part of the world and this research has confirmed that IoT is the leading technology in digital transformation, taking a steady lead over other forms of innovation.

“IoT acts as the eyes and ears of organisations and its value comes from how the data it collects is used to improve effectiveness across an organisation. As such, it is unsurprising that so many organisations are deploying IoT to propel their digital transformation initiatives,” concluded Gudonis.