Enabling IoT is top IT for next 12 months

Half of organisations undertaking IoT projects have fully implemented strategy – but concerns over security, lack of funding and commitment – Wi-SUN Alliance research shows

A new report by the Wi-SUN Alliance, a global member-based association driving the proliferation of interoperable wireless solutions for use in smart cities, smart utilities and other Internet of Things (IoT) applications, shows that half of organisations investing in IoT initiatives already have a fully implemented strategy in place, while more than a third (36 per cent) have a partially implemented strategy. Companies are most advanced in the Oil & Gas industry, with 75 per cent having a fully implemented strategy, followed by Technology (59 per cent) and Energy and Utilities (57 per cent).

A survey of 350 IT decision makers in the UK, US, Sweden and Denmark examining attitudes to IoT, including the drivers, barriers, challenges and benefits, the research highlights the growing number of smart utilities, smart cities and broader IoT projects in progress. While respondents report that enabling IoT is the second most important IT priority for the next 12 months, just behind improving security, almost all (90 per cent) of those with an IoT plan at various stages of implementation have struggled to implement this, with over a third (36 per cent) saying they find it “very or extremely difficult”.

When it comes to the key drivers for IoT implementation, around half (47 per cent) of those surveyed report it will improve ‘network intelligence and connectivity for citizen safety and quality of life’, followed by ‘creating business efficiencies’ (42 per cent) and ‘improving reliability of systems and services’ (41per cent). Two-thirds of respondents’ organisations with an IoT strategy report that it covers how IoT can be used to improve the customer experience, while six in ten say it includes a plan for continuous IoT improvement.

Benefits, barriers, and challenges when delivering IoT initiatives:

·       99 per cent have enjoyed benefits as a result of IoT implementations, including better business efficiency (54 per cent), an improved customer experience (49 per cent) and better collaboration (48 per cent). Additional benefits include reduced costs (45 per cent) and faster time to market (40 per cent).

·       Respondents highlight security as a barrier to IoT adoption. 59 per cent of them cite security concerns, with the US (65 per cent) and UK (64 per cent) far more concerned than those in Denmark or Sweden. Nearly a third (32 per cent) see funding, as well as a lack of commitment from leadership, as barriers, while 30 per cent view leadership’s lack of understanding of the benefits of IoT as a challenge.

·       The technical challenges when delivering IoT are security and safety (63%), data management (46 per cent), network configuration (41 per cent), recruiting IoT talent (39 per cent) and Wi-Fi connectivity (39 per cent).

When asked what their organisation looks for when evaluating IoT technologies, 58 per cent of respondents look for network topology and coverage, followed by communications performance in terms of latency, bandwidth and bi-directional communication (53 per cent). Other characteristics include support for industry standards (52 per cent), while standardisation is also important when it comes to choosing IoT in specific applications – 45 per cent of respondents demand that smart city IoT solutions be built using industry-wide open standards, while 43 per cent say it is absolutely crucial in a smart utilities.

As for network technologies, respondents are most likely to be familiar with Wi-SUN (56 per cent), SigFox (49 per cent), or NB-IoT (45 per cent).