What is Internet of Things?

You’ve probably seen the term Internet of Things (or IoT) come up before. You may have a rough idea of what the IoT means and/or entails, but did you know that IoT refers to all objects that are connected to the Internet? So also cars, home appliances and wearables.

The amount of IoT applications is growing enormously. The possibilities are getting bigger and bigger. For example, think about receiving a notification on your smartphone when the industrial gas cylinders in the warehouse need to be replaced, or a doctor who can remotely monitor heart implants.

In this blog, we take a closer look at IoT. We do so on the basis of the following subtopics:

• What is Internet of Things?
• IoT applications in practice
• IoT solutions for your organization
• AIoT: IoT and AI together

Also interested in turning your idea into reality? We are happy to assist you. Feel free to drink a cup of coffee with us to discuss the possibilities.

What is Internet of Things?

The Internet is used all over the world to find and share information, communicate with another person and do business. Not only do people use the Internet to do this, but objects also use the Internet. For example, manufacturing and energy sectors frequently use Machine-to-Machine communication to keep abreast of technical status, fault reports and maintenance notifications.

Everyday objects are also increasingly using the Internet. Think of a robot vacuum cleaner that cleans your living room daily or the smart lighting in your household.

All these objects that use the Internet are the Internet of Things. Or in flat Dutch, Internet of Things. By 2020, it is estimated that there were about 75 billion devices connected to the Internet. This number has already increased and will continue to increase explosively in the coming years.

IoT applications in practice

The possibilities of IoT are almost endless. You can think of anything and it’s possible. From a computer’s hard drive to cars and airplanes, connecting devices to the Internet offers the possibility of detecting errors in components or indicating when a particular part needs to be replaced. An added benefit is that all this information is also transmitted directly to your CRM system.

This means that you no longer have to wait for a device to stop working. Intelligent products can see faults coming and report them in time. In some cases, they can even provide a solution for the error found. Within many areas the possibilities of Internet of Things are already being taken advantage of. For example, consider the following:

• Consumers: Wearable technology, smarthome technology, connected vehicles, health and fitness apps and smart devices.
• Manufacturing: Smart monitoring of production processes and systems, factory optimization, inventory monitoring and safety.
• Healthcare: Remote health monitoring, emergency notification systems, smart devices such as hearing aids and wearable heart monitors, smart beds.
• Agriculture: Monitoring crops and livestock with apps, and environmental sensors that collect information about farmland for optimal yields.
• Environmental Protection: Measuring pollution, monitoring wildlife and soil health, earthquake warning systems.
• Infrastructure: Monitoring bridges, traffic, wind farms and train tracks for safety and repair.
• Energy: Remote control of home heating systems, linking energy meters to smart grids to match supply and demand.

IoT solutions for your organization

An IoT solution usually consists of three parts: a sensor or device that collects data, a connection that sends the data, and a platform where you can view and analyze the data. Only when these parts connect well with each other does the solution work as intended.

Developing an IoT solution requires choices in each of these areas. Which sensor fits the application? Which connectivity is suitable? And how do you set up the data platform, so that information is truly usable?

Beeliners helps you make these choices. We develop IoT solutions that align with your product and your goal, from the first idea to a working prototype.

The benefits of IoT for your organization

• Improved productivity through automation of processes;
• Reduced waste due to smarter inventory management;
• Less time wasted due to equipment failure;
• Cost savings and environmental benefits due to lower energy consumption;
• More efficient production through real-time diagnostics;
• Improved customer experience and customer service by preventing problems and responding proactively;
• Higher profitability;
• Better informed strategic decision-making.

AIoT: IoT and AI together

IoT provides you with data. AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) goes a step further and uses artificial intelligence to analyze data and automatically draw conclusions from it. Where an IoT application tells you what is happening, AIoT also predicts what is going to happen.

Think for example of a machine that not only indicates that a part is worn, but also predicts based on historical data when this will happen. Or a system that recognizes patterns in energy consumption itself and automatically adjusts based on that.

AIoT offers opportunities for companies that want to take their IoT application to a higher level. Do you want to know whether AIoT can also add value to your idea? We would be happy to think along with you.

Working with Beeliners on your IoT innovation

Do you have a good idea for a product, service, process or technological innovation? And would you like to develop your idea in cooperation with Beeliners? We would love to help you! Feel free to drop by for a cup of coffee and we will gladly discuss the possibilities with you.