The Internet of Things (IoT) has been all the rage in the world for quite some time now. And understandably so, especially considering the many benefits it brings to the table. It has rendered the technology a lucrative choice for small-to-mid-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Why so? Well, here are some of the benefits of IoT for SMBs to help you understand:
- Improved productivity: Companies of all varieties across the broad spectrum of industries have come to leverage IoT in myriad ways to achieve specific goals and results. One of the most important goals for which IoT is often put to work is better productivity via the automation of repetitive tasks.
- Deliver enhanced customer service: One of the most prevalent and biggest misconceptions about IoT is that it only offers benefits in the context of back-end operations and processes. This belief could not be further away from the truth, i.e., IoT solutions can also help improve customer-facing operations.
- Optimize productivity: Yet another critical benefit of using IoT solutions for SMBs is that they offer such companies the ability to streamline and enhance their processes & which, in turn, allows SMBs to realize significantly better levels of overall efficiency. The automation IoT enables can also be leveraged to reduce downtime of the company’s assets. Another way IoT helps SMBs optimize their productivity levels is via streamlined logistics. So say, a transport and logistics company can track where all the vehicles in its fleet are at all times and then use that data to achieve better productivity via better truck routes.
- Cut costs: Almost all companies want to and endeavor to reduce costs. It holds for small to midsize businesses, who are increasingly and innovatively leveraging IoT to bring down costs. For example, IoT can be used to keep an eye on devices and assets in remote geographies. Not only that, but IoT solutions can also be used to address software issues over the air, i.e., via OTA updates, thus saving the company the costs as well as the time of going out to fix the problems in these remote areas. Did we mention that IoT solutions can also track energy consumption and devise strategies to reduce said consumption?
The IoT benefits have changed how small & midsize businesses use devices at the workplace. And in the modern digital landscape, devices, machines, and objects of all sizes can automatically transfer data through a network, effectively “talking” with each other in real-time.
While businesses of all scales, sizes, and varieties stand to benefit from newer and advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), one cannot deny that there is much more to be gained for those operating on relatively more minor scales. Small to midsize businesses may have a tad more at stake than an established bigwig in their industry. What further makes a case for the use of IoT solutions across SMBs is that 83 percent of organizations have reported improved efficiencies across the board after implementing IoT across their business. For SMBs, IoT brings forth a new and better chance to expand their horizons digitally speaking. The technology allows them to improve operations, realize substantially enhanced productivity levels, and earn better profits. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and start looking for a trusted IoT development company to get started on adding IoT to your operational arsenal.
To conclude, the benefits of IoT become more evident, both concerning remote work and tasks performed on-site with IoT devices. It must be tempered with the reality that organizations frequently open themselves to potential attacks and increase the size of their surface. And because of this, a good security plan and policy need to be adopted for IoT device use within organizations today.