Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 36 | Page 72

INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology

Vodafone UK opens up new markets for IoT growth to extend lead at the top

Vodafone UK is launching a new range of services that will make it easier for UK businesses to adopt IoT technology to track , monitor and manage assets , giving them vital data , insight and control .

Vodafone UK is launching a new range

of IoT services that will remove barriers to IoT adoption for UK businesses . By partnering with IoT . nxt , part of the Vodafone Group , Vodafone will offer customers every part of an IoT solution , with a single data management platform and the capability to integrate old and new devices in one system .
As part of the new range of services , Vodafone will provide IoT sensors and devices , create a data management platform and offer ongoing professional services . This complete offering will ensure IoT is accessible to all businesses , including those that do not have specialist capabilities in-house .
IoT can give businesses vital data , insight and control . Markets that can most quickly benefit from IoT adoption include utilities , logistics , public transport , healthcare , manufacturing and building management .
Vodafone has released a report on the benefits of ‘ Digital Buildings ’ which found that investment in IoT in public sector buildings could reduce carbon emissions , reduce energy usage and save taxpayers up to £ 380 million annually .
The report , which calls on the UK government to explore digital buildings technology , estimates new technology could reduce carbon emissions by up to 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 a year and reduce overall energy usage in buildings by 15 %.
As part of Vodafone ’ s recent IoT Spotlight research , 87 % of UK early adopters said they have already seen a return on investment for IoT , while 76 % suggested they are able to do things they couldn ’ t do before . IoT is helping businesses adapt to the digital economy , but complexity has been a major barrier to adoption .
Anne Sheehan , Business Director , Vodafone UK , said : “ We ’ re making it easy for any business to adopt IoT .
“ We ’ re taking away complexity and making it simple to deploy , simple to manage and simple to see the return on investment . With our colleagues at IoT . nxt , we can be unique in the UK market – we ’ ll grow our leadership position from here and deliver customers a digital capability that will prove invaluable in meeting the pressures of business today .”
In 2019 , Vodacom , part of the Vodafone Group , acquired a 51 % share in South Africa-based IoT . nxt .
The addition of IoT . nxt to the Vodafone Group will ensure that Vodafone UK grows its leadership in the IoT space by opening up new markets through the ease of deployment , the simplicity and flexibility of operation , and the capability to customise to any application . IoT . nxt lets businesses consolidate multiple processes on to one simple platform and integrate old and new devices with a single system .
Nico Steyn , CEO of IoT . nxt , said : “ It ’ s great to be part of the Vodafone Group . After a successful collaboration with Vodacom in South Africa , we are thrilled to power the new era of Vodafone UK ’ s IoT strategy .
“ IoT is perceived by many businesses to be complex and bespoke , but it doesn ’ t have to be . We hope to change that perception with a platform which can be adapted to any business and type of connection , and any use case .” •

WE ’ RE MAKING IT EASY FOR ANY BUSINESS TO ADOPT IOT .

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