Network Communications News (NCN) June 2017 | Page 14

TALKING POINT
IoT – the top priority
in driving digital
transformation
While IoT is being much lauded, a new global research report
says that security, a lack of skills and connectivity must
be addressed to ensure the successful deployment of IoT.
Paul Gudonis, president of Inmarsat Enterprise, looks at the
challenges that need to be overcome.
I
oT has become the leading
technology for digital
transformation and is the
number one priority for 9 2
per cent of organisations,
according to global research
findings published by Inmarsat.
The Inmarsat Research
Programme study focusing on
the enterprise application of the
Internet of Things (IoT) revealed
that machine learning (38 per
cent), robotics (35 per cent), and
3D printing (31 per cent) were also
key requirements for effectively
delivering digital transformation
for business.
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 reveal
that almost all (97 per cent)
respondents are experiencing, or
expect to experience, significant
benefits from the deployment of
IoT technologies. Improved ser vice
delivery capabilities (47 per cent),
14 | June 2017
‘The
development
and
deployment of
IoT is a new
phenomenon
spreading
over every
industry in
every part of
the world.’
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.
However, the research also
highlights security concerns,
a lack of skills, par ticularly
in the deployment of IoT, and
connectivity as key challenges
that need to be addressed in
order to maximise IoT’s potential.
Almost half (47 per cent) of
respondents believe that their
organisation will need to rethink
their approach to data security
and make heavy investments to
meet IoT security requirements.
Some 45 per cent cite lack of
skills as a particular challenge
for their organisation in deploying
IoT, while 29 per cent agree with
the statement that connectivity
issues threaten to derail their IoT
deployments before they have
even begun.
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 i n n ovat i o n . I o T a ct s a s t h e
e y e s a n d e a r s of o rga n i s at i o n s
a n d i t s va l u e co m e s f ro m h ow
t h e d ata i t co l l e ct s i s u s e d to
i m p rove ef fe ct i ve n e s s a c ro s s
a n o rga n i s at i o n . A s s u c h , i t
i s u n s u r p r i s i n g t h at s o m a n y
o rga n i s at i o n s a re d e p l o y i n g