Internet of Things is an Opportunity for UC Firms
August 13, 2015
By Mae Kowalke
TMCnet Contributor
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next big revolution set to hit the enterprise.
Cisco (News - Alert) estimates that there will be 50 billion devices connected by 2020, and this interconnection among devices should radically transform both business processes and consumer products. That’s why Tata Consultancy (News - Alert) Services estimates that business will spend an average of $107 million on IoT initiatives in the U.S., and roughly $86 million among businesses globally.
There’s lots of opportunity and change ahead thanks to IoT.
Unified Communications (News - Alert) providers might be near the forefront of this revolution. As a recent ISI Telemanagement blog post noted, many of the issues around IoT such as control, mobility and cost are the same issues that UC providers struggle with today.
Further, many of the firms that are most eager to leverage IoT are from the same vertical industries that are deeply involved with UC: banking, financial services, travel, hospitality, telecommunications and healthcare.
This presents opportunities for UC vendors. But IoT also brings headaches that UC vendors will have to address.
Specifically, IoT currently struggles from a lack of standards. There is no unified consortium at present that defines exactly how devices are supposed to talk with one another via IoT.
“Will companies offering UC solutions be forced to choose what platforms to enhance and support?” wondered ISI (News - Alert) in its blog post.
Further, privacy and security issues are a big challenge for IoT. With so much data on people and companies as a result of IoT, securing this data and establishing the right privacy policies will be crucial. Almost certainly some form of regulation will get involved at some point.
Will UC firms be ready with solutions for issues surrounding collaboration and compliance with IoT, or will privacy and security issues be a big thorn in their side?
It is interesting to consider where the IoT revolution will take us, and from the looks of it UC firms might be heavily involved (the smart ones, at least). But there also will be problems ahead for UC vendors and the IoT industry as a whole.
Then again, solving problems is where businesses make their money. So that spells opportunity.
If you want to hear more about tech like this, don’t miss the IoT Evolution Expo, August 17 to 20 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Edited by Stefania Viscusi