By Frank Zeichner, Founding CEO, IoT Alliance Australia
As the conversation around the Internet of Things evolves, it’s crucial to recognise the importance of leveraging IoT data smartly.
Everyone says that the Internet of Things (IoT) is either dead or is now BAU. Fact is, it’s neither, but it does need to be reframed as an integral part of data smartness.
IoT no longer features on the Gartner hype cycle. The hype is gone and yet the number of IoT devices and connections continues to grow by 20 per cent a year – and the data collected by these devices is a tsunami that threatens to overwhelm our ability to store, manage and use it.
A shift in focus
At the same time, the AI hype is incandescent, mirroring IoT’s hype phase when the technology was in its infancy. I recall plenty of gee whizzery, confusion, uncertainty and even a little fear sitting alongside the excitement that comes with ‘the next big thing’.
What’s happening now is that the focus is shifting from the technology to how IoT data can be used to best effect and in a trusted and responsible way. Connected trusted data that’s fit for purpose is what we call data smartness.
I think IoT’s days in the spotlight are over, not because it’s dead but because it’s no longer just about the technology and how it works. IoT is maturing and it’s now all about the data and why we need it – as it always has been (and perhaps should have been).
Not lacking data, lacking data smarts
We’re not lacking data by any stretch of the imagination, but we are lacking data smartness. Where IoT can make the greatest difference is in providing trusted quality data that enables the net zero and energy transition, reduces waste, raises productivity, secures supply chains and provides better health outcomes.
IoT can (and should be) a trusted source of data truth. This is critical in the face of the power of AI and automation, which demand accurate and trusted data input. Data can (and must) be represented safely and securely and be able to be traced back to source. This requires greater responsibility as the glut of data and its use (or misuse) threatens privacy, security, fairness, sovereignty, business models and even our ability to sustainably and safely store it.
From hype to trough to maturity
This follows the classic shift from hype to trough to maturity for IoT and will have a profound effect on how we can enable and trust the progressive digitalisation of how we run our industrial plants, operations, infrastructure, our personal lives, track to net zero and nature positive, and ultimately and how we achieve circular economy.
Let’s unpack that a little.
IoT data smartness has two key aspects:
The digital world where we use IoT to translate and bridge real world features into data, process the data and act on it for effect back in the real world
The physical and real world where we apply data smartness, for example, to improve business operations, safety, yield, customer interaction, inform and drive net zero transition
As the collection of IoT data continues to increase dramatically along with the use of AI and automated outcomes, it becomes more critical that the data we use be trusted. That requires us to be smart about how we use IoT technologies to deliver trusted data (i.e. data that is secure, reliable, accurate and used responsibly). Doing that requires real work that moves beyond technology and extends into scalable operations, resilience and good governance.
Data smartness requires trusted IoT data across:
The digital technologies that collect, connect, store, process and automate data use. These include IoT, AI, cloud, connectivity and block chain
The practices, tools and benchmarks needed to enable and promote confidence in reliable data delivery, relevance and trustworthiness (e.g. ratings, labels, guidelines and standards)
Interoperability and sharing between systems and between companies, sectors and government to streamline operations, unlock data value and reduce cost of collection
Data smartness in the physical (non-digital) world requires us to think through:
What data we need for operations, supply chains, climate adaptation etc. to inform, make decisions, streamline processes, activate responses and automate
The reliability, safety, security and privacy aspects the data needs to have, as well as who we might need to share it with (e.g. down the supply chain, for scope three emissions data reporting)
How we marry data insights and automation with legacy practices and make change for the better
The IoT industry must evolve
Ultimately, data smartness drives us down a pathway where we use IoT data and digital technologies to understand and enable how we best use our constrained resources in a climate challenged world.
Gearing up the capacity and capability to employ mature IoT in a data smart world is a massive opportunity for the IoT and digital communities. If we seize this opportunity, the potential to make a positive impact on economies, communities and the planet is enormous. Is IoT dead? No; we just have to become data smart.
IoTAA is working to create a data smart Australia through trusted, accessible, automated data by focusing on three key areas to deliver the outcomes that matter most: sustainability, productivity and trusted technology and data. IoTAA promotes good practice, raises awareness and advocates for the responsible use of IoT.
Learn more about IoTAA at www.iot.org.au
