3 real-world use cases for the Internet of Things and big data Posted on : Oct 08 - 2015

Technology often progresses in ways that can surprise us. Just eight years ago, many people thought of the then-new Apple iPhone as an expensive toy of little interest to the workaday world or the average consumer. The idea that nearly everyone would own such a gadget sounded like crazy talk to some.

Today, the average Joe, Jane and their grandparents has a smartphone, and nearly everyone in the workforce depends on a mobile device to be productive. The Internet of Things is on the verge of a similar explosion into the mainstream, and it promises to transform business processes even more deeply than mobile devices have.

Yet many people still think of the Internet of Things – along with related trends such as autonomous self-driving cars, advanced robotics, and software intelligence – as the stuff of science-fiction.

So, here are three real-world examples of how the Internet of Things is already finding a foothold in enterprises.

1. Fleet Management

Vehicle telematics has been around for a while, with many companies that run large fleets using it to monitor driver behaviour and track the locations of their vehicles. Some insurance companies also use it to monitor driver behaviour (acceleration, braking, cornering, speeding etc.) and reward insured drivers for driving safely.

The Internet of Things promises to take vehicle telematics to a whole new level by giving organisations the ability to collect richer data about vehicles and drivers, and acting on this information in real-time. Companies like UPS, one of the world’s largest shipping groups, are already tapping into this potential.

UPS uses sensors on its delivery vehicles to monitor speed, fuel consumption, mileage, number of stops, and engine health. The sensors in its vehicles capture more than 200 data points for each of its 80,000 vehicles. The information allows the company to reduce idling time, fuel consumption, and harmful emissions. View More