1. Increase in the number of embedded devices

The first in this list is a no-brainer. Each passing year will have an ever-increasing number of internet-enabled devices attached to consumer electronics, production machines, inventory, transport, automotive, telecom devices, avionics, healthcare equipment, and energy distribution grids.

2. Strange Partnerships

Since the next big wave of computing, the Internet of Things, has arrived and companies are thinking fast to capitalize on this opportunity, the IoT market will go through strange partnerships between competing firms. One recent example is Oracle and SalesForce when both companies inked an IoT-focused partnership deal.

Another strange partnership was between Intel and the Council of Fashion Designers of America.  The aim is to glean useful information about the fashion design community in the US and leverage it for new business knowledge. Another interesting partnership was between R/GA and Techstars. Both have launched the Connected Devices Accelerator program for youth-centered start-ups.

3. Convergence of product engineering & data processing

Data processing and product engineering will bring specialists in both fields together and in many cases, a new IT consulting specialization is expected in near future. A consultant is expected to understand both the engineering demands of the embedded system and the data processing facet.

A new tide of applications and tools

Since IoT promises to gather data from millions of sensors, devices, and end-user points, there will be an upsurge in the launch and sale of tools and applications to analyze and comprehend the new data.

4. Convergence of skill sets

An end-to-end solution will require a broader skill set. This is where consulting firms, both boutique and generalized, will play their part. To suggest and implement IoT solutions, consultants must have minimum work exposure at all levels of an IoT SOA (Service Oriented Architecture). This includes experience in dealing with the sensing layer, networking layer, services layer, and user interface layer. The role of CIOs will become more challenging and the need for trusted partners, both onshore and offshore will increase. Since one person/company cannot operate optimally at all four layers of an IoT SOA, vendor and supplier partnerships will increase.

5. Convergence of Security Paradigm

Technology and service providers will need to focus on delivering a unified perspective of security, privacy, and ownership of data emanating from the  IoT ecosystem. Governance, management, and operations of security will become ever-challenging for enterprises. Therefore, the security of data will be about the whole SOA of the proposed IoT solution.

The enterprise-level application of IoT will win over consumer-grade IoT applications. Media attention will be fixed on consumer electronics and gadgets but the enterprise application of IoT will take the lead.

Recap

1. Increase in the number of embedded devices
2. Strange IT bedfellows (Oracle & SalesForce)
3. Product engineering and data processing will converge
4. IoT solutions require convergence of skills

The list is non-exhaustive, however, it reflects some of the things that ‘The Internet of Things will be indirectly responsible for. How do you see the Internet of Things (IoT) unfold in the B2B market?