IoT in NZ is no longer just about ‘connected cows’: IDC

Ensure your IoT plans are not siloed – they should fit within your overall digital roadmapMonica Collier, IDC NZ

IDC NZ reports the number of Kiwi organisations that have implemented Internet of Things (IoT) has doubled over the past year.

The companies deploying IoT are more influenced by improving the customer experience, than on improving internal processes. In fact, New Zealand organisations place more focus on the customer, as a driver for IoT, than any other country surveyed across Asia Pacific, reports IDC NZ in its latest Internet of Things Decision Maker Report.

“IoT is no longer just about ‘connected cows’,” says IDC.

The annual report says opportunities abound across industries from manufacturing to retail to healthcare. For example, while Australia leads Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) for asset performance tracking in manufacturing, a healthy 21 per cent of NZ manufacturers have deployed IoT in this space.

Across New Zealand, the annual report notes the number of organisations that have deployed an IoT solution has practically doubled; from 13.7 per cent in 2016 to 25.7 per cent in 2017.

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NZ organisations understand that the value of the IoT is in the data it produces and, more importantly, what that data enables companies to act upon or improve

“New Zealand organisations are understanding that the value of the Internet of Things is in the data it produces and, more importantly, what that data enables companies to act upon or improve,” says Monica Collier, research manager for telecommunications, IDC New Zealand. “Additionally, endpoint costs continue to decrease and the range of connectivity options is increasing; it’s easier to get an IoT business case across the line.”

Collier summarises the opportunity in IoT: “The New Zealand IoT Alliance research says that IoT could bring NZ$2.2 billion of benefit to the New Zealand economy over the next 10 years.

“Our report illustrates how companies have understood that message and are implementing IoT to increase productivity and improve customer experience,” says Collier.

In the light of these findings, she says IDC is calling on technology buyers to ensure their IoT plans “are not siloed”.

“The plans should fit within their overall digital roadmap,” she states.

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“For vendors, to step ahead you’ll need a good IoT partner ecosystem in context with the industries you are servicing. Customers want a technology partner that understands their business as well as their technology.”

IDC says key shifts are occurring in IoT vendor perception by New Zealand companies with Rockwell Automation, Google, IBM and Dell performing well in terms of mindshare.

While wifi remains the most popular IoT connectivity, Low Power WAN’s popularity is growing fast, the report states.

Low Power WAN lets organisations deploy long-life battery operated sensor devices in remote locations, and sample uses include water meters and remote asset tracking.

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