Millennials will accelerate Internet of Things action, IDC predicts

As millennials move into business decision-making roles over the next three years, they will push for faster deployments of real-time, sensor-driven applications, according to IDC’s FutureScape report, “Worldwide Internet of Things 2016 Predictions.”

“The millennial age group will drive rapid development, innovation and out-of-box thinking in IT departments and product groups because of having grown up only knowing a connected world,” the IDC report says. As millennials move into influential business roles, around 2017, they will expect a business world “where connectivity is integrated, access to information is immediate, and monitoring of activities is real time. This lays the foundation to accelerate IoT adoption.”

For IT departments, this means a shift towards warp-speed and agile development processes. “IT departments are going to have adjust policies and processes to accommodate this fast-moving demographic,” the IDC report says.

IDC’s Internet of Things report also makes the following predictions:

• 2016 will become the “Year of the IoT Developer” as developers race to create more than 250,000 Internet of Things applications by 2020.
• By 2020, 10 percent of all information security attacks will target intelligent IoT systems, jeopardizing valuable corporate data.
• By 2018, 60 percent of large enterprises will integrate IT and operational technology into single, sensor-driven systems. The latter includes heating, air-conditioning and lighting systems, as well as manufacturing equipment.

IDC analysts discuss these and other predictions in a free webcast entitled “FutureScape: Worldwide Internet of Things 2016 Predictions.” To access the webcast, fill out a short registration form, with no obligation or fee. Webcast viewers will also be able to download the associated PowerPoint slides.