There is much more to IoT than connectivity

The Internet of Things (IoT) is changing the way we live, work, travel and learn. It is also changing the way governments and businesses interact with the world. We are on the brink of the next Industrial Revolution and we need to learn what is the best way to benefit from this amazing transition that the world and the Middle East is going through.
IDC reports estimate a worldwide market of $1.7 trillion by 2020 and the Middle East and Africa spend of more than $6.6 billion, by the end of this year; generating the need for intelligence and machine learning. UAE government is regularly holding open summits where the smart city concept is a hot topic. But what is a smart city without an intelligent transportation system? How can organizations contribute to this important piece of a smart city puzzle? They definitely can, and they should join their forces with the UAE government who works tirelessly to realize its Vision 2021. Creating and maintaining a sustainable environment and infrastructure is a pillar of National Agenda in line with Vision 2021. The UAE Government wants to ensure sustainable development while preserving the environment and to achieve a perfect balance between economic and social development.

The significance of IoT in fleet management and transportation sector overall can’t be overstated. Major Middle East markets like the UAE look to improve their transportation infrastructure, digitalization will drive the uptake of telematics, connected vehicles, data processing and analytics in the country and the entire region. There are so many IoT elements that make our transportation smart and they include connected vehicle, telematics solutions, intelligent traffic control systems, in-vehicle wi-fi connection and many more. How about integrating all these elements into one big network of connected things? By adding more and more connected devices and networks we are adding more data that can be processed, analyzed and they used to the benefits of improving overall city operations on the public and private levels.

While creating an intelligent IoT infrastructure will add value to every business’ bottom line and will increase their productivity and profitability tremendously, it can also positively contribute to a much more meaningful impact on a country-wide transportation sector. By connecting multiple devices thus allowing a secure flow of information, we can:

• Become more sustainable and reduce city pollution by dissolving traffic jams and diverting them from highly populated areas such as hospitals, residential blocks as well as schools and universities.
• Improve overall operational efficiency of any fleet by predicting better travel routes and reducing road congestions. 
• Increase emergency services’ response by allowing vehicles and intelligent road cameras to communicate better, channel information about accidents faster and even prevent them by alerting concerned parties about upcoming dangers and road complications. 

The Internet of Things is here and information accessibility to the network is even more profound as homes, buildings, offices and even the whole city begins to connect to each other, providing a whole new experience of a connected world and a seamless virtual reality which can only be made possible through strong connectivity. Machines are getting smarter to enable a faster and more efficient delivery of services.

Alpha Data has a wide range of M2M (Machine-to-Machine) solutions and network connectivity for smart devices in offices, buildings as well as city services. We are helping our clients to create intelligent next-generation infrastructures and IoT solutions are one of our superpowers. Get in touch with us today for more information about our capabilities and free consultation on how we can help your business to be more connected and smart.

Article written by: Geetika Sood, Manager – IOT & Big Data-Analytics Practice, Alpha Data.