U.K. Enterprises Look to Consultants for Help with IoT Deployments

ISG Provider Lens report shows growing interest in the IoT, but enterprises in the U.K. need coaching and guidance

LONDON, July 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- U.K. enterprises adopting the Internet of Things are looking to form partnerships with IoT service providers for both consulting support and technical enablement, according to a new report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The 2019 ISG Provider Lens IoT — Transformational Services, Technology, Solutions, Platforms and Industries Report for the U.K. finds enterprises in the country need a fair amount of coaching and guidance to help them understand the tangible benefits of the IoT and help define the processes to achieve those benefits. Still, many U.K. businesses see potential for connected cars, smart buildings and other IoT technologies and are eagerly awaiting the emergence of 5G networking to increase the speed of data transfer crucial to top IoT performance, the report says.

"The U.K. market for the IoT is evolving rapidly with an increased focus on scalability and flexibility, predictive maintenance and cybersecurity," said Barry Matthews, partner and head of ISG UK. "The IoT is becoming an integral part of the digital transformation enterprise clients are undertaking to become more efficient and grow their businesses."

The report finds some roadblocks to IoT adoption in the U.K. Many enterprises are finding a lack of skilled talent in the technology, and they are looking for expertise from service providers to help them with assessments and evaluation of IoT projects, because the clients lack the relevant skill sets.

U.K. enterprises are also looking for more flexible pricing models and co-investment and revenue-sharing engagements from service providers. IoT projects are complex, and many enterprises are not comfortable with providers that offer only fixed-cost pricing models, the report says.

The report sees some U.K. IoT markets generating significant interest from enterprise clients. Manufacturing companies are leveraging the IoT to develop digital systems and improve shop floor processes. These enterprises are increasingly looking at IoT-enabled automation to digitize production and integrate suppliers and customers.

Meanwhile, the U.K. public sector is investing in several smart city initiatives across the country. The government is investing in IoT projects to improve public safety or environmental sustainability. Smart building initiatives are also gaining traction because individual projects can serve as a foundation for large smart city initiatives, the report says.