U.S. Enterprises Committing to IoT With Long-Term Plans

U.S. enterprises investing in the Internet of Things (IoT) increasingly are starting out with long-term strategies instead of just discrete proofs of concept, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

The 2022 ISG Provider Lens Internet of Things — Services and Solutions report for the U.S. finds a growing number of U.S. organizations want to develop a high-level view of their IoT future while achieving immediate, measurable benefits from the technology.

“Enterprise IoT plans are growing more ambitious,” said John Lytle, industrial manufacturing client lead for ISG in the Americas. “Companies are looking to optimize their operations, address security threats and extract insights from IoT data.”

Advances in AI and machine learning have expanded the possibilities of IoT analytics, ISG says. In its most basic form, IoT gives enterprises visibility into their operations by collecting data from sensors in machine tools, vehicles and other assets. That data can be used in real time to track objects, generate alerts or predict failures. Using analytics tools, managed services providers are now using the same data sources to derive higher-level business insights.

As in most IT fields today, both enterprises and service providers face a tight market for qualified professionals who can design, integrate and operate complex IoT systems, the report says. Providers and clients are opening delivery centers in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific to spread out the risk of attrition beyond established centers in India.

“Managed IoT services are most affected by the skills shortage,” said Jan Erik Aase, partner and global leader, ISG Provider Lens Research. “Providers are responding with recruitment, training and intelligent automation.”

Enterprises are seeking plug-and-play interoperability among devices, software and networks so they can respond to future requirements and avoid vendor lock-in, but this remains a challenge, ISG says. To deliver maximum value, an enterprise’s IoT infrastructure often needs to be customized to work with specific telecom networks and hyperscale cloud platforms. Yet a lengthy integration process can cut into a project’s return on investment. Providers are continuing efforts to offer open platforms and smooth integration services.