What do we have to do to Jump on the IoT Band-Wagon?

Bandwagons are often perceived as something negative, doing what everyone else is doing and therefor not unique in any way. But the word can also mean that you do what everyone else is doing and making the jump just means catching up. The IoT bandwagon is somewhere in between – there are plenty of companies doing IoT but an even large number staying on the side lines. Our business is doing fine. Do not know anything about it! Too complicated and expensive! How could we? Do not know where to start? What does it Take? Let us spend a moment on the last question, what does it take to introduce IoT in our business. The answers boil down to some basic understandings within your business:

• A well-defined common understanding of what value IoT can and will provide in your business. This means where it will be used, what it will deliver, how it will be used and who is going to use it. These are simple questions that can be addressed in a hone hour meeting between leadership, business functions like sales, marketing, product/application development, support, and service. Not that implementation functions are not included since IoT is not a technical issue, it is there to solve business problem. This can be done on one or 2 one-hour meetings. It can be led by a champion, or you can ask an IoT solution provider to help lead session as part of a potential sales engagement.
• A common understanding as to why you are doing it. If competitive, understand what your competitors are doing – something to discuss with sales or maybe addressed by marketing. Identify every reason you have, to make sure that your IoT solution will address them.
• A common agreement of the resourcing needed to support and maintain IoT in your business. IoT is like the web – once introduced it is an ongoing part of your business that requires management and ongoing support – it is an ongoing business investment.
• Assign appropriate budget and resources for the different phases of IoT in your business. These include planning, introduction, deployment, and ongoing operations. These range from people to procurement expenses, training, and ongoing operations.
• Assign an IoT implementation team with responsibility for bringing IoT to your business. It is good to have a champion but equally important to have representations from all functions in your business that will use IoT, be affected by it or in charge of operating and maintaining your IoT solution. If your distributors will use your IoT, involve them and if your end customers will, involve them. This does not have to be bureaucratic – the champion/project leader can interact with different members on an ad hoc basis.
• Decide how you are going to implement IoT. Develop it on your own is not recommended unless you are a large company with established engineering function. Most likely you will work with suppliers and partners. Take the time to find the right ones and go through the appropriate procurement process.
• Assign a champion/project manager who will lead the effort. Working with the right partner this person will be the one leading the Jump on the Bandwagon.

At Triotos, we focus on providing IoT solutions that meet your needs. Using ready built reference solutions and products we can deliver the IoT you need in months instead of years and for <$100k instead of $ millions. To find out more, go to www.triotos.com.