How the Internet of Things (IoT) Can Transform Your Business

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), is a major trend driving the next stage of the manufacturing industry, known as Industry 4.0. IoT is all about the enhancement of business processes and solutions with sensors, devices, gateways and platforms. By gathering all their data in one place, manufacturers can make intelligent decisions and design more efficient processes. This allows them to meet the rising demand for high-quality, customized goods at a lower cost, with faster turn-around times.

IoT isn’t simply about gathering data. Data also needs to be analyzed and enriched to deliver insights businesses can act upon. This is where artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, and analytics come in. Intelligently designed software uses these tools to uncover hidden trends, optimize business processes, and support workers.

IoT devices can collect performance data automatically, which can be used for predictive maintenance to avoid down-time or increase machine availability. With clients expecting greater levels of customization, and faster production, than before, many manufacturers are seeking ways to increase their productivity.

This means that to stay competitive, manufacturers need to relieve their employees of repetitive, process-driven tasks, such as walking around a plant to manually inspect machines. While there should always be a role for manual human oversight, it’s more productive to upskill workers to more creative, engineering-focused roles, such as product development.

IoT doesn’t simply automate existing processes, it also allows companies to develop new products and business models based on the data they create. Read on for some great examples of these.

Recording and transmitting data from IoT devices is one step, but using this data effectively is another step entirely. IoT platforms can easily become another silo of data that sits unused, which is why it’s crucial to ensure they’re accessible to as many workers as possible, and that data is continually analyzed using automated processes and machine learning. With NTT DATA Business Solutions, your IoT data can be fully integrated with an ERP platform, such as SAP S/4HANA, or a next-generation CRM, such as SAP Customer Experience and SAP Manufacturing Solutions. This enables employees from across the organization to access and analyze the same set of data, which is hosted in the cloud, or processed locally, in the case of edge computing.

With machines controlled remotely, data security and governance are of course paramount. Communications can be end-to-end encrypted, and instructions can even be stored in a blockchain, making them impossible to tamper with.

Whichever stage you are at, we can help you to complete your transformation into a smart business. IoT projects with NTT DATA Business Solutions do not require huge initial investments or unnecessary migrations. Our clients often start small, testing different scenarios and pursuing the most advantageous ones. Whether the focus is on optimizing one business unit or redesigning an entire business, our projects are always quantified and designed to deliver tangible value. We support you from the outset.

To discover where your project could go, simply contact us online. We’ll discuss where your pain points lie, what you want to achieve, and how NTT DATA Business Solutions can help you to get there. Or learn first more about our innovation consulting.