IoT stands for Internet of Things. In order to understand what IoT can do for your organization, it is important to first fully understand the concept. Discover how IoT can contribute to the improvement of business processes.
In its simplest form, IoT consists of sensors that perform various measurements in the environment where they are placed. This data is then sent via the internet to a central server that processes the data and then stores it. The data can then be analysed and action can be taken based on the outcome.
Analyzing data
As an example we take a soda machine. We equip it with a number of sensors that are connected to the internet. With the help of these sensors, we can periodically measure the following data from this machine:
· The quantity of units (cans or bottles) of soft drinks in stock.
· Wear and tear on a number of important parts.
Optimized logistics planning
By measuring the stock we detect when the stock runs out. The action on this is to replenish the stock. Because we measure periodically, for example every hour, we can also calculate the stock over a longer period of time. We will discover that the decrease in summer and especially on warmer days is higher than on colder days and in the winter period. The preference for certain drinks can also be measured and it is possible to determine the selection possibilities. For example, you can offer the drinks with a high stock as a choice so that this leads to an even purchase of all offered drinks. This then results in more efficient logistic planning.
A more efficient maintenance process
Measuring the wear and tear can predict when a defect will occur. In fact, we then talk about 'predictive maintenance', which is an improvement over preventive maintenance. Predictive maintenance involves the periodic maintenance of a machine and the replacement of parts that may not have needed replacement for a long time. Wear and tear of parts depends mainly on operating conditions and by measuring the wear and tear it can be determined whether a part needs to be replaced. Predictive maintenance therefore leads to a more efficient maintenance process.
In the above example of a soft drinks machine, IoT can improve the following business processes:
· Stock management
· Maintenance
The right CO2 levels
Let's look at another example. Meetings are held within every organisation. Research now shows that the CO2 content in a room has an influence on the performance of people who are in this room. So it can be interesting to measure the course of the CO2 content in a meeting room. As soon as it exceeds a certain value, an action can be taken to reduce the CO2 content. An agenda can be put together in such a way that a coffee break is planned as soon as it is expected that the CO2 content will exceed a certain value. People leave the room for a short period of time so that the CO2 level can be reduced:
