The Internet of Things (IoT) is often considered a nebulous and expansive concept, encompassing numerous specialist areas and industries. A more fitting description might be an “Internet of Diversity” rather than an Internet of Things, reflecting its vast array of applications and unique scenarios.
Consider a real-world use case discussed at an IoT Meetup we attended. A US company provides rodent control as a service, deploying thousands of traps across tens of retail sites, primarily in the food sector. Traditionally, their process required personnel to physically inspect traps daily, incurring substantial costs in manpower and vehicle deployment. However, by integrating IoT, the company outfitted traps with sensors that notify when intervention is required. This has significantly reduced operational costs by eliminating unnecessary site visits.
This example illustrates two key observations. First, value can be found in usecases that might initially seem mundane or low-tech. Second, the diversity of IoT applications means that one-size-fits-all solutions are often impractical. In this scenario, there is no off-the-shelf IoT solution for rodent control, nor is it cost-effective for a third party to develop and market one. Generic RTLS (Real-Time Location Systems) platforms might collect relevant data, but their dashboards and analytics are unlikely to meet the specific requirements of this application.
This highlights an emerging trend in the IoT ecosystem: the most effective IoT platforms are those that are both simple to adapt and flexible in their functionality. Platforms must be user-friendly enough to customise for a wide variety of unique use cases while also being robust enough to present data in a way that aligns with domain-specific needs. These attributes are critical for the IoT to continue thriving as a genuinely diverse and impactful technology space.