Everything is connected
In a Q&A with CK Vishwakarma, Founder and CEO, AllThingsConnected, SME Advisor delves into the practicalities of Internet of Things (IoT) and explores its implications.
How do you view the term “Internet of Things”?
The “Internet” in the term Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the connectivity. Internet as we know is one of the mediums of connecting things (humans, machines; anything that can sense). I don’t see IoT as a term, but as a concept of connected solutions, for a purpose. In future, the medium of connectivity will evolve, and may not be an internet. Personally, I prefer using terms “ConnectedSolutions”.
Where do you see the IoT and its technologies creating the most impact?
I believe, apart from industrial, transportation, energy; the most visible impact we would see with IoT with Smart Healthcare. With advancements in BioTech, HealthTech in areas such as implantable chips, mems, early detection systems; we could possible address many of the health issues which were not possible before. IoT will help us in living a healthier and a better life.
How do you see the IoT being integrated in our lives in a meaningful way over the next five years?
My personal wish is that IoT shall be so streamlined in our daily life that we don’t even realise that it’s happened. Smart phones being one of the applications of IoT, I foresee that these devices would play even more pivotal roles in our daily lives.
What is the biggest risk associated with IoT?
Primary risk with connected devices is with how well secured your data is. Data security should not be looked just at the edge level, but through the entire chain of communication. However, as every risk can either be mitigated or avoided, there is no 100 per cent risk free solution, nor one solution fit for all; hence the solutions architects, business owners and the users shall understand what risks they are taking and design their solutions, and engage with them accordingly.
How will the IoT impact talent and hiring?
IoT is all about solutions selling. Most organisations have shortage of such skills in both sales as well as delivery. The organisations who look ahead to move into IoT space will actively enhance the skills of its key workforce, or hire such talents. Professionals who wish to remain relevant in future business will also upskills themselves with the IoT solutions skills. The top skill – in my view – that organisations shall hire, or professionals shall develop is the end-to-end program management skills.
What can enterprises do to accelerate the benefits of the IoT?
The IoT journey in an organisation is not a trend owned by a specific job profile, nor a discipline that belongs to one department alone. It is a collaboration of teams across the organisation. The first thing that an enterprise should do is setup a strategic group of individuals from various departments, and bring them on a common platform as drivers to help identifying new ways and to redefine the way to work in the new digital era.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to a business owner interested in IoT?
IoT will enable Everything as a Service (Eaas) model. If your organisation is a traditional box selling organisation, you must relook how you can create customised services. Digital Transformation with IoT is all about updating and upgrading the capacity to compete in a digital economy. AllThingsConnected provides business and strategy advisory services to the organisations, and then works together with them to rebuild the products and services to help them remain competitive in the future.
