The growing number of smart utilities, smart cities and broader IoT projects mean that IoT is the now the second most important IT priority for the next 12 months, just behind improving security. However, almost all (90 per cent) of those with an IoT plan at various stages of implementation have struggled to implement this, with over a third (36 per cent) saying they find it “very or extremely difficult”.

The oil and gas sector is the most advanced with 75 per cent having a fully implemented strategy, followed by technology sector (59 per cent) and energy and utilities (57 per cent). The US is ahead of the other three countries when it comes to having a fully implemented IoT strategy – US (65 per cent), UK (47 per cent), Sweden (44 per cent) and Denmark (24 per cent).

The report by the Wi-SUN Alliance, a member-based association , was based on a survey of 350 IT decision makers in the UK, US, Sweden and Denmark examining attitudes to IoT, including the drivers, barriers, challenges and benefits.

When it comes to the key drivers for IoT implementation, around half (47 per cent) of those surveyed report it will improve ‘network intelligence and connectivity for citizen safety and quality of life’, followed by ‘creating business efficiencies’ (42 per cent) and ‘improving reliability of systems and services’ (41 per cent). Two-thirds of respondents’ organisations with an IoT strategy report that it covers how IoT can be used to improve the customer experience, while six in ten say it includes a plan for continuous IoT improvement.

Share Story: