When looking at home appliances or riding public transportation, the word “IoT” has now become a common occurrence in everyday life. Of course, IoT has become widespread in business, and with the recent development of technology, the number of situations in which it is used is increasing.
Due to increasing needs, we often hear people considering services that utilize IoT, but some may be confused about how to actually utilize IoT in their business.
In this column, we will once again introduce the basics of IoT and how it is actually used in various business types, along with common usage examples.
INDEX
- What is IoT (Internet of Things)?
- Functions realized by IoT
- IoT usage examples by industry
- summary
What is IoT (Internet of Things)?
IoT (Internet of Things), translated as “Internet of Things,” refers to a system that allows various things (home appliances, robots, etc.) to exchange information over the Internet.
An example that is easy to imagine is smart speakers. If you say “I want to turn on a home appliance” into a smart speaker, the information will be sent to the corresponding home appliance via the smart speaker, and the appliance will turn on. Because IoT is built into home appliances, they are able to receive information sent from smart speakers, making it possible to operate the home appliances without having to touch them directly.
Originally, mechanisms for exchanging information between things were mainly used in the manufacturing industry, and the scope of their use was limited. However, in addition to the decline in the unit price of sensors that are essential for data acquisition, the spread of smartphones in recent years has encouraged the widespread use of IoT technology and mechanisms in general businesses and households.
Functions realized by IoT
Monitoring (status understanding)
Through sensors built into objects, the status of objects can be grasped in real-time. For example, temperature, sound, and surrounding movements are examples of information that can be sensed.
A common example is security cameras. By incorporating IoT, it is possible to not only simply record video, but also have functionality such as automatically monitoring entry and exit, recording entry and exit history, and sending email notifications to administrators in the event of trouble. It will become.
Preventive/predictive maintenance (detection)
By using IoT, it is also possible to remotely monitor operating conditions and detect signs of abnormalities in advance. For example, if the equipment is behaving abnormally, an alert will be automatically sent. It is possible to deal with sudden failures before they occur.
In addition to monitoring factories and dams, these technologies are also attracting attention for their use in the infrastructure field. By automatically determining the deterioration of roads and bridges, it is possible to detect certain risks in advance without requiring human eyes each time.
Data linkage (communication)
For example, let’s take a microwave oven. We accumulate attribute information on the types of items that microwave oven users heat, their status, and trends. From the accumulated information, it is possible to determine the user’s preferences, and it is also possible to automatically recommend recommended cooking methods.
In addition, gathering information not only from a single user but also from multiple users who use the same product can provide service providers with hints on how to provide new value.
remote control
This function allows remote operation via the Internet. In the example given at the beginning of the smart speaker, this function is utilized.
Additionally, in the manufacturing industry, maintenance and inspection of factories and plants can be performed remotely, eliminating the need for patrols and business trips. Man-hours and costs for regular maintenance can be kept to a minimum.
IoT usage examples by industry
Manufacturing industry usage examples
IoT is greatly contributing to the development of the manufacturing industry. A typical example is the transformation of factories into smart factories.
A smart factory is a factory that uses digital technology to improve business processes and improve quality and productivity. By utilizing IoT to realize this smart factory, it is possible to collect data from mechanical equipment and management systems.
The data can be used to numerically measure the amount of work done by workers and their efficiency and can be used as material for consideration to improve productivity and equipment utilization.
Another advantage is that the status of equipment can be constantly monitored and abnormalities can be detected automatically and immediately. Since maintenance can be performed before equipment breaks down, losses can be kept to a minimum.
Application examples in the medical industry
IoT is also being used in medical settings. A typical example is “telemedicine” which utilizes wearable devices.
Through IoT, biological data (pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) is measured and transmitted from a wearable device attached to the subject. Medical institutions can monitor patient conditions in real-time using biometric data, and can immediately respond and treat any abnormalities.
It is also possible to detect abnormalities from data in daily life and send alerts even if you are not visiting a medical institution.
In addition to health management, it has the potential to solve problems such as home medical care and a shortage of doctors, and it also has the potential to contribute to improving the working environment for doctors.
Retail industry usage examples
There are many ways to utilize IoT in the retail industry. For example, by automatically controlling the operation of store equipment such as refrigerators and detecting abnormalities in advance, store operating efficiency can be improved.
Additionally, by incorporating IoT into digital signage product information screens and cameras, it is possible to detect customer listening times and measure the degree of attention to product information as data.
Examples of use in the food and beverage industry
Applications can be broadly divided into those for customers and those for businesses.
The former uses IoT, for example, in a system that allows orders to be placed using tablet input. Some of you may have seen him at family restaurants. By placing orders via tablet, there is no need to call an employee. As a result, not only can orders be placed easily, accurately, and quickly, but it is also helping to alleviate staff shortages at stores.
In the latter, IoT is utilized in POS systems, etc. With a POS system, you can not only collect and centrally manage information about customers who use it, such as sales and customer demographics but also use the collected information to consider measures to improve future sales.
Examples of use in the logistics industry
“Logistics 4.0″ is a trending word in the logistics industry. Logistics 4.0 is a phase that promotes the use of technology, primarily for the purpose of “labor saving” and “automation.”
Recently, due to market changes such as the expansion of e-commerce sites and the increase in demand from people staying at home, there is a need for more efficient and frequent delivery. IoT is attracting attention as a solution to meet these market needs.
For example, in warehouse work, which is a part of the logistics flow, robotics, and IoT are used for sorting, inventory, picking, etc. One example is a system in which shelves automatically move to the worker’s position in response to an order. Additionally, by attaching special tags to your luggage, you can accurately track the number of items in stock.
In addition, when it comes to vehicle dispatch, by utilizing IoT, it is possible to visualize the optimal staffing and vehicle dispatch routes using the system.
Furthermore, in the future, expectations are high for practical use in unmanned mailing services, such as transportation using drones unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and self-driving trucks.
Examples of local government use
IoT is also being used by local governments. As an example, IoT is embedded in electric two-wheeled vehicles as a means of transportation, and the system is designed to detect and contact the driver in the event of a driving accident, such as a sudden start or sudden brake. Information acquisition is achieved by incorporating sensors into electric motorcycles.
Agriculture usage examples
Many farmers are facing the problem of a decline in producers due to a lack of successors and other labor shortages, but the use of IoT is attracting attention as a way to solve this problem. For example, IoT devices can be used to monitor conditions such as the temperature, humidity, and soil moisture content of greenhouses. Additionally, network cameras can be used to remotely view the operating status of heating equipment in the house, reducing the burden of patrolling.
By utilizing IoT, it is possible to improve productivity and the work environment in agriculture.
Transportation industry usage examples
Many people may be familiar with this area as it is a familiar area in our daily lives. With the introduction of IoT, services that utilize IoT are already being put into practical use in public transportation and the taxi industry.
Let me give you an example of what can be achieved using IoT. For example, have you ever seen a QR code posted at a bus stop? By reading this code with a device camera, you can instantly understand the bus operating status.
IoT is also used in taxi dispatch apps, making it possible to hail the nearest taxi from your location.
Another example is route guidance apps. In addition to understanding congestion and delays on public transportation and expressways, it is also possible to suggest optimal alternative routes based on other information.
summary
We introduced how IoT is being used in all kinds of situations, both for individuals and corporations.
By utilizing IoT, we can expect to improve productivity and eliminate labor shortages, so we hope you can see that it is a highly versatile technology that can be used in any industry.
Recently, words such as “DX”, which refers to business development through the use of technology, have become a trend, and the use of IoT is expected to become more widespread in the future. As rapid changes in needs demand rapid transformation, IoT can be said to play a role in growth.
