“Operators and vendors must prove RedCap’s use cases and drive maturity in the ecosystem to pursue new revenue and monetisation opportunities.”

5G reduced capability (RedCap) is a connectivity standard that enables IoT devices to operate more efficiently and to use less bandwidth than traditional 5G devices (for example, smartphones), which reduces the cost of the associated applications because they do not require full 5G capacity. RedCap technology has the potential to increase the addressable market for 5G while providing additional capabilities over existing low-performance IoT solutions. Both vendors and operators should view 5G RedCap as an opportunity to diversify network use cases and drive network monetisation. However, operators and vendors must also ensure that they consider the strengths and limitations of the technology as part of proving its use cases and driving maturity within the ecosystem.

RedCap technology can offer a functional ‘middle ground’ between high performance 5G and NB-IoT

RedCap technology was first standardised in 3GPP’s Release-17 in 2022. It allows IoT devices to leverage a subset of the capabilities of the 5G network to support applications that fall between the performance requirements of 5G and narrow band IoT (NB-IoT). In this way, 5G RedCap provides a middle ground of connectivity; leveraging some of 5G’s advanced capabilities (such as low latency, high reliability and a higher peak data rates), as well as outperforming 5G enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) in terms of component costs and battery life (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Comparison of RedCap’s capabilities with those of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), LTE-M enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) and NB-IoT

In some scenarios, RedCap could offer a viable alternative to the two existing 4G-based IoT standards: LTE Category (Cat) 1–4 and NB-IoT. The technology will offer the following benefits over existing IoT standards.

Reduced latency compared with existing LTE-M (eMTC) and NB-IoT technologies. This enables RedCap to support applications that require near real-time data communication.
Higher peak data rates than LTE Cat 1 and NB-IoT to support new IoT applications that require greater bandwidth.
Capacity to leverage new 5G capabilities including the benefits of the 5G core, such as network slicing and advanced positioning.

The reduced capabilities of RedCap devices will also offer the following benefits, which are not offered by 5G URLLC or eMBB for IoT devices and applications.

Improved power efficiency. Compared with eMBB and URLLC, RedCap’s improved power efficiencies create a middle ground in terms of functionality and battery life.
Reduced costs. As well as potentially lower costs than traditional devices, RedCap devices can use half-duplex frequency division duplex (FDD) transmission mode to leverage less costly switches rather than expensive duplexers.

There are also other new 5G IoT technologies that must be considered by stakeholders, such as mMTC, advanced 5G sensing and passive IoT. However, 5G RedCap offers an alternative to these technologies that is optimal for certain use cases and could create different opportunities in new and existing applications.

RedCap technology will enhance existing applications and enable new use cases, but the ecosystem is not yet mature

The following key applications for RedCap are anticipated.

Industrial wireless sensors. This includes connected sensors for remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, energy management and asset tracking. While RedCap’s higher cost and power consumption currently limit its suitability in narrowband applications, its benefits in terms of latency and reliability make it suitable for more-critical applications. Its ability to leverage 5G improved positioning and network slicing also expands its addressable market beyond that of 4G IoT.
Wearables. Small, connected devices (including smart watches, health monitoring devices, fitness trackers and AR/VR headsets) can be worn on the body and equipped with sensors and processors to collect and transmit data. RedCap technology enables wearables to access 5G’s lower latency, higher data rates and advanced positioning, but with a smaller device size, improved power efficiency and reduced costs.
Surveillance devices. This includes cameras or recording devices, such as security cameras, body cams and facial recognition systems. RedCap technology could offer a lower cost alternative to 5G eMBB connectivity for these applications, potentially improving the business case for 5G connected cameras.
Smart grids. Smart electrical grids are connected to the network to improve efficiency, reliability and sustainability. The numerous applications of smart grids are dependent on connectivity, such as smart metres, and grid sensors and for real-time monitoring. RedCap is able to bring improved latency, peak data rates and reliability to these applications compared with traditional IoT connections such as NB-IoT and LTE-M.
Fixed–wireless access (FWA). RedCap technology can lower cost, lower performance and more compact customer premises equipment (CPE) for 5G FWA. This could help FWA to better address some emerging market opportunities where CPE prices are the main barrier to adoption.

Although 5G RedCap will offer a new balance of cellular connectivity for IoT that will be applicable across a range of applications, it remains an emerging technology that needs to prove that it can add value to end users. At the moment, RedCap has still not reached substantial commercialisation and its ecosystem remains immature, which could slow adoption of the technology.

Operators and vendors should see 5G RedCap as a key opportunity, but one that still needs proof and ecosystem support

Although RedCap will not serve all IoT applications, its potential to augment operators’ IoT offerings and to support new market segments makes it a valuable opportunity. Over the past year, trials of RedCap chipsets and products have continued to break ground and its performance enhancements in 5G Advanced are expected to further increase its utility. Consequently, both vendors and operators should see 5G RedCap as an opportunity to diversify network use cases and drive network monetisation. However, investment to support RedCap’s capabilities will only be justified if the industry can prove its advantages and use cases for customers.

Operators and vendors should consider themselves as key enablers of RedCap, not only in terms of connectivity, but also in driving ecosystem maturity. In applications such as surveillance, smart grids, sensors and wearables, both operators and vendors should build specialised partnerships, support new device manufacturers and demonstrate the benefits that RedCap can offer both existing markets and new applications. By doing so, operators and vendors can accelerate the pace of ecosystem maturity to increase RedCap adoption and new revenue opportunities.

The post To maximise the 5G RedCap opportunity, vendors and operators must focus on use cases and ecosystem support appeared first on IoT Business News.

The Internet of Things has quietly revolutionised the way we travel- no longer do we have to worry about fumbling through paper maps or anxiously waiting when our luggage takes longer to come out onto the carousel than we expected. We’re now in the era of smart travel accessories that are able to blend technology with travel in a really seamless way, this makes our journeys so much more connected and hassle free than ever. Read on to find out about some of these revelations when it comes to travel.

Smart Luggage

Smart luggage is embedded with IoT wonders, and is changing the travel game. Integrated GPS trackers let you keep tabs on your suitcase’s location in real time so you dont need to stress about lost bags since you can track them right from your smartphone. Whether you’re using luggage storage and want to check that your bags are where you left them, or flying across the globe you know exactly where they are. Smart suitcases often come equipped with a range of features, on great one is built in scales (so you never exceed those pesky airline weight limits!)

Smart Locks

With IoT-powered locks, you can forget about the anxiety of things like misplaced keys or forgotten combinations. Instead, just use your smartphone to secure and access your belongings instead. Some smart locks offer advanced security features too like tamper alerts and real time monitoring so you can receive a notification on your phone if someone tries to mess with your luggage. Perfect for peace of mind and security.

Wearables

Wearable devices that are designed have gained massively popularity, from smartwatches to fitness trackers. However these wearables arent just useful for health but offer features like navigation assistance, language translation and more so are perfect for your travels. You could be strolling through the streets of a foreign city, and your wrist gently vibrates to guide you to the nearest must see attraction allowing you to get the most out of your time there!

Sustainability

As the we all embrace the importance of sustainability more and more, IoT is playing its part in the travel industry. Smart technology is being used to create eco-friendly travel solutions- hotels are implementing smart energy management systems so that lights and appliances only operate when needed. In transportation, IoT plays a key role in optimising routes and reducing fuel consumption. Smart navigation systems help drivers avoid traffic congestion, leading to smoother journeys and less environmental impact.

Smart Transportation

Speaking of transportation, the IoT is reshaping how we move from one place to another. Connected vehicles, equipped with sensors and communication technologies are all creating a safer and more efficient travel environment. Cars “talk” to each other, sharing information about road conditions, potential hazards and traffic patterns. This can all help to contribute to the overall safety of the road, minimising accidents and creating a more predictable commuting experience. Public transportation is also getting a tech upgrade, with IoT-enabled systems ensuring timely arrivals and departures. The days of waiting endlessly for a bus or train are fading away, replaced by a more efficient and connected urban landscape.

Smart Cities and Tourism

Smart cities that are powered by IoT are making this a reality. There’s everything from intelligent street lights that adjust brightness based on pedestrian activity to interactive kiosks that can provide rea -time information to tourists. These cities are designed to enhance your travel experience.

Personalised Travel Experiences

The beauty of IoT really comes down to its ability to tailor experiences to individual preferences. Smart travel platforms use data to understand your preferences and offer you personalised recommendations, like suggesting local eateries based on your taste preferences to providing real-time updates on your favourite attractions. IoT is putting the power of personalisation in the hands of travellers and that can only make things smoother, safer and all round better for us all.

The post How is IoT Improving Travel and Tourism? appeared first on IoT Business News.

Long-distance video call over sub-GHz Wi-Fi HaLow signals in real-world conditions extends more than 10x farther than conventional Wi-Fi.

Morse Micro, the leading Wi-Fi HaLow silicon vendor, today announced the world’s first live demonstration of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow technology extending three kilometers (nearly two miles).

Morse Micro staged this record-setting field test of a long-range video call in San Francisco’s Ocean Beach neighborhood to showcase the ability of sub-GHz Wi-Fi HaLow signals to reach long distances in challenging real-world conditions. A low-power, long-reach version of Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11ah standard, Wi-Fi HaLow offers more than 10x the range, 100x the coverage area, and 1000x the volume of traditional Wi-Fi technologies. Watch now.

The protocol’s unprecedented 3 km range is enabled by Morse Micro’s Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow system-on-chip (SoC) solution, which offers unparalleled wireless capabilities for IoT applications. Wi-Fi HaLow overcomes the limitations of traditional Wi-Fi by operating in the sub-GHz spectrum on narrow frequency bands, enabling the technology to penetrate obstacles and provide unmatched performance, even in noisy environments crowded with numerous connected devices and cameras. Wi-Fi HaLow not only increases wireless range; it also extends battery life with its power-saving features.

“Our successful demo of Wi-Fi HaLow video call across three kilometers in a difficult, real-world urban environment is a major milestone for Wi-Fi connectivity, showcasing the wireless protocol’s incredible reach,” said Michael De Nil, co-founder and CEO of Morse Micro.

“Wi-Fi HaLow is a transformative technology that shatters the boundaries of today’s wireless connectivity. With its unparalleled range, exceptional low power consumption and superior throughput, Wi-Fi HaLow stands as the frontrunner in the IoT landscape. This is the future wireless connectivity, and it’s here today powered by Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow technology.”

Traditional Wi-Fi protocols have long been the backbone of wireless connectivity, but the rapid growth of IoT applications for smart homes, building and industrial automation, and wireless infrastructure has exposed limitations in terms of range and power efficiency. Morse Micro recognized this challenge in 2016 and developed Wi-Fi HaLow to bridge the technological gaps. The momentum behind Wi-Fi HaLow is growing rapidly, with the Wi-Fi Alliance taking significant steps to promote the protocol’s connectivity benefits, extending the range of other existing Wi-Fi standards.

Morse Micro now stands at the forefront of Wi-Fi HaLow technology development. The company is sampling its Wi-Fi Alliance and FCC-certified MM6108 production silicon – the fastest, smallest, lowest power, and longest-range Wi-Fi HaLow SoC available in the market. Morse Micro has built an extensive ecosystem of module partners and ODMs and is seeing significant traction in infrastructure applications and IoT devices, including indoor and outdoor IP security cameras, dual-mode Wi-Fi access points and many other IoT products showcased by partner demos at CES 2024.

The post Morse Micro Demonstrates World’s Longest Range Wi-Fi HaLow Solution, Reaching 3 Kilometers appeared first on IoT Business News.

Any business that welcomes visitors, guests or in-person customers will use a variety of methods to help optimize the time (and potential value) of anyone entering. For example, supermarkets will often routinely change around their shelving structure and product orientation so that you’re never truly comfortable knowing where everything is for long periods of time, meaning you’re more likely to come across other products on your way to a purchase.

Moreover, psychologists can also plan out what attractions you might be interested in first, or additional products may hang out around the checkout area for someone to quickly pick up and purchase when they need to. There’s a whole undercurrent of planning under the surface of any in-person business enterprise, and for that reason, it’s important to know how to leverage that might for your own.

If you’re a foot-trafficked business or even a non-profit charity like a museum, you may wonder how to utilize tech for such a robust outcome. In this post, we’ll discuss a few tips for achieving that and more:

Ensuring A Pleasant Ambience & Informational Guidance

Most businesses will have a speaker system for announcements or for music to play. In some cases, this kind of “soundtrack” can help either speed up or slow down your visitor approach. For example, when families visit a museum, it’s in the interest of that heritage organization to increase the time per visit because then they can justify better funding and more outreach. SiriusXM music for museums can be period-appropriate while also allowing for an educational setting to thrive.

However, in stores, gyms, and other areas with high footfall, energetic, pop, or even motivational music is commonly placed. This can provide the energy to help guests more readily get through their shopping or workout and then move on, increasing the spend per head and how quickly they spend. This principle can spread to many other decisions, but it allows for a confident outcome.

Synchronized Apps

You may be aware of displays that proudly showcase just how many free parking slots are visible in a public car parking space. This allows you to understand if your car would be welcome before entering.

In the same way, synchronized apps can help you check guest logins and present capacity to your customers. So for example, a gym app would track the number of card logins that day, address peak times, and also recommend to app users how many people are in the gym and how many spaces are left before all the equipment has been utilized. Over time, this can allow you to even out the visitor attendance to make sure more come during off-peak times, looking to beat the crowd. This provides the ebb and flow you’re most looking for, while also curating a healthy end result.

Integrating Point-of-Sale (POS) Analytics

Analytics such as spend per head, how certain customers spend, which products and brands sell out more quickly, how many sign up to additional offers presented by the checkout staff, and how many returns are processed are all essential information.

You can collect this by using POS systems that provide robust analytics and allow you to track that data from week to week, month to month. You can also assign sales goals to staff where appropriate, realistically in line with your peak times.

Implementing Queue Management Systems

Depending on the kind of business you run, queues may be a large factor in how you manage and process people. For example, the driving administration or post office will often have many people standing in a line for different reasons, and the time to attendance statistic needs to be reduced while still offering everyone the same level of value in service.

Queue management systems are integrative software tools that allow you to track how many people are in line and then open up additional lanes where appropriate. It also helps you understand when to pull staff from the shop floor to stand behind the checkout or service desk to keep the flow of people moving along. More AI-leveraged tools are released month on month that allow you to track peak times open queues when necessary, and try to reduce how long it takes to service people. A tool like this could be useful for your own enterprise, too.

With this advice, you’re certain to maximize your use of tech to improve your foot-tracked enterprise. Make sure to keep reviewing these measures and the results they yield, and iterate on them to customize efficiency for your business.

The post How Foot-Trafficked Business Use Tech To Manager Visitor Behavior appeared first on IoT Business News.

Edge processing is one of the biggest trends in IoT – and for a reason. Processing data close to where it’s generated enables greater speed and volume, while reducing transmission loads. It reduces network latency, boosts scalability and enhances security. It creates the opportunity for AI at the edge to take immediate action – such as automatically preventing a pipeline blowout or keeping a failing generator or pump from tearing itself apart.

Today, IoT applications are making only limited use of edge computing. In most cases, the device at the edge takes whatever data the sensors are sending it and pumps it out over the network. That’s a shame – especially when satellite is the optimal connectivity solution, as it so often is for remote or mobile applications. Wasting satellite bandwidth is never a winning proposition. When a sensor is paired with a satellite-enabled device, it enables smart IoT data management: decision-making at the edge to determine what data is relevant data to send over the network.

Edge data management opens and expands use cases for satellite IoT now and in the future

Four essentials for getting edge processing right

There are four essentials to getting edge processing right in a satellite IoT application: edge technology, AI, the right satellite connectivity and the cloud.

Edge Technology

Edge processing technology needs to strike a balance between two different requirements: providing enough processing power for applications and being inexpensive enough for mass deployment. The solution comes down to smart engineering of devices, from storage and power to sensor connectivity. Many satellite-based and multimode IoT devices are designed to monitor and manage unpowered assets far from electric lines. They need low power consumption, long-life batteries and, in some cases, solar power – and they can benefit from the low cost of today’s multi-megabit flash storage and BLE Low Power technology.

AI at the Edge and Core

In addition to physical design, software engineering can make a substantial difference. On the edge devices, it can put a stop to the “pump it out over the network” approach and, instead, prioritize data and package it efficiently for transmission, saving money on the recurring costs of transmission. The back end of the system is equally important. An efficient, easy-to-use management system for devices, users and business rules keeps the network from streaming unnecessary data and supporting inactive devices and users.

Satellite Connectivity

Satellite has a reputation for being costly, unreliable and, like the famed Starlink network, best used for multi-megabit service. None of that needs to be true. Networks designed for IoT and other small-data applications transmit short, efficient bursts of information, using satellites in low Earth orbit that cover just about any location with a view of the sky. Messages can be sent on a schedule and on AI decision-making at the edge that suits the application.

Cloud

IoT networks, especially serving remote locations, tend to be dynamic, with requirements changing as markets and conditions evolve. Cloud-based applications scale up or down rapidly for applications providing back-end configuration, user and device management, and data translation and analytics.

IoT on the Move

You can see these four essentials at work in the biggest single market vertical for IoT: transportation and logistics.

On any given day, more than 16 million trucks are on the road in North America, including nearly 4 million tractor-trailer big rigs that spend long periods beyond the reach of cellular. There is an average of 2 to 3 unpowered trailers for every one of those big rigs. So, trucking companies spend too much time simply locating trailers in their yard, on the road or at customer locations so they can be matched to trucks. Lack of good information on location causes them to waste money buying or leasing trailers to ensure on-time deliveries.

A low-cost, IoT transmitter on each trailer transforms these businesses. It periodically transmits a GPS location over satellite, along with any sensor data the trucking company wants. Solar-powered, it delivers years of use with little maintenance and has enough processing power to monitor and report on battery level, confirm that it remains attached, and manage data from sensors reporting, for example, whether the trailer door is open or closed. The data transmitted over satellite feeds a cloud-based dashboard that maps the location of each trailer and provides access to sensor data. For one company managing hundreds of trailers, real-time analysis of the GPS coordinates alone showed the company that it did not need 100 trailers it was renting or a new order for 40 more. Total savings exceeded $2 million in the first year.

Making the case for edge processing in satellite IoT comes down to value. It can deliver better latency, greater scalability, reduced transmission costs – but the real value is in the business or operational impact it has for companies on the receiving end of the data. This can far outweigh the cost of the added capability – by as much as the car in your driveway is outweighed by a big rig on the road.

The post Don’t Discount the Edge’s Valuable Role in Satellite IoT appeared first on IoT Business News.

Eseye, a world leader in IoT connectivity solutions, today launched its fifth consecutive IoT Predictions report which boldly coins 2024 ‘The Year of IoT Intelligence at the Edge’.

This is off the back of the industry starting to see a massive shift in power from the mobile network operator to the Enterprise in 2023. According to the predictions, this year IoT will also see an increased focus on resiliency and trust – a development that has been signalled for many years.

According to Nick Earle, CEO at Eseye, “In 2023 we noted a control shift from the network operator to the Enterprise and the device. This will continue into 2024 where we anticipate an increased focus on the shift from the traditional data centre to the Edge. This will allow for more intelligent connectivity and for IoT to embrace ‘Connected by Design’ principles which will increase device and Edge intelligence. This is a major leap forward for the technology and its users as data at the Edge becomes more business, mission, and life critical.”

Already industries such as healthcare, financial payments and the energy sector are experiencing the benefits of IoT and this is set to improve significantly as intelligence moves to the Edge and ultimately to the device itself, disrupting the IoT landscape further.

Based on this, Eseye’s 2024 predictions centre around connectivity intelligence shifting to the IoT device. To achieve this, Eseye anticipates three key developments to unfold in the industry this year.

First, new ‘Smart Connectivity’ software will link the Edge and the cloud, which will aid in combining full-stack integration enabling IoT devices to gather and process information to provide secure, resilient device-to-cloud connectivity.

Larry Socher, SVP Strategy & Alliances comments, “This connectivity software will seamlessly provide enhanced device connectivity to deliver an uninterrupted experience that maximises the device health and improves security.”

Second, Eseye predicts that in 2024 we will see the emergence of on-device communications software solutions that will provide the ‘Smart Connectivity’ that powers distributed data processing for IoT and sets the groundwork for 5G. This will be significant for various industries such as smart cars, security, and healthcare as it unlocks new capabilities for IoT.

“This year we will start to lay the foundations for challenging applications, such as augmented reality (AR) for telemedicine and remote surgery as we unlock the power of 5G,” continues Socher. “Implementing these capabilities can only be made possible by enabling core components of the intelligence at the one common architectural component – the device.”

Eseye’s third prediction for 2024 focuses on ‘Smart Connectivity’ as the foundation for Device-to-Cloud security, compliance, and trust. As the world prioritises securing data from malicious actors to make sure it cannot be stolen or altered, as well as implementing measures to adhere to data sovereignty and other mandated compliance, IoT will need to evolve to offer on-device security that is integrated into connectivity.

To enable this, IoT will need intelligent, device resident connectivity software which will protect the device, network, and applications, along with their keys. It will act as an implicit agent on the device providing instrumentation that can be used to manage the device and security (i.e. SIEM) and integrate with underlying network technologies and operators. Further, it should work with a Software Defined Network (SDN) to provide secure, in-region routing and auditability to enable security and compliance leveraging blockchain or similar technologies.

This could be extremely beneficial for new use cases such as the emerging carbon exchange market which has experienced a high rate of fraud in the carbon credit markets. To counter this an EV charger, or other device that wants to participate in carbon exchanges, will need to ensure that data generated from a device is fully auditable, accurate and has not been tampered with in transit from the device to the exchange. This will require a combination of full-stack security on the device, complete device-to-cloud encryption with secure routing, and blockchain or similar technologies to ensure integrity and auditability.

Earle concludes:

“By focusing on delivering a secure experience, ‘Smart Connectivity’ will lay the foundation for device-to-cloud security, compliance and preserve trust in 2024, which is critical for the future of IoT in 2024 and beyond.”

The post Eseye Predicts that 2024 will See the Rise of the Intelligent IoT Edge appeared first on IoT Business News.

Technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) has rejuvenated many segments of the modern marketplace, with businesses now integrating enriched departmental plans to manage those outcomes effectively.

Yet there are still elements of business life that need to be restructured. By doing this, companies can ensure they stand tall and edge the competition.

Part of that is ensuring your company not only prevents a brain drain but keeps rejuvenating its talent over time. For this, a robust hiring and recruitment protocol should be put in place. But what does that look like in practice, and how can this feel revivify itself?

In this post, we’ll discuss several tech solutions you can put in place to ensure you’re always staffing your ranks with the best possible professionals. With that in mind, please consider:

Leveraging Video Interviews

There’s a sense in some industries that only in-person interviews should count before achieving a job. The truth is that while this can certainly be part of the picture, you can also benefit from integrating video conferencing for your interview approach. Doing so can help you filter out a long list of clients or connect with others who might not have the ability to come and visit your offices at this very moment.

If you can leverage video interviews, you’ll be able to understand how a person comes across truly, and that means if you do implement a “second round,” you’ll know how the person presents themselves, a little information about them, and also how they think.

Utilizing Virtual Job Fairs

Integrating with digital job fairs can also be a fantastic method of hiring, especially from universities. You can find the best university rankings to consider which are most appropriate for your firm to hire from.

Then, integrating your brand with the digital job fair they put on each year can be a helpful step forward. It will also mean you have the justification to integrate a fantastic graduate recruitment program. This allows you to curate a wonderful

Enhancing Job Listings With Multimedia

A job ad is pretty simple, right? You just post what you’re looking for, wait for the applications to roll in, and then move on.

But norms are changing in many ways, and in our highly online age, multimedia can also work wonders. From a small behind-the-scenes video of how your team operates, asking for multimedia as part of a job application, or even asking for professional headshots can help you better categorize your applicants.

You might even implement a snapshot of your website, or perhaps showcase a trailer over the department you’re hoping to expend in your academic institution, so the applicant really understands what you’re looking for. This can improve the caliber of applicants you receive, and it also helps you put your best foot forward as a place to work for.

Consider An AI Checker

Now, AI checkers, much like AI itself, is in no way a final remedy. But you’d be surprised just how many applications and cover letters are fully written in AI. That might sound quite frustrating, and it can be.

If you’d rather dismiss clients like that, running suspicious applications through a checker might give you an idea of if the phrasing was legitimate and came from a genuine place. Of course, these tools are hardly 100% proven, and services providing them will make that very clear in their terms and conditions. But if you’re suspicious, or if you want to ask people to provide originality in their applications, you can simply say that you use these tools to get more genuine applications.

That might sound a little duplicitous, but so is applying to a job using a tool that provides the content for you.

Analyzing Data for Recruitment Insights

You’ll find that using data analytics to refine your recruitment effort can be a fantastic use of your time. Using data metrics based on who is applying, where they apply for, the kind of qualifications individuals hold when applying, time-to-fill and more, you can a full view of how your recruitment works.

This enables informed decision-making, allowing your team to strategically allocate resources, fine-tune recruitment strategies, and enhance overall efficiency. Perhaps for your executive level, headhunters have proven more effective than any other method. It’s techniques like this that make the most difference.

Moreover, the integration of data analytics gives you much-needed adaptability, enabling your recruitment team to alter their approach for every listing they post. It might also help you with other initiatives, perhaps helping your team stay diverse without tokenizing the people you bring into the business.

Robust Staff Management Utilities

A database of staff, the roles they fill, the coverage they’ve given, the placements they’ve been on, all of this could allow you to more easily track your staff labor allocations and also hire internally when a fantastic position comes up.

That way, you can seek to advance the careers of those who already work for you – and you can bet this will be appreciated. Moreover, robust staff management utilities such as this help you more easily understand which departments most need new staff to share the load, working alongside your expansionist approach for the best results.

Analyze Those Recruitment Market Trends

A recruitment effort is also a focused business decision, and you can study these in the market to see where the direction of industry is going. You can bet that many AI-focused roles will become increasingly common as time marches on.

Don’t forget, it’s not just about numbers; it’s a narrative waiting to be deciphered. Identifying those in-demand skills and industry shifts helps you see where you might expand, too. This insight allows your recruitment strategy to evolve proactively, ensuring that your team is not just reacting to changes but sculpting a strategy that aligns with the pulse of the job market. This could include the surge in remote work preferences or the sudden demand for niche skills, and data-driven adaptation ensures that your recruitment sails smoothly as it should.

With this advice, we hope you can use tech to revivify your recruitment efforts.

The post Using Tech Solutions To Revivify Recruitment Efforts appeared first on IoT Business News.

The security industry in 2024 is an exciting landscape that Hikvision is actively navigating. As it embraces technological innovation, and adapt to evolving societal needs, it is witnessing the convergence of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. These innovations are paving the way for smarter, more proactive, and predictive security solutions that are not only robust, but also meet the easy-to-use demands of users.

In this article, Hikvision wants to share the top seven trends that it anticipates will have a significant impact on the security industry this year.

1. AI is accelerating the augmentation of perception in machines

AI is accelerating the transformation of the security industry by enhancing machines’ perceptual capabilities. This is possible thanks to integration with visible light, audio, X-ray, infrared light, radar, and other technologies.

One example of this is Artificial Intelligence Image Signal Processing (AI-ISP) technology, revolutionizes video imaging and provides high-quality visuals through intelligent noise reduction. This enables clearer images with wide dynamic range and sharp detail even in low-light environments, reducing reliance on additional lighting and leading to more efficient situational responses.

2. AI-driven applications are set to revolutionize diverse industries

In the past year, advancements in large-scale AI models have improved the ability to interpret complex situations using diverse data. Hikvision believes this progress creates possibilities for more tailored AI solutions across various sectors including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and education.

Based on open platforms and advanced algorithms, more streamlined architectures facilitate seamless AI adoption in a range of different verticals. This fosters collaboration and creates an innovative ecosystem for technological advancement.

3. Cloud and edge computing convergence is accelerating

The convergence of cloud and edge computing is driving the emergence of faster and more efficient services. This leads to real-time, intelligent solutions, like smarter perimeter control and more convenient cloud-based security system management, empowering us with immediate analytics and better decision-making at the edge. Cloud-based platforms also minimize hardware investments and offer scalable options for businesses of all sizes and budgets, reducing upfront and ongoing costs.

4. Digital twin technology has the potential to revolutionize business management

Digital twins are virtual models that simulate real-world scenarios in real time. By integrating with AIoT, cloud computing, and other technologies, they provide us with dynamic insights on performance metrics like security, traffic, and energy usage. This enables an immersive experience with synchronized visuals, improving process efficiency, enabling proactive maintenance, and leading to cost savings and better business management.

5. Display technology, particularly LED, is advancing rapidly

The rapid adoption of COB (Chip-on-Board) technology is driving demand for small-pitch LEDs. Innovative LED solutions are also emerging that balance lower energy consumption with high resolution, promoting carbon neutrality, and supporting broader applications. Integrated video walls in command centers, for example, help us make smart decisions with intuitive views. Interactive displays and digital signage are acting as catalysts for digital transformation in education, business, and the hospitality sectors.

6. Digital identity authentication security is increasingly crucial in safeguarding cybersecurity

Digital identity authentication involves verifying and authorizing identities, which is a pivotal cybersecurity measure. Threat actors use techniques like phishing, malware, and social engineering to steal personal information and identities. To safeguard digital identities, users and organizations should employ strong passwords, use multi-factor authentication, avoid public networks, update software in a timely manner, and guard against social engineering attacks.

7. Innovative technologies drive environmental sustainability and climate change resilience

Industry stakeholders are increasingly adopting green practices to reduce carbon emissions and resource usage. This includes efficient product transportation, sustainable packaging, and standardized component utilization. Hikvision also expects to see innovative technologies being used to increase climate change resilience. By integrating environmental sensors into security systems, for instance, it can better respond to natural disasters like floods, wildfires, landslides, and avalanches.

The post Top 7 trends for the security industry in 2024 appeared first on IoT Business News.

As we kick off 2024, the IoT Analytics team has again evaluated last year’s main IoT developments in the global “Internet of Things” arena.

This article highlights some general observations and our top 10 IoT stories from 2023, a year characterized by multi-decade high interest rates, a challenging macroeconomic environment, and, of course, the advent and excitement of generative AI (gen AI).

General IoT 2023 market

2023 was a year of surprises—both positive and negative. The U.S. and several other Western countries proved highly resilient in the face of higher interest rates and elevated inflation, and they avoided a much-anticipated recession. The 2023 global GDP growth of 3.0% ended up more solid than many had expected at the beginning of the year but still trailed the historic average by 0.8 percentage points.

The Nasdaq Composite, one of the key indices for technology companies, rose 43% in 2023 after dropping 33% in 2022. Not only did investors celebrate the potential peak in interest rates, but they also saw new opportunities with the hype around gen AI. Chipmaker Nvidia (ticker symbol NVDA) gained 246% in 2023, Amazon (AMZN) gained 77%, Microsoft (MSFT) gained 58%, and Alphabet (GOOG) gained 57%—all outshining the Nasdaq.

Against this backdrop, IoT 2023 markets held up steadily, with the number of connected IoT devices growing to approximately 16.7 billion (exact update coming in a few weeks) with roughly $235 billion in IoT enterprise spending (IoT Analytics will publish the 2023 IoT spending later in Q1).

The public relevance of the term “IoT,” which peaked in Q1 2022, continued to see strong interest, holding steady at around 10–20% below the Q1 2022 peak despite the renewed focus on AI (see Google trend graph in the lead image of this article). We did notice, however, that the use of the term “IoT” in corporate earnings calls declined 16% from Q4 2022 to Q4 2023.

With many organizations now managing millions of IoT devices (case in point: in Q4 2023, consumer giant Nestlé announced 2.8 million connected devices through the AWS IoT platform), do not assume that IoT is fading in importance. Quite the opposite: IoT is scaling for many organizations. Our take: IoT is not the “cool” term it used to be. In 2023, companies loved talking about the AI opportunity instead, but at the same time, IoT is quietly scaling.

Top 10 notable IoT 2023 developments

Throughout 2023, we monitored significant developments regarding IoT technology as part of our continued coverage of the field. In our opinion, these are the top 10 notable developments of IoT in 2023 (in chronological order of the leading stories we highlight).

1. Most notable IoT-related regulation: The EU’s NIS2 cybersecurity directive

In January 2023, the EU’s second Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) became active. This cybersecurity directive comes as a follow-up to the first NIS directive (introduced in 2016) to address shortcomings from the first version, namely inconsistent implementation across member states in terms of what organizations were considered essential.

The new version enforces requirements for cyber risk management and incident reporting across 15 sectors. The intent of NIS2 is to clearly define the organizations meant to comply and to force them to deeply consider their cybersecurity posture, ideally protecting citizens and essential services from cyber threats.

Each EU member state has until October 2024 to adopt laws in compliance with NIS2 by 17 October 2024, giving companies time to look ahead and start compliance without much pressure now. However, as that deadline approaches, companies will begin to feel the compliance pressure, as failure to comply with its measures can cost companies up to €10 million or 2% of their annual global revenue (whichever is higher), as well as possible sanctions and audits.

The specific covered sector in the NIS2 that impacts IoT is digital infrastructure, which covers telecoms, DNS/TLD services, data centers, trust services, and cloud services. The EU projects the annual revenue of this sector to be €85.4 billion and notes that dependence on digital infrastructure opens companies to various cybersecurity risks.

In addition to NIS2, the EU is also expected to start enforcing its Cyber Resilience Act in early 2024. This legislation targets hardware and software products sold within the EU market. Once enforced, manufacturers will have 36 months to start applying the act’s guidelines.

Other notable IoT-related regulations in 2023 included:

2. Most surprising market destabilization: Tech layoffs

In January 2023, Microsoft announced it planned to lay off 10,000 employees between January and March 2023. Most notably for us, the third wave in March saw the largest cut for IoT-, AI-, and supply chain-focused personnel across various levels, functions, teams, and regions.

Microsoft did not have the most tech-industry layoffs—that unfortunate honor appears to belong to Amazon—but it was the most direct hit at IoT and related fields, especially from a company whose IoT services appear to be expanding, at least in the cloud (more on this below).

Google also experienced more layoffs than Microsoft. Though most of its layoffs appeared to be across the board, at times focused on their human resources and recruitment sections, Google shuttered its IoT Core service in August 2023 (also more on this below), meaning roles associated with that service either got moved elsewhere or scrapped altogether.

The fact that three companies seemingly at the forefront of the biggest tech trend in 2023, AI, laid off parts of their team shook the markets and created a lot of uncertainty. The IoT Analytics team noted that some of the laid-off people included high-performers who enjoyed industry-wide recognition, adding to the overall uncertainty of what was happening.

While the thousands of big tech layoffs represented only a small percentage of the respective company employee baseline, it was the startup scene that was most affected by the layoffs. For example, in December 2023, Israel-based grid-computing software startup Incredibuild, known for its accelerated software development technology, including for embedded IoT systems, laid off 40 employees, or 20% of its workforce (75% of which were based in the company’s HQ).

3. Most innovative IoT 2023 connectivity technology development: 5G in space

In July 2023, Spain-based low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation satellite operator Sateliot and Spanish multinational telecommunications company Telefónica announced the success of their end-to-end test of a roaming 5G cellular network in space. The test process involved an IoT cellular device with a regular SIM card provisioned on Telefónica Tech’s Kite platform—all of this following 3GPP Release 17 non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards and leveraging narrowband IoT (broadly referred to as NB-IoT) communication technology. The device was able to switch between Telefónica’s terrestrial network and Sateliot’s non-terrestrial, low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite network, demonstrating the integration of both network types using GSMA roaming.

The test, which the European Space Agency supervised, also involved Sateliot’s “Store & Forward” mode, a two-step authentication method developed by Sateliot to store information on a satellite when it is not in a position to connect with a ground station, forwarding the information when it enters coverage range.

IoT solution providers working with sectors that can often experience intermittent connectivity, such as transportation, logistics, or rural agriculture, will see applications to keep their customers connected when between terrestrial 5G network node ranges. Interestingly, in February 2023, Sateliot partnered with space and IoT hardware company GOSPACE LABS to provide 5G NTN NB-IoT connectivity to GOSPACE LABS’ MERATCH water management solution in the US, including water wells in rural areas, and in April 2023, Sateliot applied to the US Federal Communications Commission to bring its space-based 5G NB-IoT technology to the US market.

4. Most accelerated driver of IoT 2023 initiatives: Sustainability and ESG

Amit Kohli, Sr. Solution Director and Sustainability Leader, Orange Business:

“Gone are the [days] of greenwashing. Things are getting more serious in terms of reporting… [It’s a less] casual outlook [than] in the past.”

Europe, and international companies doing business in the EU, witnessed a wave of sustainability directives enter into effect. This is not just one news story but a series of stories that have been on the radar of many for several years.

In January 2023, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force, enacted as a legal framework that requires all EU companies, except micro-enterprises, to submit annual sustainability reports starting in 2024. Then, on July 31, 2023, the European Commission adopted the first set of European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which act as the roadmap for CSRD compliance and require large companies and listed companies to publish regular reports on the social and environmental risks they face. The ESRS became law on 1 January 2024 and now applies directly in all 27 EU member states. Large corporations now must report various IoT-type data, including pollution levels, GHG emissions, and resource use (e.g., water and energy consumption).

Additionally, in November 2023, the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (Revised Directive EU/2023/2413) became enforceable across all member states. The member states have 18 months to transpose the directive’s provisions into their own national laws, with some provisions having a deadline of July 2024.

With strict adherence guidelines like these, it was no surprise to find increasing emphasis and prioritization on sustainability and energy management at the Smart Production Solutions (SPS) Fair 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany, in November. Coinciding with this, we have noted sustainability and environmental concerns as key topics during CEO earnings calls throughout 2023.

Other notable sustainability ESG regulations in 2023 helping drive IoT initiatives included:

5. Largest IoT-related acquisition: Renesas acquires Sequans

In August 2023, Japan-based semiconductor manufacturer Renesas Electronics agreed to buy Sequans Communications, a France-based cellular IoT chipmaker, for $249 million. The deal, expected to close in early 2024, is poised to expand Renesas’ foray into the IoT sector. The electronics company plans to integrate Sequan’s cellular IoT products into its microcontrollers and other products, enhancing its WAN market reach.

A few months prior, in June 2023, Renesas completed its all-cash acquisition of Panthronics AG, an Austrian-based fabless semiconductor company specializing in wireless products. The deal was originally made in March 2023 for approximately $95 million, and in its announcement of the completed acquisition, Renesas released 13 designs leveraging Panthronics’ NFC technology, showcasing the “embedded processing, power, connectivity, and analog portfolios” of both companies and what customers may be able to look forward to in the near future.

These are just the latest IoT-focused acquisitions by Renesas, but they are by no means the largest by the company financially. The following is a breakdown of its other IoT-oriented acquisitions in recent years:

2017: Renesas began its IoT expansion journey by acquiring Intersil, a provider of power management and analog solutions, for approximately $3.2 billion, targeting larger IoT, automotive, and industrial market opportunities.
2019: Renesas acquired US-based mixed-signal semiconductor manufacturer Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT) for approximately $6.7 billion.
2021: Renesas acquired UK-based Dialog Semiconductor in a nearly $6-billion deal. Dialog had been one of Apple’s major chip suppliers, and this deal sought to expand Renesas’ reach into the IoT, power management, and connectivity solutions market.
2022: Renesas acquired Stradian, an India-based manufacturer of 4D imaging radars, for approximately $44 million, aiming to boost its automotive and industrial sensing solution offerings.

Other notable IoT-related acquisition announcements of 2023 included:

6. Most notable software developments: IoT cloud wars

The leading cloud providers, Google, AWS, and Microsoft, all recorded a strong slowdown in cloud revenue growth in 2023 as many organizations started to optimize their cloud spending. AWS, for example, grew by 40% in late 2021 but slowed to 12% growth in late 2023.

On the back of slowing growth, in August 2023, Google made its shock announcement from 2022 a reality and shut down its IoT Core service. The company seemingly now redirects its customers to partners such as Litmus Automation, KORE Wireless, or SoftServe to get the job done (Google’s IoT Core site lists these and other partners on its website to “meet the needs of IoT customers”)

How would Microsoft and AWS react in 2023?

AWS and Microsoft Azure did not follow suit but instead expanded their IoT cloud services in 2023:

Microsoft most notably announced Azure IoT Operations in November 2023, an expansion of its Azure IoT portfolio enabled by Azure Arc. It aims to enable “a cloud to edge data plane with local data processing and analytics to transfer clean, useful data to hyperscale cloud services such as Microsoft Fabric for unified data governance and analytics.”

AWS also announced several IoT extensions to its cloud platform services portfolio in 2023, including AWS IoT FleetWise vision system data and AWS IoT SiteWise Edge on Siemens Industrial Edge B2B marketplace (both in November 2023) as well as a new open-source, no-code IoT dashboard application, aimed at allowing users to visualize and interact with data from its AWS IoT SiteWise service.

7. Largest IoT-related funding round: Pragmatic

UK-based circuits manufacturer Pragmatic Semiconductor raised $389.3 million in 2023. Its latest funding round, Series D, closed on 6 December 2023 and raised the largest venture funding round for a European chipmaker at $206 million.

Pragmatic Semiconductor manufactures flexible, ultra-thin integrated circuits—thinner than a human hair—by leveraging thin-film semiconductors and polymers rather than silicon. The company aims to use the technology to bring intelligence to low-cost items as part of IoT applications, including smart packaging, recycling and reuse, traceability, and product authentication.

Very notable in this latest funding round was that the UK Infrastructure Bank led in investments (alongside M&G Catalyst). While the US and EU worked to establish an early warning system for semiconductor supply chain disruptions and increase investment and trade between the two on this technological front, the UK pursued its own national semiconductor strategy. The strategy aims to support UK leadership in the research, design, and advancement of chip manufacturing, and the UK Infrastructure Bank made the direct equity investment to support this effort.

Other notable IoT-related funding rounds of 2023 included:

8. Best performing IoT 2023 stock: Samsara

After making our IoT 2022 in review list of underperforming IoT company stocks, US-based IoT solutions company Samsara, Inc. (ticker symbol “IOT”), best known for its fleet management and telematics solutions, witnessed 180% growth in its stock in 2023, rising from $11.92 on 3 January to $33.38 on 29 December. Bolstering its climb were three better-than-expected quarterly earnings reports in March, June, and November.

Founded in 2015 by Sanjit Biswas and John Bicket, Samsara specializes in telematics, or “the convergence of telecommunications and information processing,” as it defines it. However, it has expanded its portfolio in the past few years to offer a more holistic connected operations platform and target other industries, such as utilities, manufacturing, and retail.

In 2021, we listed Samsara’s IOT stock as the biggest IoT-related IPO of that year.

9. Most notable IoT 2023 project: 250 million smart meters in India

250 million (or 1.5%) of the current 16.6 billion global IoT devices could soon come from one initiative alone: the ambitious national smart meter roll-out in India. However, though approved in 2021, the project has generally sputtered along, largely due to low domestic production means for the meters while trying to cover a whole subcontinent.

This year, to help spur the project and control the costs, the Indian government opened the projects to a total expenditure (TOTEX) approach, whereby the government can issue $40 billion in grants on completion of the projects and pay per meter. The project’s goal and financial approach have also opened the project to international support. For example, in June 2023, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced a formalized $49.5 million investment to India-based smart meter manufacturer Genus Power Infrastructures, aimed at helping the company expand its production of smart meters.

Nonetheless, capacity remained low by the end of 2023, and only 8 million smart meter installations have taken place. As a result, it appears unlikely that India will meet this goal by the end of 2025, but with the spurred investment, the goal could be met not too long after. According to the government, 99 million of the 250 million smart meter contracts had already been rewarded at the end of 2023.

10. Generative AI and IoT breakthrough: None yet

How can recent advances in gen AI, which is mostly text- or image-based, be combined with IoT data, which is mostly based on time-series sensor data? This was one of the top questions we received in 2023.

The answer is … it is complicated.

However, throughout 2023, we have seen several developments on this front, but none have reached scale just yet. Nonetheless, the following are a few initial steps in gen AI and IoT convergence that caught our attention, some of which are discussed in our Generative AI Market Report 2023–2023 (released December 2023).

a) Using national language (gen AI) to query operational data (IoT)

In June 2023, Norway-based industrial software company Cognite launched Cognite AI, a generative AI solution designed for industrial operational data. Built within Gognite Data Fusion, it is meant to enable more tailored, business-specific data retrieval and contextualization in a private, secure manner. Siemens presented a similar example in November 2023, together with Schaeffler, at the SPS fair—which we covered in our SPS 2023 report.

b) Providing guided repair or operations (gen AI) based on operational data (IoT)

In September 2023, Google’s Cloud team shared a video demonstrating their gen AI solution alerting train maintenance operators to potential train issues and proactively providing possible causes and solutions based on manuals and past issue/repair reports.

In November 2023, Microsoft announced Copilot in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides, a solution that combines gen AI and mixed reality to assist frontline workers in their tasks. Paired with HoloLens 2 and IoT sensors, Microsoft claims that operators can pinpoint and identify specific assets and access relevant information about them—such as operational conditions or troubleshooting guides—in real time.

c) Using generated images (gen AI) to train vision systems (IoT)

In December 2023, Germany-based engineering and technology company Bosch announced it is piloting gen AI models in manufacturing, whereby they use synthetic, gen AI-created images to develop and scale AI solutions for optical inspection and optimizing existing AI models.

d) Using natural language (gen AI) to teach and control robots with vision systems (IoT)

In February 2023, Microsoft’s Autonomous Systems and Robotics Group released a paper entitled “ChatGPT for Robotics: Design Principles and Model Abilities” (Microsoft is a major backer of ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI). In this paper, the research team leveraged ChatGPT’s intuitive language capabilities to control multiple robotic platforms, including arms, drones, and home assist robots. Soon after, in April 2023, Microsoft published another paper, “ChatGPT empowered long-step robot control in various environments: A case application” (last updated in August 2023), in which they demonstrate a specific example of how ChatGPT could be used to convert natural language instructions into robotic actions.

In July 2023, Germany-based AI software and robotics company Sereact announced the release of PickGPT, a gen AI transformer that combines LLMs with computer vision. By combining these capabilities, users can use simple language to instruct a robot to sense conditions or identify objects, offering many potential use cases for remote sensing and control.

Others

We also noted a startup that, in May 2023, announced a revolutionary gen AI solution that would use gen AI to produce synthetical IoT sensor data that could then be used to train AI algorithms. The company has since deleted all references to the announcement.

The post IoT 2023 in review: The 10 most relevant IoT developments of the year appeared first on IoT Business News.