Understand the connectivity you need to deliver insight from your data and IoT solution

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Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) is making waves in industry, with more and more organisations and businesses adopting it for actionable insight for automation, cost reduction, process optimisation and sales optimisation. IoT devices are being used to monitor a host of processes, from utilities to manufacturing sites. At the same time, these devices have become common household appliances that you can find anywhere from your refrigerator to your car – even your wristwatch!

But unlike traditional IT systems that require physical wiring, IoT devices are typically wireless and can be placed anywhere within reach of a cellular or wireless network connection. They could be inside; they could be outside. In a lot of cases the devices themselves will have cellular connectivity. This makes them convenient and easy to deploy but also subject to connectivity issues e.g. deployed remotely, outdoors, below ground etc. This is particularly true if we consider how vast the world has become in terms of geography: what works well at home may not work well in other parts of the country or world due to differences in terrain/topography as well as weather conditions such as temperature which may affect signal strength etc.

The connectivity market is huge! It’s been growing steadily, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The wireless industry is one of the most important industries in the world. Since wireless connectivity has become so important, it’s crucial that you understand what products are available on the market today. This article will cover the things you need to consider when looking at connectivity.

Without connectivity, you can’t do anything. You can’t get information or know what the problem is. It’s like being stuck in a room where there are no exits. You need to understand your users and their context in order to build a solution that solves their problem.

Make sure you choose the right connectivity

• Make sure you have the right connectivity for your solution.
• The wrong connectivity means you don’t have a solution.
• The wrong connectivity means you don’t have actionable insight.
• The wrong connectivity means your automated workflow is impacted.

It doesn’t matter if you are looking at 4G and 5G wireless LAN or IoT, the importance of a robust connectivity network is key to providing your company with actionable insight that enables your IoT.

For example: If your warehouse management system has no connectivity to the cloud it cannot get real time information about inventory levels or air quality status from your IoT devices. This means that if an order is placed by an order entry clerk today, but not received until tomorrow due to poor logistics planning (or weather), it will be too late for him/her to make any changes before the shipment heads out on its way again.

It is important to understand that not all applications will be compatible with your existing technology. This means you will need to look at how you might need to integrate a connectivity solution. Hence why it is key you choose the right one. It is also essential to keep in mind that there are many different types of IoT devices and the connectivity capabilities vary greatly. It is important to make sure that you choose the right connectivity solution for your requirements and make sure that it meets all of your business needs.

The location, application and industry will normally determine which connectivity solution you go for be that 4G and 5G mobile networking, wireless LANs etc. Your IoT infrastructure requires reliable access to information from all over the world every second of every day so whatever you choose needs to be future proofed.

Make sure your IoT and data devices are connected

It’s important to choose the right connectivity for your IoT devices. This is connectivity to the device itself as well as connectivity that needs to be in the chain to receive the data so it can be actioned.

Below is a list of connectivity you need to consider to complete your solution

WiFi Routers – routers come in two main types: wired and wireless. Wired routers use an ethernet cable to connect all devices within range of the router, while wireless routers provide cordless access with a longer range. If you need to use one on the road there are smaller mobile ones available.

4G Mifi Dongles – 4G Mobile Broadband dongles are used to connect devices to the internet when on the move. They can be used with a laptop or desktop and provide connectivity over a mobile network.

M2M and IoT Connectivity – for M2M and IoT solutions in a wide range of verticals including automotive, transportation, retail, smart city, smart agriculture and many more. Common connectivity terms you will hear include 4G LTE Cat-1/Cat-M1, Cellular IoT hub as well as Dual-SIM to name a few.

IoT Gateways – IoT gateways provide connectivity for M2M and IOT solutions. They are specialised products that provide connectivity for M2M and IoT solutions, offering the highest level of integration and flexibility for your devices 

Conclusion

With the Internet of Things, the world is becoming increasingly connected in both physical and digital ways. IoT devices can make our lives better by improving efficiency, convenience and security. However, these devices need to be able to communicate with each other and with other systems. Without connectivity, there’s no way for them to do so! That’s why it’s essential that you choose the connectivity solution that will provide reliable coverage everywhere you need it. The main thing to remember is mapping the connectivity solution to your particular use case.

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