How IoT is Changing the Way we Work
The Internet of Things (IoT) and other emerging technologies are changing our world — and many providers of consumer and B2B products have invested in putting these technologies to work for their customers, with dramatic impacts to the way we live and work.
If you've been living under a rock and may be unfamiliar, the “Internet of Things,” or IoT, describes any device or “thing” that is connected to the Internet. It's not the “thing” that matters, but rather the DATA that “thing” is transmitting about the device itself, or about the manner in which the device is being used. Think of your car, your refrigerator or even your dishwasher; they are now imbedded with dozens or even hundreds of sensors that are able to monitor your daily patterns, and then "phone home" to report those patterns to their equipment manufacturers. This takes the monitoring ability (and associated anxiety) created by Amazon's Alexa to a whole new level.
Let me paint a picture in your workplace: Imagine a printer. What might seem like a simple machine is actually a sophisticated device full of advanced software, engineering and science. For instance, our engineers have loaded Lexmark printers and multifunction devices with sensors that continuously monitor hundreds of data points including alerts, internal diagnostics and data about the device’s inner workings. We can also use this data to proactively and predictably monitor each printer’s performance to avoid unnecessary downtime.
Now, imagine this printer as just one node in your organization’s larger, interconnected printing and scanning ecosystem. That might span a single location or many around the country or the world. With that, you have a trove of data that’s ripe for analysis. We can also use that data to find usage trends and inconsistencies, process bottlenecks, cost inefficiencies, waste, security risks, and more — ultimately helping to inform you and your organization how to improve workflows and also to eliminate burden on your IT team and end users.
Taking it a step further, imagine an organization’s IT ecosystem benefitting from data gathered from across other organizations' networks — potentially from millions of devices in hospitals, banks, retail stores and other locations around the world. Now, we can leverage this data to give insights into the way other similar organizations are using technology to shape the way they get work done. As a manufacturer, this data and these insights also inform us to improve existing product performance, drive improved quality in manufacturing, strengthen industry benchmarks, and even design better products for the future.
And this type of monitoring (and associated benefits) goes well beyond the office. Along with advanced data analytics, IoT-enabled devices and sensors are helping organizations and public institutions reduce air pollution in some of our world's biggest cities, improve agriculture and our food supply across the heartland, and even detect and contain deadly viruses; and in a post-pandemic world, the latter capability may offer the most dramatic benefits of all.
So, next time your iPhone gives you a readout of your heart rate or daily steps, remember these types of monitoring technologies may drive positive results beyond the individual and into the workplace.