The Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilizing the Internet of Things

A lot has been made about the Internet of Things (IoT) over the past couple of years. People have been buying technology they can control from their phones or from centralized smart hubs and it has resulted in a shift to the way people interact with technology. For today's businesses this can bring several pros and cons to the table. Listed below is a brief look at some of the pros and cons of deploying IoT technology in the workplace. 

IoT Pros

New technology can provide a lot of benefits to a business and IoT technology is one of those innovations that some people may not even realize they are utilizing. One of the most crucial benefits of IoT is that it can help automate certain tasks. In business, the more uniform the quality of any task, the more consistent the workflow. IoT can present a lot to a business in the way of enhancing the machine-to-machine presence, thus taking some of the more mundane responsibilities off of human resources. This enhanced automation sets up most of the other benefits IoT can bring to your business, including:

• Enhanced communication - IoT devices are ubiquitously connected which improves company-wide communication and results in better quality service and product delivery.
• Cost realignment - One of the biggest benefits IoT can bring a business is to optimize resource utilization, improving overall efficiency and reducing costs.
• Reporting - IoT devices create data that can be used to identify further inefficiencies and improve workflow performance and service and product delivery. 

IoT Cons

Alas, any technology comes with some type of detriments. Whether it is cost, the high price of management, or some other problem, it is imperative to have a clear view of any technology before you jump in with both feet. The largest detrimental characteristic of IoT technology is the less-than-stellar track record of network security that comes with having so many endpoints on your network. That’s not to say that the IoT, when deployed correctly, is a risk, it is just that there are some IoT devices that might be problematic if integrated without planning. Other cons include:

• Compatibility issues - Since there is no standard to go by for IoT devices, it can be difficult to get every IoT device to play nice with your current computing environment or even IoT devices from the same manufacturer. It can be an enigma. 
• Increased complexity - As we mentioned earlier in this article, when something goes wrong with a single endpoint on your network, it can be a catastrophe. With increased endpoints, the chances of something going wrong increases. 
• Lifespan - One variable not many people consider when implementing IoT in their business is that each of these devices have to be consistently updated for functionality, security, and more. Each device you add could have a negative effect on your employees and on workflow. 

It’s critical to understand what you have with IoT. It is a big part of future computing and could very well be the largest technological shift since the Internet was created. If implemented carefully and conscientiously, the IoT can be a major benefit for any organization, but it does have risks at the current moment. 

If you would like to have a conversation with one of our IT professionals about IoT technology implementation or just kind of pow-wow about how it would fit into your business, give Macro Systems a call today at 703-359-9211.