How IoT is driving digital transformation in MENA
Due to increasing rates of digital transformation and despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for Internet of Things (IoT) technologies continues to grow. In fact, in 2020 there were more IoT connections – such as connected cars, smart home devices and industrial equipment - than non-IoT connections, for the very first time.
IoT is being used across the MENA region in a variety of contexts, including construction, smart industries, and the rise of delivery and service applications. IoT is driving innovation and renewed economic growth throughout the Middle East, and research from Vodafone shows that adoption is rapidly increasing, with over a third of businesses across the region already embracing the opportunities it has to offer. Crucially, IoT devices can provide businesses with valuable data about their operations to enhance decision making and drive efficiency.
Applying Asset Tracking
Asset tracking has emerged as one of the biggest trends in IoT in recent times, with a predicted 27% increase in usage globally between 2020 and 2025 alone. Every business has valuable assets, such as industrial equipment, vehicles or machinery, and ensuring that they are protected and kept functioning properly is crucial for operations.
Innovation in this area has meant that businesses can now track their assets and locate and monitor the output of those assets at any given time. If a machine is operating in harsh weather conditions, users can now monitor their temperature and functionality. They can then reduce the need for physical maintenance checks ; saving money, effort and time.For those businesses in oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction – all of which operate large-scale projects involving multiple equipment, locations and various operating teams – IoT solutions can ensure that equipment is located and monitored efficiently without incurring costs.
The rise of Fleet Management
Fleet vehicles are, quite literally, the driving force behind the private sector. In MENA, IoT is transforming fleet management by connecting vehicles and collecting a wide range of data for fleet managers, who can then use this data provided to organise and oversee their vehicles and driver’s schedules. Businesses are now using real-time information such as traffic data, fuel consumption and employee working hours to shape their operations. Drivers, customers and passengers also experience more streamlined and efficient services, reduced costs, and higher maintenance efficiency as a result.
This trend coincides with others in the region, such as the rise of ecommerce and delivery-based apps and services. In this setting, IoT can be used to assign tasks, distribute jobs and plan routes for drivers. Whether a business is moving goods or passengers, it's incredibly important for transport and logistics businesses to gain the trust of their customers. There are many variables that can impact this: traffic congestion, driver behaviour, high-fuel costs, vehicle maintenance and even weather conditions. Using IoT can contribute significantly to the management of these factors to drive positive brand relationships with customers.
Driving smart, sustainable industries
In line with the global spotlight on sustainability, businesses have been turning their attention towards how they can use technology to create more efficient and sustainable way of operating.
In manufacturing, for example, IoT has become a key pillar of the drive towards Industry 4.0, otherwise known as the digital transformation of industry which delivers real-time decision making, enhanced productivity, flexibility and agility with minimal human involvement. This increases productivity, energy efficiency, and sustainability, as well as reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Whilst adoption of these technologies can deliver tangible benefits in the short term, it can also drive longer-term resilience. According to McKinsey, companies that can deploy Industry 4.0 at scale are ‘transforming their organisations to not only address the toughest disruptions of today but also prepare themselves for the new disruptions of tomorrow.’
The IoT has limitless applications and can be used across the largest industries that are powering our economies, right through to individual SMEs that want to digitally transform their entire business. To find out more about Vodafone Qatar’s IoT solutions, visit: https://www.vodafone.qa/en/business/services/iot/internet-of-things#exploreiot
Due to increasing rates of digital transformation and despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for Internet of Things (IoT) technologies continues to grow. In fact, in 2020 there were more IoT connections – such as connected cars, smart home devices and industrial equipment - than non-IoT connections, for the very first time.
IoT is being used across the MENA region in a variety of contexts, including construction, smart industries, and the rise of delivery and service applications. IoT is driving innovation and renewed economic growth throughout the Middle East, and research from Vodafone shows that adoption is rapidly increasing, with over a third of businesses across the region already embracing the opportunities it has to offer. Crucially, IoT devices can provide businesses with valuable data about their operations to enhance decision making and drive efficiency.
Applying Asset Tracking
Asset tracking has emerged as one of the biggest trends in IoT in recent times, with a predicted 27% increase in usage globally between 2020 and 2025 alone. Every business has valuable assets, such as industrial equipment, vehicles or machinery, and ensuring that they are protected and kept functioning properly is crucial for operations.
Innovation in this area has meant that businesses can now track their assets and locate and monitor the output of those assets at any given time. If a machine is operating in harsh weather conditions, users can now monitor their temperature and functionality. They can then reduce the need for physical maintenance checks ; saving money, effort and time.For those businesses in oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction – all of which operate large-scale projects involving multiple equipment, locations and various operating teams – IoT solutions can ensure that equipment is located and monitored efficiently without incurring costs.
The rise of Fleet Management
Fleet vehicles are, quite literally, the driving force behind the private sector. In MENA, IoT is transforming fleet management by connecting vehicles and collecting a wide range of data for fleet managers, who can then use this data provided to organise and oversee their vehicles and driver’s schedules. Businesses are now using real-time information such as traffic data, fuel consumption and employee working hours to shape their operations. Drivers, customers and passengers also experience more streamlined and efficient services, reduced costs, and higher maintenance efficiency as a result.
This trend coincides with others in the region, such as the rise of ecommerce and delivery-based apps and services. In this setting, IoT can be used to assign tasks, distribute jobs and plan routes for drivers. Whether a business is moving goods or passengers, it's incredibly important for transport and logistics businesses to gain the trust of their customers. There are many variables that can impact this: traffic congestion, driver behaviour, high-fuel costs, vehicle maintenance and even weather conditions. Using IoT can contribute significantly to the management of these factors to drive positive brand relationships with customers.
Driving smart, sustainable industries
In line with the global spotlight on sustainability, businesses have been turning their attention towards how they can use technology to create more efficient and sustainable way of operating.
In manufacturing, for example, IoT has become a key pillar of the drive towards Industry 4.0, otherwise known as the digital transformation of industry which delivers real-time decision making, enhanced productivity, flexibility and agility with minimal human involvement. This increases productivity, energy efficiency, and sustainability, as well as reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Whilst adoption of these technologies can deliver tangible benefits in the short term, it can also drive longer-term resilience. According to McKinsey, companies that can deploy Industry 4.0 at scale are ‘transforming their organisations to not only address the toughest disruptions of today but also prepare themselves for the new disruptions of tomorrow.’
The IoT has limitless applications and can be used across the largest industries that are powering our economies, right through to individual SMEs that want to digitally transform their entire business. To find out more about Vodafone Qatar’s IoT solutions, visit: https://www.vodafone.qa/en/business/services/iot/internet-of-things#exploreiot
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