A total of 71% of global businesses are now gathering internet of things (IoT) data in some form or other, and 90% expect to increase spending over the next 12 months, according to a report produced by analysts at 451 Research.
Its latest study of 1,000 enterprise IT buyers from around the world, entitled Voice of the Enterprise: IoT Organisational Dynamics , revealed that businesses were pushing ahead with IoT initiatives and spending to support them. Those with initiatives already underway expected to increase their spending by 33% over the next 12 months.
The study said deployments and usage would be strongest around data and transactional intensive workloads, such as data analytics and security, with IoT-specific projects likely to include analysis of financial, healthcare and industrial functions, uptime and reliability of IT equipment, and monitoring efficiency and costs.
According to the statistics, 68% of enterprises were taking advantage of IoT data for operational optimisation, and 42% to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
The analysts also identified a distinct proportion of IoT transitions occurring without departmental oversight, as IT systems, networks and infrastructures \u201cnaturally\u201d became IoT-enabled by intelligent sensing and analytics capabilities that now come baked into IT hardware.
\u201cWhen it comes to IoT adoption, pragmatism rules,\u201d said Laura DiDio, report author and research director at 451 Research.
\u201cThe survey data indicates enterprises currently use IoT for practical technology purposes that have an immediate and tangible impact on daily operational business efficiencies, economies of scale and increasing the revenue stream,\u201d she said.
When it came to the risks associated with the IoT, security was predictably at the top of the list , with 50% of report respondents considering it the main impediment to successful IoT deployment.
A total of 41% cited a perceived lack of return of investment (ROI). Still others were concerned about a perceived skills shortage, with 46% saying they were having difficulty filling IoT-related positions, although 54% said that a lack of IoT-trained staff was not a problem for them.<\/p>\n