The Future of the Internet of Things (IoT) for Mobile Service Companies

In the last decade, technology and mobile services have left a revolutionary mark on the world and the way it works. We’ve seen phenomenal growth in the mobile services industry and it is time we look at the future might look like. The internet of things, or IoT, is surely going to play a part in that future.

IoT is itself defined as inter-working of vehicles, software, sensors, electronic devices like mobile phones by connecting on a network to share and exchange data. This can be categorized into short-range and wide-range segments. With the rise in popularity of these devices, IoT Application Development Companies are in demand right now.

It is predicted that by 2020, approximately 25 billion devices will be connected by the IoT—of which 46% will be mobile devices.

internet of things

The compounded annual growth rate of mobile devices. Source: Cisco

The IoT Ecosystem

The components of the IoT ecosystem range from devices/sensors to network connections and platforms, to communication gateways. This ecosystem will further include the ability to manage the devices, manage the connectivity, data, analytics and data sharing.

Managing mobile services like junk collection, cleaners etc. with the help of IoT can not only speed up these activities but also help the service providers track the activity. This will lead to better business models and prospects for mobile service companies.

Pondering which IoT areas could benefit mobile service companies? Let me take you through the obvious and potential routes towards IoT that are worth approaching.

Junk Removal and Collection

Remember the movie Wall-E? It showed how the Earth was uninhabited and left contaminated with garbage—and just one robot to clean it up. It’s a dark premise, but perhaps not too far from our eventual reality, at least in terms of Wall-E’s tech.

Today, the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are growing. It doesn’t take much of an imagination to see that these technologies can venture into junk management and removal. Imagine a future of trash cans that send a signal to say that they are on the curb, and an autonomous garbage truck making the rounds to collect them. But even before we reach that future, IoT can play a role now.

With IoT applications, activities like waste collection, disposal of waste, sorting into renewable and non-renewable waste etc. can be automated. Junk collecting vehicles with RFID tags can be scanned by devices connected through IoT, notifying owners of their activity.

field solutions software, field service technician, field service business

The Internet of Things as a Management Tool

With the help of IoT, you can better manage your mobile service company. Machines can sort the junk and monitor the data of renewable and non-renewable junk.

Moving and Logistics

The moving industry can also take advantage of opportunities to enhance their logistic services and their delivery models. The best logistics and delivery companies are already putting power in the hands of their customers in order to contend and win over their competitors.

By leveraging IoT, these services can facilitate customers to book a service, reschedule, and even calculate the cost. With the help of GPS enabled devices provided by the company, customers can monitor the movement of the movers and packers.

Other Mobile Service Businesses

Services like cleaning, washing, watering the lawn and more can also benefit from IoT devices. Imagine if with IoT you could control the watering of the lawn or with an app, schedule the cleaning of your house or car.

The vendors who are first to offer services in these areas will be the first to capture market share among early adopters. Yes, these services might one day become affordable enough to automate within one’s own home. For now, commercial companies can be the first-movers and offer affordable solutions with their commercial-scale infrastructure.
By implementing these services first, you can earn a customer’s loyalty and in turn yield higher revenues.

Constructing the Backbone for IoT Opportunities

To truly take advantage of the opportunities in the internet of things, you need to have the right setup. This means technology and tools, to help you manage the IoT ecosystem effectively. Here are some of the essential capabilities that you need:

  • Upgrade or design real-time systems to facilitate quick and hassle-free delivery of new mobile services.
  • Ensure flexibility in networking, as done for computing and storage.
  • Integrate the best set of hardware, software, and storage for efficient data management.

In a Nutshell

Only the future will show how IoT evolves. IoT, when implemented at its core using the right infrastructure, can open doors to new opportunities for mobile service companies. But it’s only a matter of time before we see more advancement and creativity in these areas. Who will be the first?

Want to learn more about how the right software and technology can help grow your mobile service business? Book a free, private demo of Vonigo.