What Are the Foremost Advantages & Disadvantages of IoT? 

If you observe closely, we live in a world where we interact with countless devices that send data over the internet without needing any human involvement whatsoever. This interconnection of devices where they can share and exchange information in real-time is called the Internet of Things. Recent research estimates that there will be approximately 25 billion IoT connections by the year 2025. In simple words, any device ranging from refrigerator, wall sockets, air purifiers, etc., can be tethered to one another and to the internet. One of the main advantages of IoT is the fact that it can be used in both home automation and large-scale industrial applications. 

The phenomenal rise of Internet of Things technology can be attributed to the chips becoming smaller, efficient, and economical. Consistent advancement in wireless technology is also a contributing factor of the prevalence of IoT across the industries. In this blog, let us understand what is IoT and explore its advantages and disadvantages-

What is IoT?

IoT is basically a smart interconnectivity between embedded devices formed to collect and transmit information in real-time. It stands for Internet of Things and basically forms a network between common physical devices, sensors, software, and other technologies. The type of devices that can be connected in the IoT network range from routine house objects to high scale industrial machines. 

What Are the Main Advantages of IoT?

IoT has the potential to make everything you see around you smart. The major benefits of IoT extends far beyond what meets the eye. Here are its main benefits-

Control and Automation-

To understand control and automation, you can take the example of a smart bulb. From the outset, smart bulbs look quite simple but they demonstrate how IoT can be used to control devices remotely. In industries, IoT is used to control manufacturing lines, printers, robotic assembly systems, and other kinds of machines. Remotely controlling applications also minimizes wastage which saves costs in the long run. Through automated control, manual handling becomes minimized, which increases the shelf-life of appliances. 

Real-time Data Access – 

Real-time analytics and heatmaps have become incredibly popular in recent times. This implies how incredibly important real-time data is to users and businesses alike. Real-time tracking in IoT settings becomes crucial in grain silos or nuclear power plants. Weather systems that automatically capture humidity and temperature in real-time is also one of the great IoT Sensors. Internet of Things can also be used in asset tracking and inventory management to track stocks and assets in real-time. 

Improved Safety-

The usefulness of IoT in enhancing safety in workplaces is unquestionable. Ranging from construction sites, manufacturing warehouses, to hospitals, IoT devices can upgrade safety all around. Leveraging smart sensors, organizations can track workplaces and spot any issues before they lead to major accidents. Hazardous gas levels, unsafe temperatures, or poor conditions can be detected comprehensively without any problems. This ensures a proactive approach to workplace safety and a safe environment for all employees. 

Enhanced Productivity- 

Through streamlining of workflows and effective management of tasks, IoT can upgrade productivity of teams. IoT also ensures automation of tasks which minimizes human effort, enhancing team productivity. This allows businesses to focus more on core initiatives and strategic tasks. For example, in manufacturing, IoT devices help in tracking production lines, making sure performance remains optimal and all the issues are proactively addressed. 

Data-driven Decision Making-

One of the major advantages of IoT is data collection. Since it forms a network between software, embedded systems, and other technologies, all devices can be used to collect data. These data can then be used to perform data analytics and get insights. Hence, organizations can upgrade their decision making, focusing on data-driven strategies. 

This enhances the effectiveness of their decisions, optimizing workflows, operations, and security aspects. Collecting data related to market and customer behavior also helps enterprises make better decisions for their growth. 

Predictive Analytics-

Integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning tools empower companies to carry out predictive analytics. Using the collected data, companies can forecast trends in the market and make suitable strategies. Moreover, predictive analytics can also be used to track performance of equipment and detect maintenance needs in advance. Thus, predictive maintenance is also one of the popular IoT advantages.

What Are the Disadvantages of IoT?

As it is true with any technologies, there are also disadvantages of IOT that you must know: 

Data Breaching:

Breaches in security have become greatly prevalent in recent years. Many companies have become victims of cybersecurity cases in recent times. Since IoT is a centralized environment, even a minor breach can jeopardize entire systems and expose confidential information to unauthorized sources. 

Privacy and Security:

As our personal devices can be connected to IoT, we can risk compromising our private information to the internet. Moreover, once your private information gets leaked on the internet, it can stay there forever. For example, if you store financial data on your phone and your phone is connected to IoT, cyber attackers can gain access and cause losses to you. Privacy and security concerns are one of the major disadvantages of IoT that IoT engineers need to worry about. 

Enhancing Unemployment: 

Since IoT directly improves automation, the need for manual labor goes down massively. This has increased possibilities of layoffs and reduction of job opportunities in the market. Also, this is increasing the skill expectations of humans because the need for humans in routine tasks is massively going down. Loss of jobs in the market can massively dent the economics of the country as well. 

Increasing Problems in Health: 

Making the job of humans easier is one of the evident advantages of IoT. Increase in usage of automation and IoT has reduced the need for manual work. Thus, it has minimized the need for physical activity and human connection. Hence, there have been some natural repercussions in physical and mental health of people. In earlier times, humans used to do a lot of work which made them fit both mentally and physically. 

Complexity in Implementation: 

Implementing IoT solutions can be a little tricky especially if we have complex devices. It is important to connect devices, protocols, and platforms in the right way. There can be challenges related to interoperability that can make it difficult for certain devices to work smoothly together. For small businesses, this complexity in implementation can be one of the primary disadvantages of IoT. However, with professional help and right strategies, things can become easier. 

Higher Initial Expenses: 

Deploying IoT infrastructure can lead to initial costs that can impact ROI. There can be upfront costs related to device acquisition, system integration, and activation. It can pose a major hurdle for smaller businesses who regularly face budget constraints. 

Conclusion 

The Internet of Things is a major technology that has brought a paradigm shift on how industries operate. The blog explains primary advantages of IoT and explores its importance in improving operations, productivity, and decision making. It also lists out a few disadvantages that highlight its broader implications. For more blogs on the Internet of Things, explore our website!