What Is Ailing IoT Implementations at Scale and Ways to Fix Them

Implementing a large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) project can be overwhelming for any organization. Studies show that many IoT projects fail to go beyond the trial phase, while return on investment (ROI) also remains elusive for many. This is further complicated by the inherent problems in IoT, such as lack of a universal platform, lackluster security and interoperability issues between devices. We look at the key issues that typically hold back large-scale IoT implementations and how organizations can address them. 

Interest in IoT is at an all-time high. Most IT decision-makers want to incorporate IoT into their businesses operations to achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs, open new revenue streams, and improve customer experience. Gartner’s findings show that the number of IoT devices is doubling every five years. 

Microsoft’s IoT Signals reportOpens a new window , published October 2020, also found that more than 91% of business heads had adopted IoT in 2020, while 83% of them had seen at least one project reach the “use” stage. Microsoft classifies IoT projects into four stages: learn, trial/PoC (proof of concept), purchase, and use. 

Though more businesses are getting on the IoT bandwagon, many struggle to take their projects beyond the trial phase. Microsoft’s report (mentioned earlier) shows that almost a third of the IoT projects fail at the PoC stage as scaling an IoT project presents a formidable challenge for any organization. These issues are also not confined to any one sector. For instance, a third of manufacturing companies are still working through the implementation of their current solution. Likewise, in healthcare, one in three IoT projects are still in the learning phase. 

“These scale issues are across the board in many different industries that are looking to improve performance through automation of any kind. Healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and sports are all affected by the increased knowledge of operations delivered through IoT applications,” notes Tom Ruth, Vice President, Americas at Quuppa, an IoT and RTLS company.

 Velipekka Kuoppala, the co-founder & CBO of ConnectedYou, an IoT connectivity marketplace, points out that any company that needs cellular/SIM connectivity at a global scale regardless of the sector is facing the growth impact if the efficiency and data connectivity optimization/management is not well taken care of in the very beginning. “The real impact is measured in the complexity and efficient data connectivity orchestration itself,” he says.

Learn more: Top 6 Factors To Consider When Designing the IoT Infrastructure

Challenges to IoT Scalability

According to Microsoft, the high cost involved in scaling was one of the top reasons for the early demise of an IoT project. Additional scaling issues cited by respondents were lack of resources and trust in platforms. Complexity is another concern which escalates when different solution providers are brought in.

“To scale in the business operations side, the revenue model, product and distribution are the key contributors and if not well proofed for market/product fit – any company will be having challenges to scale. Assuming revenue model and distribution have been taken care of, the working product, regardless of the region or country, often brings challenges,” explains Kuoppala.

1. Complexity: Fragmentation is a painful reality in IoT. Each IoT system has its heterogeneous components and technologies. Lack of interoperability can be a problem and may require changing architecture and protocols every time new IoT devices are added to the network. This increases the complexity of running an IoT network. If not addressed, organizations can find themselves saddled with an obsolete IoT system. Kuoppala points out, “very often, we’ve encountered questions about how to scale a product if there is a need for various stock keeping units, various suppliers, SLAs, and contracts to manage. Applications, devices and clouds are pretty well in line with the demand to scale, but an efficient data connectivity orchestration with universal IoT platform has been heavily lacking behind the demand curve.” 
2. Security: Despite all the buzz around IoT, concerns over lackluster security continue to cast a shadow over large-scale deployments. IoT systems are susceptible to network attacks such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) and spoofing. Lack of standardization, regulatory compliance, poor vendor support and callous attitude towards security have made securing IoT a challenge. Large-scale IoT downtimes can cost organizations millions of dollars. It is this fear and uncertainty that is holding back many organizations. As per the Microsoft report, 24% of organizations don’t see IoT adoption worth the security risks involved.
3. Cost factor: Many businesses planning to leverage IoT across the board are often bogged down by the high cost of scaling and in demonstrating clear business value during PoC. “Selecting a wrong solution can lead to significant scaling delays, additional cost and revenue loss. Consequently, the revenue model is irrelevant if the product is not found compelling enough to become regular users of the service,” warns Kuoppala.
4. Quality issues: Integration of more IoT devices is likely to generate an unprecedented amount of traffic. If not managed properly, it can put a considerable burden on the network as large amounts of data from these devices can lead to overhead (excessive computational time) on the IoT network. Due to Congestion in the network, sent data packets may not reach the destination efficiently. 
5. End-User adoption: Large-scale IoT deployments also generate a lot of data on worker activity and their involvement in various stages of work, be it in a manufacturing facility, retail unit, hospital or warehouse. This can help organizations improve the work process, keep track of merchandise, and enforce social distancing. “Improving work in process often requires evaluating the data produced by actually sensing humans. This is also a sensitive subject considering labor laws, privacy, performance, trust, and more,” warns Ruth.

Learn more: Paving a Path for Future IoT Growth With Blended Connectivity 

How to Address the Challenges

Organizations can eliminate many of the complexities involved in large scale IoT deployments by using the right technology, devices and solutions from the start. This has to be followed by proper management of the IoT network, close collaboration with vendors and timely maintenance of devices. 

Network and remote management: With more devices vying for a place in the limited radio spectrum, generating large volumes of data is likely to cause bandwidth issues. Segregating IoT networks from other 2.4 GHz legacy systems can go a long way in overcoming any network congestion issues. Deploying solutions to prevent interference can also help in overcoming IoT scalability issues in a crowded band. Using multiple instances of core connectivity or device management services such as Microsoft’s Azure IoT Hub or Google Cloud IoT Core can allow reliable and secure bi-directional communication between millions of IoT devices and a back-end solution on the cloud. 

Speed of deployment: Ruth believes anything that can be done to hasten a company’s adoption of IoT technology is vital. “I’ve seen projects disrupted by alternative solutions, new technologies, or sudden changes like a pandemic, all of which can force a business to re-evaluate its priorities in a new context. So, speed is important. The faster you can get a business to adopt your solution, your time to revenue increases, and you can quickly tout your success in the market,” he adds. 

IoT orchestration: Kuoppala feels that the best practice is to go shopping and ask the right questions for potential suppliers. “Once the right questions are made, acceptable “it makes sense” responses are received and potential suppliers selected, it’s time for real field testing. There is no way to limit all uncertainties with careful planning; most can only be resolved by doing. Good news is that there are solutions available for the ultimate IoT orchestration, ensuring a future-proof roll-out of IoT products and solutions in the field,” he explains. 

Active involvement of vendors: Organizations should look for IoT vendors that provide end-to-end service. This should not be limited to providing firmware updates and patches on time but should also include training the staff and providing ongoing support. Training is not something you expect at a very early stage, but it is crucial. They need to be available 24/7, and scalability should be at the core of that relationship.

Device maintenance: Maintaining and keeping all IoT devices updated for optimum performance and security can be a challenge given the fragmented nature of IoT. Organizations should use automated systems that can apply updates on all devices regardless of their type or vendor. 

Learn more: What Is IoT Device Management? Definition, Key Features, and Software

Conclusion

The buzz around IoT is not misplaced. It can empower businesses at multiple levels by providing them with insights they didn’t have access to before. However, leveraging IoT is not easy, especially when it involves thousands of devices generating millions of data points. Organizations need to be aware that there are significant barriers to large-scale IoT implementations. But these can be addressed by working closely with IoT vendors, using solutions that can overcome interoperability issues and handle large volumes of data without throttling the network.

Do you think deploying IoT at scale is beset with inherent problems in the technology and addressing them is the key to success of the project? Comment below or let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!