Revolutionize your business with IoT devices

More and more, IoT (Internet of Things) devices have become part of our lives, from the moment we wake up until we are asleep. Curiously, many people don’t even know they are using this technology, nor how to adopt it — and perhaps you are one of them. Answer the questions below to see if you identify:

• Do you own a vehicle with automatic speed control (Adaptive Cruise Control) that accelerates or brakes automatically?
• Do you own a Smartwatch?
• Are there light bulbs in your home that turn on when you walk past them?

Well, you might not know it, but in all these examples, IoT technology is at work.

In short, for a vehicle to accelerate and brake autonomously, various sensors are needed to check the surroundings so the speed can be adjusted. In other words, if there is another vehicle ahead slowing down, the sensors will identify it and send an instruction to the on-board computer to engage the brakes and reduce speed to avoid a collision. In the case of Smartwatches, there are sensors that measure your blood pressure, steps, and even your sleep. And when we talk about light bulbs, motion sensors make them turn on or off.

Now, speaking of your business: have you thought about implementing this type of technology? If you haven’t yet envisioned how it can help you, here are a few scenarios:

IoT devices to improve customer experience

A customer enters your establishment and starts receiving the day’s offers and their physical location on their phone (via your business app). The customer finds them quickly. It is possible to implement this type of setup in your establishment using cameras and motion sensors.

IoT devices to identify customer sentiment

Customers have been leaving your establishment with complaints that don’t reach you. However, they are constant and always occur at a certain time of day. With specific types of cameras, it is possible to identify this scenario and, with this information, evaluate what might be happening (for example, an employee not treating customers well).

IoT devices for energy cost reduction

You own a large establishment with many employees. Since it operates 24/7, lights, air conditioning, and machinery must stay on. However, there is no need to keep them on all the time in certain areas. Motion and automation sensors can turn lights and equipment on or off based on a schedule or when people enter or leave those areas, generating cost savings.

IoT devices for delivery tracking

Your deliveries are made by your own fleet of vehicles. There are constant complaints from customers saying they are not receiving their purchases or that they are arriving late. With GPS sensors, you can track the vehicles and understand the whole scenario.

Overcoming Implementation Obstacles

To implement this technology, there are some hurdles we need to clear, such as connectivity. The devices need to send data somewhere to be stored and processed, resulting in relevant information.

Wi-Fi is one connectivity option, but devices must be within a short distance of a router. In many scenarios, this configuration is not feasible. The alternative is the mobile network (2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G transmission) due to the wide coverage of telecommunications providers.

Another obstacle is battery life, as transmitting or receiving data over long periods consumes a lot of power. This can be solved by a LoRaWAN network, which, besides low power consumption, is ideal for areas without cellular, Wi-Fi, or 4G signals.

How can we help you?

At Edge UOL, we have a team specialized in various technologies with extensive experience in high-complexity projects. Furthermore, we have a vast network of partners to create all the necessary connectivity and store the collected information intelligently, both in the cloud and on-premises. All of this can be viewed through a customized dashboard tailored to your company.