The world went through a lot last year. Multiple lockdowns were imposed. Companies went bankrupt. Businesses were forced to close their operations. Every industry suffered from the tremendous impact of the pandemic. However, the world did not shut down completely. Many service providers, especially the ones offering Optimum packages, ensured uninterrupted connectivity and network converge.
Despite the pandemic, the IoT market thrived. As a matter of fact, the number of IoT devices reached 8.74 billion in 2020. Machine learning and artificial intelligence prevented the world from returning to the dark ages. Moreover, technology proved to be of great use in the healthcare sector. The health sector has been at the forefront in curtailing the spread of the virus.
That said, here are five predictions for the IoT market in 2022.
Industrial Automation Will Continue to Thrive
The pandemic disrupted large-scale operations like manufacturing and logistics. However, companies shifted their focus towards automation to manage their supply chains. Many businesses had begun to adopt automation towards the end of 2019. Some managed to completely automate their operations ahead of the pandemic. The virus exposed the vulnerabilities of traditional practices. It showed the world that automation and digitization were the way forward.
Moreover, the demand for machine learning and artificial intelligence tools increased in 2020. Fields such as robotics and predictive maintenance are showcasing their potential amid the pandemic. Similarly, remote diagnostics and cognitive search are helping companies reduce costs. Industries like automobiles and aerospace will continue to benefit from industrial automation.
Demand for Private Networks Will Increase
The number of interconnected devices is expected to explode in the coming years. By 2030, the world will have over 25 billion IoT devices. New businesses will enter the market to manage such a huge number of interconnected devices. The cellular network market will face growing competition. Obviously, the pandemic has prevented cellular companies from completely establishing their network infrastructure. However, it has created additional demand for technologies like 5G.
Companies around the world are finding ways to provide secure and private network connections. Government agencies and private companies are entering into agreements to set up private cellular networks. Moreover, the demand for low-power, wide-area (LPWAN) networks is increasing.
Healthcare Technology Will Flourish
The virus pushed the global healthcare sector to its limits. Countries exhausted their health resources to combat the pandemic. Medical infrastructure in some developing countries collapsed. However, proactive countries adapted to technology to fight off the pandemic. The demand for certified wearable devices increased in 2020. The trend is expected to continue into the future.
Additionally, remote health monitoring devices greatly benefitted healthcare workers at the height of the pandemic. Similarly, electrocardiography and blood pressure monitoring tools come in handy in times of mask-wearing and social distancing. The use of technology in the healthcare sector will only increase in the coming years.
More Workplaces Will Have Interconnected Devices
Social distancing and mask-wearing are the new normal. Every industry is following these guidelines. The practices will remain prevalent in years to come. Moreover, organizations should ensure proper cleanliness and sanitation at workplaces. Additionally, they should monitor employee movement to ensure that social distancing is followed.
Companies will need to invest in interconnected devices to create smart work environments. For example, automated cooling and heating systems allow organizations to efficiently manage their electricity bills. Similarly, devices like air quality sensors and smart cameras can be used to protect a building’s premises.
5G Devices Will be in Great Use
5G is still in its nascent stage. The advent of the pandemic in 2020 affected plans of the world governments to set up 5G networks. The number of active 5G users was less than 200 million in 2019. It crossed the 200-million mark in 2020. Moreover, according to a report by Ericsson, the number of 5G users will explode to 3.5 billion by 2026.
5G connections will be crucial to the development of IoT applications for use in remote surgery and military operations. Integrated SIMS (iSIMS) will replace traditional SIMS. The new technology will cater to billions of 5G users. Additionally, it will offer multiple benefits to the IoT players. It will offer more flexibility to businesses in terms of deployment models.
Conclusion
IoT has the potential to provide limitless connectivity. The increasing use of machine learning and artificial intelligence will fuel the growth of IoT devices. IoT will assist healthcare units in timely service delivery. Moreover, it will offer tremendous benefits to industries and businesses. More users will adopt IoT devices to benefit from greater connectivity.
