While it’s easy to get caught up in the innovations of today, it’s also important to consider what tomorrow will look like. In this post, we’ll explore the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT), and how it will reshape the world and social media marketing in the future.
What is IoT?
In short, IoT refers to a network of physical objects (or “things”) that are embedded with software and sensors, allowing them to collect and exchange data using the internet. This can include anything from coffee makers, to wearable devices (like FitBits), to cars.
While IoT has been around for several years now, its prevalence is only increasing. According to Gartner Research, there will be nearly 26 billion connected devices by 2020 — that’s more than three times as many connected devices as there are people on Earth!
The Impact on Social Media Marketing
There are several ways that IoT can impact social media marketing:
1) The proliferation of new data sources
One obvious impact of an increased number and variety of devices is an increase in the quantity and quality of data available about consumer behavior. This means marketers will have access to even more information about consumer behavior than ever
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that describes a future where all of our devices, from our phones and computers to our cars, watches and homes are connected to the Internet. A future where smart devices collect data about us and use it to make decisions on our behalf. A future where businesses have access to more data about their customers than ever before.
So how will this impact social media?
Well, first let’s take a look at what the internet of things is and how it actually works.
What is the Internet of Things?
The IoT is the term given to describe a network of physical objects such as machines and electronic devices that are connected to the internet via sensors, actuators, software or electronics. The IoT uses these “things” to collect data which can then be analysed in order to make informed decisions or perform actions automatically. The idea is that this technology can make our lives easier by automating simple tasks, improving efficiency and reducing human error.
As you can imagine, having a network of billions of connected devices will generate an incredible amount of data. This means that businesses who have access to this data will be able to analyse their customers’ behaviours like never before and tailor their services accordingly.
This type of analysis is
This article is the first of a 3-part series on how the Internet of Things (IoT) will impact social media and marketing.
The Internet of Things, or IoT, has been billed as the next industrial revolution. Some of the numbers associated with it are mind boggling. A study from McKinsey & Company projects that by 2025, there could be up to $11 trillion worth of economic value at stake for businesses in sectors such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2020, there will be about 26 billion connected devices around the world. And Cisco claims that 50 billion things will be connected to the Internet come 2020.
While these are massive numbers and prove that IoT is a big deal, they don’t really tell us much about how it will impact our day-to-day lives. So let’s take a look at where we’re going with IoT.
In order to accurately predict how IoT will change the future of social media and marketing, we need to understand what it is and how it works. According to Cisco’s CEO John Chambers:
“The Internet of Everything is bringing together people, process, data and things to make networked connections more relevant and valuable than ever before–turning information
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a buzzy term in the technology world. The concept is simple: Everything that can be connected to the internet, will be. With the internet being connected to more than 30 billion smart devices by 2020, we are about to witness a major shift in our daily lives.
Let’s look at the numbers: More than 27 million fitness bands were sold in 2015, and more than 5 million smartwatches were shipped in Q1 2016 alone. However, these numbers don’t even compare to the number of IoT-connected cars — which will reach 63 million by 2021.
And while these products may seem like they are only used by tech enthusiasts, they are increasingly being adopted by the everyday consumer. According to a report published by Statista, over half of American consumers have already heard of at least one IoT product or service.
The Internet of Things has been described as the next industrial revolution, and for good reason; it’s going to change virtually every aspect of our lives — from the way we drive, to how we shop, to how we manage our health. Even marketers will have to adapt their strategies and tactics to this new world.
Before we take a closer look at how IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) is not a new concept. It was first introduced in 1999 when the concept was coined by Kevin Ashton, an executive at Procter & Gamble who was looking for a way to improve inventory management. However, it wasn’t until recently that the IoT began to transform from a futuristic idea into something that is actually shaping our lives.
What exactly is the Internet of Things? The IoT is essentially made up of devices and software that communicate with each other and collect data about how we use them. These devices are currently in use across industries, encompassing everything from refrigerators to smartphones to light switches and thermostats. The goal of these smart technologies is to make our lives easier by collecting data about how we use them and adjusting their behavior accordingly.
For example, Nest is a smart thermostat company owned by Google that adjusts the temperature in your home based on your habits. If you set the temperature at 70 degrees every day before you leave for work and have it adjust ten minutes before you arrive home, Nest knows to do this without any input from you. This saves time and money by ensuring your home is always at the right temperature when you need it to be.
The Internet of Things: Three Major Challenges
IoT is the concept of connecting devices to the Internet and to each other. As far back as 1999, an Internet-connected Coke machine at Carnegie Mellon was able to inform users via email when new drinks had been stocked in the machine. In 2014, a smart fridge that could order groceries online was a media sensation. In 2015, more than 26 billion IoT devices are expected to be in use.
As companies embrace IoT products and services, however, there are three major challenges that must be overcome before IoT can become mainstream. These include security issues, privacy concerns and legal liabilities.
Security Issues
The first challenge facing the deployment of IoT is ensuring that all of the various IoT devices are secure from intruders and hackers. This is a particular concern with wearables – such as smartwatches – which are often paired with smartphones. Since these devices have access to sensitive data – such as credit card information and contact lists – they need to be protected from hackers who may try to gain access to this information for identity theft or other malicious purposes.
Although Google has announced its intention to release two new Nexus devices in October 2015, it has not revealed any details about how it will address security concerns related to its Android Wear OS