We live in a world dominated by connected devices—smart phones, smart wrist bands, smart home appliances, smart fitness gear, smart thermostats and a plethora of other connected devices make a new world which is coined as the Internet of Things (IoT). Soon, the Internet of Things (IoT) will not only permeate the workplace but will also change how things are done there. Here is how Internet of Things (IoT) will help office life!
Smartphones, smartwatches, smart appliances—these are just a few of the countless intelligence, data-driven technological devices that surround us today and are optimizing every aspect of our life. The potential of Internet of Things (IoT) is dependent on the network of relationships that emerge among the connected gadgets. And, these connected gadgets represent the next big leap in human-communication which is the intelligent workplace.
What Exactly is IoT?
A phrase that gets coined a lot, Internet of Things or IoT is defined differently by different people. However, you should listen to what the experts are saying about the Internet of Things if you want to get an accurate picture of the concept enabling smart, connected objects. Often, it is hard to people to truly understand the IoT concept because the name doesn’t give much clue about the opportunities IoT represents. However, you can extract meaning from the term if you focus on it closely. Since the Internet enables communication, the internet part of IoT represents a system for communication, which in specific terms means the transmission of information.
Things—the other part of IoT term, represents an increasing number of smart, connected devices that change the inherent nature of the things that we know too well. By generating valuable data and extending the capabilities of the internet and ‘things’, IoT is helping companies to better understand customers and improve productivity in the workplace.
Understanding the Intelligent Workplace
How often does the smartphone feature in your average workday? A portable device, a smartphone can be used to check edit documents, check emails, and track performance from anywhere. In addition to these basic functions, a smart phone can be equipped with apps to meet a variety of professional/work needs. With smart devices—which include smart phones, you can receive important information and notifications in real time, which in turn can help you do your job better.
Smartphones, applications, and wearables—the infrastructure of the intelligent office is already in place. All you got to do is bring the pieces together. IoT presents businesses and workplaces with a unique opportunity, an opportunity that has the potential to change how things are done in the office and in doing so, change how businesses operate. Following are the four main qualities of the intelligent workplace/office.
Collective Intelligence
How good would life be if you could access your entire organization whenever you wanted feedback on a customer question or a new marketing/business idea? Well, the Internet of Things (IoT) has made that possible for you. If two people working together can double the chances of achieving success in a particular area, imagine what can be achieved with hundreds of people working together.
By enabling better communication and collaboration in the workplace, the Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to enhance company accuracy and productivity, which in turn benefits the bottom line. Say, the person handling your company’s social media accounts gets questioned about a product’s API. Generally, this situation would have the person scrambling for relevant documentation but with the Internet of Things, he/she can simply use a chat app to reach out to the product team to get an answer within minutes. With IoT, you can connect to the right person, at the right time, no matter where you are.
Connected Products
In the past, a company would become aware of problems with a product only after it broke down. Today, we have smart devices that can track the condition of each of their component and automatically report any problems to relevant technicians. Additionally, these connected products offer unprecedented insights. Using this data, businesses can improve their products to make them more attractive and relevant to customers.
Connected Environments
The internet of Things (IoT) and things enabled by it have the potential to turn workplaces into intelligent ecosystems. Examples of this are Google’s Nest thermostat and Phillips’ hue light bulbs. Connected environments enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT) allow office managers to notify reps about their next appointment or ensure the optimal workplace temperature. Similarly, employees can use these connected environments to track recent activity on different accounts and map nearby prospects.
Business Intelligence
Intelligence workplaces make it easier to manage the enormous amounts of data flowing into the organization as they present employees with only the most relevant and actionable insights. For instance, when you open a Salesforce Mobile app, you would see a list of events and tasks for a day rather than the entire calendar. Similarly, you would see the most recent activity of prospects rather than their entire history with the company when you search them. With the Internet of Things (IoT), your data is no longer a burden, instead it is a competitive advantage that you have.
Smart devices and technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT) are fast changing the office and how we work. Thanks to IoT, the future of the workplace looks bright. To achieve an unprecedented degree of intelligence and sophistication, you should start thinking strategically about how you can use smart devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) to make your workplace more connected and data-driven. If you do this, then nothing can stop you from creating an optimal office life.
by Bobby J Davidson
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