IoTNews

Top 4 questions you need to ask before you buy a Multi-Network Gateway

A key requirement when selecting an LTE gateway that supports multiple Wide Area Network (WAN) links is the performance and the policies that define the switching behavior between WAN links. If you’re spending the extra money to buy a multi-network mobile gateway, you want to make sure that you’re actually going to get the performance you presumably want for your money, writes Bryan O’Flaherty Wills, the director of product management at Sierra Wireless. (more…)

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August 1, 2016

Posted by: George Malim

Is the force with you when you test Wi-Fi IoT devices

Homes, hospitals, shopping centres and department stores, airports, large manufacturing plants – all have a growing volume and variety of connected devices that rely on Wi-Fi to communicate and function, writes Areg Alimian, the senior director of solutions marketing at Ixia. (more…)

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July 29, 2016

Posted by: George Malim

Location of Things: The real value behind IoT

The wow factor has played a major role in the public’s perception of the Internet of Things or IoT, writes Jonathan Duffy, the EMEA managing director of Netclearance. There’s something about the idea of a world made up of objects all linked together that resonates with people, so it is understandable that there is currently a lot of hype surrounding it. (more…)

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July 28, 2016

Posted by: George Malim

The Internet of Healthcare

Event date: September 21-22, 2016
London, UK

Hear test bed experiences, learn from International advanced IoT case studies and talk to patients at Internet of Healthcare this September.

The Internet of Healthcare explores the real-life and transformative possibilities of IoT through early adopter case studies and expert-led discussion. From innovation strategy to data analytics and data ethics, the conference will allow you to get to grips with the implications of IoT and how to turn the promise into reality. By focusing on the key challenges, take away this knowledge and apply it to your own specific situations. (more…)

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Posted by: IoT global network

The use of IoT and cloud services in the warehouse

In the past, warehouse workers, otherwise known as pickers, would worth with lists and manually run a warehouse. This took pickers a long time to get shipments in order just and this laborious practice soon became outdated when digital advanced, writes Suzanne Vallance, who works for Ferrari Packaging, a wholesale packaging supplies  company based in Scotland.

IoE practices in warehouses

Warehouses have started to use the Internet of Everything (IoE), robotic systems which makes the working day much more effective. IoE and voice picking have improved the efficiency of warehouse practices. Sensors can now even detect everything through a robotic system and businesses can check where their pallets are, whether that is in the warehouse or en route to the shipping dock.

Progressively, businesses are adapting to IoE technology and are connecting the different departments in their organisation. These warehouses, like new technology that we use every day, are called “smart warehouses” and have increased productivity across the board.

IoT and cloud software for business

Cloud software is continuing to develop and change security perceptions. Steve Banker from Forbes Online has stated that there are benefits of using IoT in warehouses and has highlighted how pickers are management are adjusting to the change: “Most well run warehouses have a Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) that depends upon bar code data. Warehouse floor level operations personnel and warehouse managers execute their tasks based upon this data.”

This is true, figures from 2015 have shown the growth of IoT in business, especially in the use of cloud technology:

  • 90% of businesses used cloud technology in some capacity in 2015
  • 85% of users are confident in their provider’s ability to provide a secure environment
  • 24% of IT budgets will be allocated to cloud solutions in 2015

Cloud software is hosted elsewhere, virtually and businesses manage their accounts by accessing the software over the internet. Organisations will be charged a cloud fee, however, this includes hosting services.

What is a voice picking cloud?

The main method of internet picking is through a voice picking cloud solution. This means organisations can host their information remotely.

This is beneficial as it means your business does not have to obtain, install or maintain servers. This will not only improve staff efficiency in the long run but it will cut costs. In-house IT hardware can be problematic when it comes to continual security and maintenance.

Argos is just one of the UK’s multichannel retailers that have moved away from paper trail picking. This has been beneficial to the company as they claim it has boosted staff productivity and accuracy.

Getting it right the first time is now more important than ever as the fast delivery pressure from the “Amazon effect” is hitting the retail business. Thankfully for Argos, its level of accuracy is going up and accuracy error rates have decreased from just over 1% to less than 0.3%.

By adopting a voice picking system a business will become more consistent. The paper trail has become outdated, therefore it may be worth businesses looking into business improvement across the board, especially in the operational side of businesses.

Operational vs technical in the warehouse

Remember, improving the technological side of your business is vital, but maintaining the operations section of it, is just as important.

Adopting cloud technology will allow for reduced operational costs, but it’s good practice not to reply on the cloud alone to protect your goods. Amazon uses the cloud to help protect against theft, by using a system that updates every thirty minutes, however for the SME traditional methods for protecting your stored items should not be disregarded. Invest in suitable packaging supplies that will act as a secondary dimension of protection for your goods.

IoT warehouse operations

Changing your business ethic can be risky, therefore it always worth trialling different methods of IoT. By using the internet to enhance your workplace it will not only encourage your employees to work harder but they will learn new, digital skills. The beauty of the internet is that is growing and it is never too late to change, you could see the benefits of IoT in your warehouse works in a matter of months.

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July 27, 2016

Posted by: George Malim

Bug bounty – what’s in it for business?

Hack the Pentagon, a pilot bug bounty programme launched by the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) in partnership with HackerOne, was the first-ever federal government-initiated cyber security bug bounty programme, writes Tej Aulakh, a managing consultant at Spirent. (more…)

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July 26, 2016

Posted by: George Malim

Intelligent Sensor Networks Conference

Event date: November 15, 2016
High Tech Campus Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Sensors and sensor networks are becoming more and more essential for industrial or business use. Real time information from ‘the real world’ to support decision making and control of vital processes will be an integral part of business processes. (more…)

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July 25, 2016

Posted by: IoT global network

Are you being served? How M2M technology is changing the way businesses interact with consumers

It has been predicted that an incredible six billion people will have a smartphone by 2020. In our pocket, we possess a supercomputer, millions of times more powerful than all of NASA’s combined computing capability during the Apollo space missions, writes Simon Skellon, the vice president of sales at Mitel. (more…)

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Posted by: George Malim

The business of smart cities is innovating for a more sustainable future

The World Cities Summit in Singapore explored how cities can better govern and build up resilience through policy, technology and social innovations. City leaders and planners sought to look for ways to create and integrate innovative urban solutions for a more sustainable future, writes Nigel Chadwick, the managing director for EuroNorth at Dassault Systèmes. (more…)

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July 22, 2016

Posted by: George Malim

The internet of things – what does it all mean for retailers?

The internet of things (IoT) is introducing itself into every industry and revolutionising the lives of consumers and businesses alike, writes Paul Burke, the vice president of management for cloud and applications at Oncam. (more…)

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July 21, 2016

Posted by: George Malim