IoT Trends 2021: A focus on fundamentals, not nice-to-haves

As we approach the close of a whirlwind 2020, connected devices will continue to define numerous industries in the coming year.

Several trends continue to gather momentum, fueling IoT’s prominence in 2021, from data-intensive experiences that use Internet of Things (IoT) devices (such as self-driving cars or wearable devices) to basic health-and-safety needs as COVID-19 continues to take center stage.

At the same time, the IoT landscape remains fragmented, with various prevailing standards, connectivity options and use cases abounding. This fragmentation will continue, predicted Forrester Research, and connectivity options will be diverse rather than standardized.

While 5G has been touted as the holy grail for IoT, “there will be a variety of connectivity options,” said Michele Pelino, senior analyst within the infrastructure and operations research team at Forrester.

Forrester predicted further that in 2021 some uses of IoT will focus on core health-and-safety initiatives (such as building cleaning technologies and track-and trace capabilities). At the same time, while IoT technologies will be enlisted for basic needs, it will also be key for higher-level customer service and customer experience efforts. Many IoT technologies will lay a foundation and then help organizations progress to focus on more mature areas, such as customer service and customer experience.

To read the complete article, visit IoT World Today.