Most would agree that the adoption rate of the Internet of Things (IoT) has fallen well short of predictions. Given the proven benefits that the IoT can deliver, such as preventative maintenance and real-time asset management, it’s confounding that every company isn’t well on its way to leveraging IoT.
There are far more attempts to adopt the IoT than successes, says Terri Foudray, founder and CEO of Rumble, as well as several reasons that the IoT is not meeting or exceeding adoption forecasts. The culprits behind adoption failures include the lack of available talent, the overwhelming and complex volume of prospective vendors, the lack of a solid business case to define success, and the derailing of initiatives caused by unanticipated political and cultural pitfalls that often accompany enterprise-wide technology adoption.
IoT is more than a tech initiative
The companies that are having success with IoT adoption are those that recognise that implementing IoT solutions is a business and cultural initiative as much as, and maybe more than, a technology initiative. The approach to system wide change and adoption requires the support of outside resources, who can help overcome these pitfalls based upon their vast experience with IoT adoption initiatives.
IoT is at the heart of digital transformation and it can’t be successful without three major elements:
- C-level commitment: Adoption of the IoT requires C-level commitment and ongoing championship. If the initiative doesn’t have the shoulder of one or more executive team members behind it, the initiative won’t get the prioritisation it needs. It also won’t foster a willingness throughout the company to accept the change necessary to cross the finish line. C-level executives can help build the bridges within the organisation to take on a project as big as IoT adoption. The C-level champion also needs to create a climate of “fail fast and iterate.” The more IoT initiatives the company pursues, the more likely the path to success because it creates more excitement throughout the company, improves the chances of success for a few of the initiatives, and demonstrates a bigger vision than a one-and-done approach.
- Change agents from across the company: The company needs to establish a cross-functional and integrated team of “change agents.” These IoT soldiers need to be recognised as the drivers of the future of the company and lauded for the hard work they take on to adopt IoT. They need a charter, a structure, and authority to drive IoT adoption. They also need to be diplomats to their departments for resource commitment and cultural acceptance of the new paradigm.
- A system-wide IoT framework: C-level executives and the IoT committee need a framework within which to approach IoT systemwide. This framework defines the best-in-class vendor set, the prioritisation process for projects, the process for approaching and managing proof of concepts, and the decision factors to move from proof of concept to pilot and then on to production.
Only when IoT adoption is approached in this manner will we see adoption rates accelerate. For most firms, success and acceleration require a qualified third-party provider with a track record of success to lead the way.
The author of this blog is Terri Foudray, founder and CEO of Rumble.
About the author
Terri Foudray has more than 25 years’ experience in business and high tech, from strategy and development to solution consulting, marketing and entrepreneurship, to partner relationships, Terri formed Rumble because she says the future is all about real-time data and its power to increase efficiencies and drive revenue. She adds IoT architecture and implementation are complex and require a level of expertise few companies can offer. Terri is a member of CompTIA’s IoT Advisory Council, which addresses industry trends and issues affecting the rapidly evolving IoT market.
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