The Evolution of IoT Standards: What It Means for Global Connectivity

We tend to think about IoT as being a lot about the devices themselves, like a smart thermostat, the connected car or industrial sensors. Behind all the hype, though, we forget about how IoT standards are shaping global connectivity, making it practical, scalable and impactful. Without such standards, IoT would just be a set of isolated systems unable to communicate with one another effectively.

A key principle that often gets overlooked is this: strong global connectivity begins with strong internal connectivity. In other words, without a good foundation at the local level, it becomes very difficult to build a seamless global network. Let’s begin by looking at how IoT standards evolved to strengthen internal connectivity and how this became the cornerstone of global integration.

Strong Internal Connectivity: The Foundation for Global IoT

IoT started with locally centric systems intended to address very specific issues in a local area. Take an example of a smart factory that, through sensors, optimizes its production lines or retail outlets using RFID tags for tracking stock. Such arrangements were local, and internal communications were often on localized protocols, such as Zigbee, Modbus or Bluetooth.

Why Internal Connectivity is Important

Internal IoT systems’ efficiency is key to full global integration. If the internal network is weak, the whole system is at risk. For instance:

• Manufacturing facilities with IoT-enabled internal machine monitoring can provide critical input and when combined with data on the supply chain from external suppliers, this can be utilized to optimize the supply chain in real-time.
• A hospital using an IoT device system to track internally needs to maintain flawless connectivity internally before securely and openly sharing such data with some external labs or insurance companies.

This leaves room for a significant opportunity gap in each of the data silos created. Statista forecasts that 24 billion IoT devices will exist by 2030. It goes without saying that all of these devices are going to create unprecedented data, and one must first be ready for internal-scale deployment before attempting global reach.

Rising Expectations: Creating the Bridges Between Internal and Global Systems

As IoT adoption increased, businesses required standards to allow communication between internal systems and external networks. This evolution brought interoperability, scalability and the potential for how IoT standards are shaping global connectivity.

Internal Standards Scaling Up

• Interoperability: Protocols such as MQTT and CoAP were created specifically to enable devices within a system to “talk the same language” and share data with each other smoothly. This highlights role of interoperability in IoT growth, allowing communication with one another.
• Scalability: LoRaWAN and NB-IoT allowed internal IoT networks to expand their reach so they can communicate with large ecosystems.

Global Interconnection of Internal Systems

For global IoT systems to work, localized networks must seamlessly interface with external systems. This is where standards like 5G and IPv6 come into play:

• 5G provides the speed and capacity required for large-scale, real-time communication.
• IPv6 removes any overlap in addresses, thus giving each IoT device worldwide its uniqueness.

This move toward how evolving IoT standards affect global connectivity has timed with economic investments. In 2023, investment in IoT worldwide reached approximately an estimated USD 1 trillion, showing how massive IoT has become in different sectors. Such investments point to a future where both local and global IoT systems are so well integrated that total efficiency and growth could be achieved.

The Transition to Global Connectivity

With robust networks within, IoT systems have been able to scale beyond a local environment. This has transitioned the playing field for most businesses to transcend borders seamlessly.

Examples of Global IoT Applications

1. Global Supply Chains

The combination of internal and global IoT networks allows a logistics company to track shipments from production facilities to customers across continents. Temperature and location data collected locally are transmitted via global networks for end-to-end visibility.

2. Smart Cities

IoT is used in cities worldwide to manage traffic, utilities, and public safety. Strong local IoT systems in individual neighborhoods form the backbone of city-wide networks, which then integrate into regional and national systems.

3. Cross-Border Healthcare

Hospitals with minefield of internal IoT networks can share encrypted patient data with labs and specialists around the world, allowing for faster diagnosis and better outcomes. This shows the impact of IoT protocols on international connectivity in key sectors.

Role of Mapsted in Cross-Functional Connectivity

Mapsted is an example of how businesses can transition from a tight inner IoT network to ubiquitous global operation.

Mapsted’s Methodology of Connectivity

1. Effective Asset Tracking

Mapsted Tags forms a highly accurate real-time tracking ecosystem with only a few hardware requirements. This allows creating strong internal networks scalable to a global scale.

For example, a company tracking inventory in one warehouse can expand to track global distribution centres.

2. Real-Time Heat Mapping

Mapsted Flow offers anonymized movement data in buildings, which helps in optimizing layouts and operations. When scaled, this data can be integrated with global platforms for insights across locations.

3. Scalable Personnel Monitoring

Mapsted Badges ensure the internal tracking of personnel accurately while aligning well with the broader safety and workforce management systems.

These innovations highlight how IoT standards are shaping global connectivity by starting with robust internal systems and scaling to a global level.

Why Internal Connectivity is the Key to Global IoT Success

The relationship between internal and global connectivity is symbiotic, not linear. Weak internal connectivity has a detrimental impact on global systems, while strong internal connectivity magnifies the impact of IoT on global networks.

Final Thoughts

Seamless, reliable and impactful systems are not merely a scale-up from internal IoT to global IoT connectivity. It is the strong internal networks that enable global IoT operations, ensuring data integrity, scalability and operational efficiency.

As organizations worldwide invest over $1 trillion in IoT by 2023, businesses need strong internal systems to take advantage of the trend. With uniform protocols and unique solutions like those offered by Mapsted, organizations can leap ahead from local effectiveness to global usage.

These standards mark an important milestone and are also a powerful call to action for businesses to develop systems that are locally performant and globally successful. If you found this blog helpful, please read our blog on 5G and IoT = The Ultimate Tech Revolution Duo That You Need to Know or watch our video on Discover Mapsted’s New IoT Division | Transform Your Operations Today to learn more.