Zebra Technologies’ global study tracks momentum of Internet of Things in the enterprise

Zebra Technologies Corporation has released survey results that suggests the vast majority of business decision makers understand the Internet of Things (IoT) and are in the process of deploying it as part of their business strategy.

Forrester Consulting conducted the commissioned November 2014 study on behalf of Zebra Technologies, and surveyed IT and business decision makers in nearly 600 global firms in the retail, consumer products, manufacturing, transportation, government, oil/gas, healthcare, and hospitality industries.

Zebra piloted an initial investigation into the understanding and adoption rate of IoT in enterprises in a 2012 study entitled “Building Value from Visibility,” which established a baseline for global IoT adoption in business. One of the data points showing the increase in IoT adoption over the past two years indicates that only 15% of surveyed firms had an IoT solution in place in 2012. That number has increased to 25% in 2014.

Wi-Fi, real-time location tracking, and security sensors are important elements of IoT solutions. Of firms surveyed, 83% identify Wi-Fi infrastructure and real-time location tracking technologies as important or very important building blocks of IoT solutions. The same number of respondents pointed to sensor technologies to monitor assets and the surrounding environment as “important” or “very important” technology elements. More than 80% of surveyed firms believe that IoT solutions will be the most strategic technology initiative for their organization in a decade. These firms look to IoT solutions as a way to address a variety of strategic, operational, and business challenges.

Strong IoT solution deployment momentum among global firms. Nearly 65% of firms surveyed have deployed or are in the process of implementing IoT solutions. There is also strong IoT deployment momentum across the globe, with over 70% of Asia Pacific firms having an IoT solution in place, or being in the process of implementing an IoT solution. New cities, buildings, and infrastructure in many Asia Pacific countries have enabled this strong adoption rate. In comparison, 60% of North American, 52% of European and 71% of Latin American firms are in these same stages of IoT solution deployment.

Nearly half of the surveyed firms identified improved customer experience as one of the top five benefits of deploying IoT solutions. Supply chain optimization, visibility, loss prevention and cost efficiencies also were identified as top five benefits by between 44% and 46% of firms.