Vodafone Q&A: IoT Transformation
Pipeline recently had an opportunity to explore the topic of digital transformation with the Head of IoT at Vodafone Americas, Ludovico Fassati. We discussed ways companies are achieving their digital transformation initiatives, distilled some advice for CIOs, and examined how IoT is changing the game. He also shared key insights from the latest Vodafone IoT Barometer Report. Highlights from our discussion appear below.
Pipeline: How have you seen IoT impacting
digital transformation initiatives?
Fassati: IoT is making a huge impact on digital transformation initiatives. Vodafone’s IoT Barometer found that two-thirds of companies surveyed consider digital transformation “impossible” without IoT. The
organizations that have adopted IoT are leading the way in digital transformation, as compared with competitors in the market who have not yet implemented the technology.
Pipeline: What kind of opportunity does IoT present to organizations?
Fassati: IoT is a game-changer for organizations in every industry. The technology allows businesses to gain real-time access to key data, enabling increased efficiency, better customer experience and improved visibility into the performance of key assets. For example, in the healthcare industry, IoT-enabled medical devices give doctors real-time information about patient medical adherence, allowing them to adjust treatment plans according to patient needs. In manufacturing, IoT sensors embedded into equipment on the factory floor offer managers key data on equipment performance, energy usage and more.
Pipeline: How are you seeing the role of IoT evolve in digital transformation initiatives?
Fassati: IoT adoption has increased steadily over the last few years, and as businesses continue to integrate IoT into their operations, the technology’s role in digital transformation
initiatives has become increasingly important. Whereas in the past, IoT may have been considered one component of digital transformation, it now underpins digital efforts for many
businesses.
Pipeline: How do you see the role of IoT evolving in the future?
Fassati: Digital transformation efforts are a main priority for enterprises, and IoT technology is only going to drive these efforts further. In the next five years, IoT will be coupled with the
adoption of new technologies, like the use of artificial intelligence for business operations, which will be integrated into daily operations to generate faster and more precise insights from IoT
data. In the future, we will likely take for granted that IoT and AI will enable remote monitoring and control of nearly everything – from vending machines to vehicles to HVAC systems.
Pipeline: Which industries are leading in IoT use cases?
Fassati: Organizations across industries recognize the value of IoT – adoption of the technology continues to increase nearly everywhere. But a few industries are leading the way when it comes to IoT adoption. Vodafone’s IoT Barometer found that 90 percent of retail companies have more live IoT projects now than they did a year ago. The same is true for the automotive industries – 82 percent of automotive businesses are using more IoT connections than they had been in years prior.
Pipeline: What are the drivers for IoT and digital transformation initiatives?
Fassati: IoT is incredibly valuable for any business seeking to connect objects in order to transform them into intelligent assets that can communicate about status and environment, leading to insights about performance.
