New report - Industrial IoT in the Time of Covid-19 – finds 90 per cent of transport and logistics businesses have accelerated or intend to accelerate their deployment of IoT in response to Covid-19 pandemic
New research by Inmarsat, the world leader in global mobile satellite communications, reveals a rapid increase in the maturity level of the industrial Internet of Things (IoT) across the transport and logistics sector since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Respondents from the sector reported that Covid-19 has demonstrated the importance of IoT to their businesses, with many accelerating IoT deployments in response to the pandemic.
A further 90 per cent of transport and logistics respondents indicated they have or they intend to accelerate the adoption of IoT in response to challenges related to Covid-19. This figure includes 49 per cent who have already accelerated IoT adoption to respond to Covid-19, versus 28 per cent who will accelerate over the next twelve months and 13 per cent who will accelerate beyond the next 12 months. The 49 per cent that have already accelerated IoT adoption are less likely to state that Covid-19 has negatively impacted their ability to operate, demonstrating a link between IoT and business continuity during the pandemic. Additionally, over half (52 per cent) of respondents in the sector indicated that business and operational challenges related to Covid-19 have underlined the importance of IoT.
Commenting on this acceleration of IoT in the transport and logistics sector, Steven Tompkins, Director of Market Development at Inmarsat said: “Despite the considerable challenges to the industry caused by Covid-19, our research shows that IoT data has played a vital role in helping to support organisational efficiencies in under pressure supply chains. The findings show that the transport and logistics sector is embracing digitalisation and accelerating its adoption of IoT and other Industry 4.0 technologies to ensure tomorrow’s logistics networks are both efficient and sustainable.”
Commenting on the research, Mike Carter, President of Inmarsat Enterprise said: “The rapid increase in IoT deployments over the last few years highlights the considerable progress global industry has made to overcome some of the world’s most challenging forces. It is particularly interesting, though logical, that Covid-19 has further catalysed businesses to increase their reliance on Industry 4.0 technologies, and particularly the industrial Internet of Things, in order to maintain business continuity. Those businesses implementing IoT technologies ahead of their competition and across their value chains are those who stand to win in the long-term.
“While our findings point to IoT driving significant uplifts in efficiency, sustainability and safety across global supply chains, there are areas where organisations can make improvements to draw the optimum benefits from the technology. Connectivity, data management, skills shortages, security threats and investment levels remain challenges as the world’s production and supply chains become increasingly digitalised and intertwined.
“Inmarsat’s global ELERA network is inspiring new possibilities and enabling organisations from all sectors to access IoT anywhere. Ideally suited to the rapidly evolving world of IoT, our industry-leading narrowband network provides global reach, extraordinary resilience, and the fastest speeds, along with the smallest, low cost terminals in their class. Organisations looking to accelerate their IoT deployments need look no further than Inmarsat and our global partner ecosystem – the widest of any satellite provider – to solve their IoT connectivity needs.”
