The report claims that despite greater awareness, many organisations are not fully sold on the benefits of gender equality in leadership, even though ample evidence correlates gender equity with improved financial success and competitive advantage.

The report further revealed that organisations are over-relying on “good intentions” and applying a laissez-faire approach to diversity, rather than applying the disciplined focus on operational execution they apply to other aspects of organisational performance.

Ask for her take on inclusion, the theme for the 2024 International Women’s Day theme,

Telstra’s Hong Kong managing director, Alice Ting argues that inclusion is about fostering an environment where every employee feels safe, respected, and valued. She posits that it involves encouraging individuals to freely express their thoughts, concerns, and ideas without judgement or the fear of negative consequences.

“Beyond this, inclusion encompasses various dimensions, such as gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion, and background. It is not limited to any specific group; it’s a collective effort that both men and women must advocate and encourage within their organisations,” she added.

The state of inclusion in the workplace today

Yean Cheong, executive director with SGTech in Singapore believes that leadership plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of inclusion, with this commitment starting from the top.

Looking inward at SGTech she notes that as an organisation it comprises individuals from diverse disciplines, backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets, all united in our cause.

“We are committed to continuous learning and transformation, emphasising the importance of thinking differently, keeping an open mind, and being receptive to emerging trends locally and globally,” she adds.

She posits that inclusion is integral to SG Tech's ethos as: “we build our Secretariat and tech community.” SGTech is dedicated to enabling anyone who wishes to join the tech workforce, irrespective of their current qualifications, skill sets, gender, culture, ethnicity, or age.

“This commitment also extends to our team at SGTech, ensuring that we embody the inclusive values we advocate for,” she adds.

At Telstra, the message of inclusion resonates just as well. According to Ting, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are embedded in Telstra’s culture. She notes that gender equality is a core part of Telstra’s corporate values.

“Telstra requires at least 50% female representation on recruitment and interview shortlists. What’s more, our CEO is a female leading by example,” she continues.

“Paying men and women equally is also fundamental to improving female workforce participation. At Telstra, we conduct remuneration gap analysis and have targets in place to help us see more women at Executive and Senior Management levels.

“We take pride in fostering an inclusive environment for all employees and spearhead various initiatives to promote DEI in our community,” said Ting.

Obstacles to Inclusion

Despite significant progress in recent years, gender inequality persists in many parts of Asia. Gender stereotypes, traditional gender roles, and limited opportunities for women hinder progress toward achieving gender parity.

Cheong cites the presence of unconscious biases as an obstacle to inclusion. She says it leads to a lack of empathy and understanding towards others. She warns that these biases can result in difficulty identifying skills and needs gaps within a diverse workforce.

Telstra’s Ting concurs adding that unconscious bias in the workplace can significantly hinder efforts to promote diversity, impact recruitment strategies, and affect employee retention. “These biases subtly shape an organisation’s culture, often without us realising it,” she added.

Cheong opines that organisations may struggle with fostering a culture of learning where individuals are encouraged to continuously develop their skills and knowledge. “Overcoming these obstacles requires a concerted effort to raise awareness of unconscious biases, cultivate empathy, and promote a culture of inclusivity and continuous learning,” she continued.

Ting believes that it is crucial that everyone consciously acknowledge the existence of such biases and actively advocate for individuals who may not belong to privileged demographics.

“By fostering awareness and championing inclusivity, we can create a more equitable and supportive work environment for all. Unconscious biases subtly shape an organisation’s culture, often without people realising it,” she continued.

Ting called out education programs and policies at Telstra to tackle unconscious bias directly. “From training to support our people with practical techniques to find common ground and discuss difficult topics through to our equitable hiring practices and pay reviews that specifically seek out bias, we’re striving to eliminate bias in all its forms,” she elaborated.

She went on to explain that leaders are trained to shift their approach in hiring, meetings, assignments, and review/promotions, so they can recognise and interrupt unconscious bias in their day-to-day.

“It’s crucial that everyone consciously acknowledge the existence of such biases and actively advocates for individuals who may not belong to privileged demographics. By fostering awareness and championing inclusivity, we can create a more equitable and supportive work environment for all.”

Alice Ting

Inclusion lessons

Cheong says achieving inclusion requires a multifaceted approach. Firstly, she suggests pushing for skill-based hiring, where individuals are evaluated based on their competencies rather than traditional qualifications. “This approach promotes diversity and ensures that the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills for the job,” she added.

She also posits cultivating an attitude of lifelong learning within the organisation is crucial. “This involves encouraging employees to continuously develop their skills and knowledge, fostering a culture where learning is valued and supported at all levels,” she added.

These efforts can help create a more inclusive and dynamic work environment where individuals are empowered to reach their full potential.

For her part, Ting believes that championing inclusion requires a united and collaborative effort that transcends individual responsibility. It is not a matter solely relegated to someone else's concern; rather, it implicates each one of us.

“Both women and men hold significant roles in driving this transformative process. As we commemorate International Women's Day, the conversation should extend beyond celebrating women; everyone should be part of the discussion in shaping and nurturing an inclusive environment,” she added.

Inclusion – a call to action

“To inspire inclusion within SGTech, we have implemented several key strategies,” started Cheong. “Firstly, we have a clear organisational structure and unbiased HR hiring policies to ensure fair hiring practices. This includes defining roles and responsibilities to support hiring based on the right size and right skills.

“Additionally, we have in place year-long learning & development plans that encourage and reward upskilling and reskilling, enable skills exchange, training, and talent development within teams and across the organisation to foster a culture of continuous learning and development.

“Promoting mindfulness is another crucial aspect, encouraging individuals to refrain from judging others based on appearances, be aware of perceptions, and use language that is respectful and inclusive.

“Providing open feedback channels, conflict resolution mechanisms, and access to counselling as needed will further enhance inclusivity and support employee well-being. Our goal is to build a lifelong learning and growth culture where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best,” concluded Cheong.

Ting believes in leading by example and creating an environment where every individual feels genuinely valued and heard. “At the office, I actively cultivate diversity by acknowledging and encouraging a rich blend of cultures and perspectives. I believe through positive reinforcement and setting clear goals, we can shape a more inclusive workplace for all,” she added.

In Hong Kong, Ting reveals that the company plans to relaunch a mentorship program with a specific focus on nurturing and empowering young female leaders. “While emphasising the significance of inclusion, it’s essential to acknowledge that a truly inclusive environment transcends gender boundaries,” she continued.

“It is important to ensure every individual has an equal opportunity to succeed, irrespective of their background or identity. By actively encouraging individuals to voice their perspectives and providing support on their journey toward success, we contribute to creating an environment where everyone thrives.”

Similarly in Singapore at SGTech, Cheong says the plan is to continue walking the talk by embracing diversity in all its forms. “Currently, our permanent hybrid working model approach not only fosters a more flexible and adaptable work environment but also significantly facilitates the seamless transition for mothers returning to full-time employment, thereby promoting inclusivity and flexibility within our workforce,” she revealed.

“In addition, we also work on maintaining a workforce that spans a wide range of ages, from fresh graduates to individuals in their post-50s, as well as welcoming interns from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs),” she added.

“We recognise and value the skills and experience that each of our colleagues brings to the table, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and included.”

Yean Cheong

The post Orchestrating inclusion in Asia in 2024 appeared first on FutureIoT.

The starting point of any inclusion culture is at the point when an organisation lists down the specifics of a job or role in the organisation. It is at this point when bias creeps into the hiring process such as hard and soft qualifications, ability to work under specific conditions, etc.

At a time when nearly every industry faces a talent shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is interesting to observe that aspirations to inclusion remain a challenge – albeit less insurmountable compared to perhaps a decade ago.

FutureIoT and FutureCOO spoke to Serene Yeo, vice president for human resources at Ensign InfoSecurity (Ensign) for her take on the challenges and opportunities of broadening the doors to talent regardless of ethnicity or gender.

The talent shortage exists at all functions and across most industries. There is no shortage of graduates in educational institutions. Where is the disconnect here?

Serene Yeo: In my view, it is due to the following factors:

One – Skills mismatch.

As technology evolves, so do the skills that employers seek. There is a mismatch between the skills that are sought by employers and the skills that are possessed by individuals.

For example, as cyber threats continue to evolve in sophistication and scale, cyber defenders need to evolve accordingly, giving rise to new cybersecurity roles such as malware researchers and big data engineers.

Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic can also have an immediate impact on the demand for certain skills. There was a surge in demand for technical and digital skills to support digitalization and the shift to remote work.

Two – Expectations mismatch.

The aspirations, preferences and priorities of each generation of graduates evolve as well.

One generation may increasingly prioritize factors such as work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and comprehensive benefits packages. However, employers may not always be able to meet these expectations due to operational requirements or cost considerations.

Eg 2. Remote work and flexibility: The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted expectations around remote work and flexibility, with many job seekers seeking opportunities for remote or hybrid work arrangements. However, not all employers are able or willing to offer remote work options, leading to mismatches between what job seekers desire and what employers can provide.

At Ensign InfoSecurity, we have initiatives and programmes that engender a growth mindset and foster a culture that supports and celebrates lifelong learning. We also provide resources to empower our employees with the flexibility to determine their own path, learn at their own pace, and take ownership of their professional development.

To further invigorate on-demand learning, we gamified the process by creating a leaderboard highlighting the top learners each month. Based on 2023 results, Ensign has collectively spent 27,252 hours on this learning platform, with an 85.1% active rate!

We also provide a variety of opportunities for learning and exposure, including participating in overseas conferences such as the RSA Conference, and training courses from reputable accredited vendors such as SANS Institute and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Given the niche intersectionality of the work that Ensign does, standard courses may not always adequately address the needed areas for skill development. Our Ensign subject matter experts tailor trainings that address specific skill gaps and knowledge needed for productivity improvement and transformation within the organisation.

Ensign has also sent a cohort of our employees back to school on a Work-Learn Degree Programme with SIT. Through this, we support our employees’ aspiration to deepen and broaden their skills and earn a cybersecurity degree while gainfully employed. They are expected to graduate in 2025.

You’ve been in the talent management practice for at least two decades, including a year specifically on diversity and inclusion. Coincidentally, the IWD 2024 theme is Inspire Inclusion – to inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. What is your view on this?

Serene Yeo: Is this a tall order given the many challenges and issues already facing humanity (climate change, poverty, socio-economic volatility, etc.)?

"In today’s digital age, technology services are consumed by people of all genders. Having women actively involved in technology development ensures that technology caters to the needs of everyone, effectively addressing the diverse perspectives and preferences of consumers."

Serene Yeo

Diversity also fosters creativity and innovation. With more women in the workforce, they bring unique experiences and fresh ideas that enable companies to stay ahead of cyber adversaries.

At Ensign, we believe women can be game changers in the cybersecurity industry. This belief is translated and reflected in our workforce and the activities we embark on. Led by a female chief, around 1 in 3 is a female staff, cutting across job functions and leadership positions.

We also partner with associations and academic institutions to inspire young women to join the cybersecurity industry. This includes the Association of Information Security Professionals “Ladies in Cyber”, and the Work-Learn Degree program with the Singapore Institute of Technology.

What lessons can you share with (a) HR professionals, and (b) security professionals as regards finding success in their chosen fields/profession?

Serene Yeo: I view success as something deeply personal. Everyone defines success differently. Moreover, a person’s definition of success can evolve as life changes and as one goes through different stages of life.

For some, it may be achieving a high-ranking position or earning a substantial income. For others, it could mean finding meaning and purpose in their work, making a positive impact on others, or having more time with family. Receiving recognition from peers or opportunities for career growth and advancement may be measures of success for some.

To find success, you first have to look within yourself – Why do you do what you do? What is deeply satisfying to you?

"Understanding your motivations, values, and passions is crucial in charting a path towards meaningful success. By aligning your actions with your innermost desires and aspirations, you can unlock your full potential and find fulfilment in your endeavours. So, take the time to introspect, identify your purpose, and let it guide you on your journey towards achieving success."

Serene Yeo

For security professionals, I feel that success in cybersecurity is not just about achieving technical certifications but also making a meaningful impact. Being in cybersecurity, your work protects individuals and organisations in the digital age by staying ahead of evolving threats.

So, finding success means striking a balance between achieving qualifications and contributing to a safer environment. Find ways to remain passionate, such as being engaged in cybersecurity communities to reinvigorate your enthusiasm for your work or mentor others to reignite your passion, reminding yourself of the importance of your mission in safeguarding the digital world.

The post ExecOpinion: How HR solves the inclusion challenge appeared first on FutureIoT.

Juniper Research forecasts a substantial growth of 182% in the number of smart parking spaces within cities; from 5.8 million in 2024.

Importance of dynamic pricing

The report urges city municipalities to seriously consider investing in and implementing smart parking initiatives within highly congested cities. The advantages surrounding dynamic pricing in smart parking can not only be used to strategically increase revenue but also ease ongoing congestion issues. This is achieved by lowering prices in less congested parking areas; making them more attractive to drivers.

“With more data than ever available and the low latency that 5G provides, parking solutions have become highly responsive,” says Cara Malone. “In cities where on-street parking is a major issue, dynamic signage can be deployed to utilise available parking more efficiently at quieter times; significantly reducing congestion.”

Optimise transit routes using data analytics

Juniper Research recommends smart parking vendors offer data analytics services to municipalities and governments as a priority. This data is critical to analysing parking and occupancy patterns, which can be used to optimise transit routes and development; helping shift citizens to public transport and providing significant value for cities.

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It has grown to become the leading on-demand platform in Indonesia, with additional operations in Vietnam and Singapore. The Gojek platform now comprises over 2.7 million driver partners across the region. Gojek is part of the GoTo Group, the largest digital ecosystem in Indonesia, consisting of Gojek, Tokopedia, GoTo Financial, and GoTo Logistics.

Rewards and challenges

Herman Cahyadi, the head of People and Culture at Gojek Indonesia, shares the ins and outs of his role, especially in the era of post-pandemic digital transformation.

His role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities related to managing and developing the organisation's workforce, fostering a positive and productive work environment, and aligning the company's people-related initiatives with its overall business goals. It also includes strategic leadership, employee development and training, employee engagement and culture, compensation and benefits, change management, internal communication, and workforce analytics.

From the multiple responsibilities on his plate, talent acquisition and retention remain to be a big challenge for him. He also observes a talent shortage, especially in the field of technology.

"This scarcity made it challenging to find qualified candidates due to the increasing demand, leading to a rush to hire for specific roles."

Herman Cahyadi

There were also pandemic-related challenges such as a rapid shift to remote working for many companies. "Organisations had to quickly adapt to remote hiring and onboarding processes, which posed challenges in maintaining company culture and ensuring employee engagement," he added.

Aside from that, the pandemic also prompted a widespread adoption of remote and hybrid work models. Companies had to navigate challenges related to managing remote teams and maintaining a cohesive work environment.

The Oxford Group researchers noted that the pandemic dramatically changed the way people work, citing a PwC survey revealing that 55% of employees prefer a hybrid work model post-pandemic. Hybrid work setup also offers a lot of benefits such as improvement of work-life balance, greater flexibility, increased productivity, and reduced costs. The study noted that businesses embracing this model shall reap its benefits.

Despite the challenges, Cahyadi finds a lot of rewarding things in his job such as learning and growth, ownership and autonomy and the ability to innovate.

"Leaders have the opportunity to expand their skill set, learn from challenges, and develop leadership qualities that can be valuable throughout their careers. This level of responsibility can be deeply fulfilling, allowing leaders to shape the company's direction based on their vision. We have the chance to foster a culture of creativity and exploration, driving the development of new products, services, and approaches," Cahyadi says.

Courage to Transform

The recent pandemic became one of the biggest drivers for transformation at Gojek. Cahyadi explains how he learned three important things during the pandemic. The first one is leadership through uncertainty. He shares that "leaders discovered that their ability to provide stability, direction, and a sense of purpose was crucial during times of uncertainty. Authentic and transparent leadership helped build trust and confidence."

Also, for Cahyadi, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools and technologies. He was able to learn the value of embracing digital transformation to ensure business continuity, enhance customer experiences, and streamline operations.

Aside from that, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work on a global scale. "It demonstrated that remote and distributed work arrangements can be effective, and many organisations realised that they could maintain productivity and collaboration even when employees are not physically present in the office," he adds.

As a result, Gojek was able to implement changes to transform company culture such as regular one-on-one meetings, transparent communication and encouraging diversity and inclusion.

"In embracing diversity and inclusivity in your teams, ensure that managers promote an inclusive environment where everyone's voices are heard and respected," Cahyadi notes.

"A lot of people are coming from different countries, different cultures and different attitudes that we never saw before. When you sit down here, you may be from Singapore, from India, etc., but we are here to build something out of the collaboration between all of us," adds the Gojek head.

Pew Research Centre noted that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace contribute to a positive work environment. The United Nations cited DEI as a key driver for resilience and plays a crucial role in driving the high performance of the workforce.

He encourages others to have the courage to transform which for him "is about making a conscious choice to embrace change despite the initial discomfort it may bring. It's acknowledging that while staying within the comfort zone might provide temporary ease, it's the journey beyond that brings lasting fulfilment, growth, and the possibility of reaching one's full potential."

Wisdom for Leaders

"The most important thing about being a leader," he shares, "is that you can adapt to all the changes and know how to put yourself in the middle of any hot situation."

He encourages leaders to lead by example. "As a leader, your behaviour sets the tone for the entire organisation. Demonstrate the qualities you wish to see in managers – approachability, transparency, empathy, and open communication," he adds.

Julia Martins, an Asana leader, reinforces the importance of leading by example. She says that it is the difference between, "you can do this" and "we can do this together". The former shows support and encouragement but the latter builds camaraderie, connection, and trust.

Cahyadi also encourages leaders to set clear expectations, foster trust, and psychological safety, manage expectations, and learn from mistakes. He says that leaders should embrace an iterative approach "that allows for adjustments based on feedback and evolving circumstances. This flexibility enables the organisation to adapt to unforeseen challenges and capitalise on emerging opportunities."

Self-transformation

Cahyadi, who finds his passion in HR, shares that he is not initially from the field. "I never touched human resources, even if you look at my educational background. I am from the business marketing management industry."

He shares that since high school, he has been exposed to the ins and outs of organisations through the student body and his church. That is where he learned to connect with people and to increase work quality and productivity.

Through his experiences in life, he now advocates that "at the heart of Human Resources Strategic Management lies the convergence of two critical elements: people and strategy."

He believes that the role of Human Resources (HR) has evolved from administrative tasks to a strategic cornerstone.

"As someone deeply passionate about Human Resources Strategic Management, I have come to recognise the profound impact this field has on shaping organisational success. This passion has driven me to explore the intricate interplay between people, strategy, and innovation, and has led me to appreciate how strategic HR management can drive an organisation to new heights," he shares.

* Editor's notes: This article is part of the Cxociety Coffee Table Book project (The Project) which chronicles the journey and experiences of senior business, operations, finance and technology leaders in Asia in recent years. The Project illustrates the tenacity, ingenuity and resiliency of the human spirit in the face of seemingly endless challenges.

With nearly 50 stories chronicled in The Project, it is a must-read compendium of learnings and experiences from seasoned professionals in the region.

Click on the link here to order your copy.

The post Transforming processes, changing lives appeared first on FutureIoT.

Senior director analyst in the Gartner HR practice, Emily Rose McRae dives into the latest insights on crucial future of work trends for 2024 — from transformative four-day workweeks to strategies for climate change protection, breaking the paper ceiling, and navigating the impact of generative AI.

She looks into diversity, equality and inclusion and why conflict management skills are needed now more than ever.

One of the interesting topics she covers here is the issue of breaking the “paper ceiling” barrier for employees who are good at what they do but may not have an educational degree or certification in that area to meet standard qualifier conditions.

The post Future of work in 2024 appeared first on FutureIoT.

Generative AI emerges as a game-changer for organisational advancement, weaving a seamless tapestry across three key fronts: intelligent document processing (IDP), generative automation, and knowledge sharing.

• Smarter Document Handling: By 2026, businesses that link GenAI to smart document handling will discover 20% more ways to use it, boosting productivity, scalability, and delivering better customer experiences.

• Generative Automation: Business teams using code generation copilots will achieve 70% success rate in streamlining jobs with task/workflow automation, replacing low-code and IT-supported development by 2024.

• Efficient Knowledge Sharing: In 2025, GenAI tools will enable senior leaders to double the productive use of unstructured data by discovering untapped insights and knowledge, driving 20% growth in sustainable business benefits.

Expanding its influence

As GenAI takes centre stage, its adaptive capabilities are set to streamline processes, automate tasks, and redefine the skillsets required for various roles. While this evolution brings forth unprecedented opportunities for upskilling and reskilling, it also underscores the imperative for organisations to adapt to this paradigm shift, ensuring the alignment of talent with the dynamic demands of the future workplace.

This prediction not only foretells a redefined professional landscape but also emphasizes the pivotal role of GenAI in driving organisational agility and competitiveness. In this dynamic environment, the significance of skill development cannot be overstated, as it becomes the essence of staying competitive and relevant.

GenAI is not just a technological advancement but a catalyst for change in the skill landscape. The imperative for skill development is no longer a choice but a necessity in a landscape where GenAI is reshaping how we work.

• Job evolution: By 2027, 40% of current job roles will be redefined or eliminated across A2000 organisations accelerated by GenAI adoption.

• Tailored skills boost: Enterprises will leverage personalized technology skills development to drive $1 trillion in productivity gains by 2027, enabled by GenAI and automation everywhere.

• Tech skill support: By 2027, 80% of A1000 organisations will mitigate technical skills shortages using digital adoption platforms.

• AR/VR engineering and training: By 2028, half of large businesses will use prompt engineering to prototype AR/VR simulations, reducing development time from weeks to hours and creating precision training.

Simultaneously, digital twins and sustainable office design are capturing attention, reflecting a growing focus on environmental consciousness in the region. Organisations are recalibrating priorities to balance technological innovation with a commitment to sustainability, showcasing a harmonious approach where cutting-edge technology aligns with ecological stewardship in APEJ's business narrative.

• Digital twin maturity: By 2028, digital twin technologies will enhance virtual and physical office user experiences, driving a 30%+ improvement in retention of workers in A1000 companies.

• Green offices: By 2028, half of the biggest companies are set to invest in what we call "Climate Heavens" for their offices. This means using things like assets and renewable energy to cover 30% of their ongoing operating costs, making workplaces more eco-friendly.

"As the benefits and applicable use cases of GenAI unfold, organisations are exploring the outcomes that GenAI can potentially bring to business operations and innovation. The focus on skill development becomes a necessity and a strategic imperative, as GenAI enables personalized development. Simultaneously, the reimagination of workplaces, with digital twins and sustainability stand out as key foci for companies," says Dr Lily Phan, research director for Future of Work at IDC Asia/Pacific.

The post GenAI is expanding its influence in the workplace appeared first on FutureIoT.

For organisations to reap the benefits of automation via AI/ML workflows and capabilities, there is an entrenched need to modernise and renew their legacy software applications with new intelligent ones.

These intelligent AI and GenAI infused applications will pave the way for enhanced user interface thus user experience; and boost data-driven insights, timely decisions, and better business outcomes.

IDC predicts that AI will create an organisational cultural shift and new technology frames will augment 50% of APEJ workforce by mid-2025, slowly reshaping the enterprise toward more technology usage, and enhancing performance.

IDC expects this transformation to reshape organisations towards higher technology usage with greater human-machine collaboration, which will generate demand for strategic and value-added roles which are not able to be fulfilled by AI and GenAI.

IDC predicts a substantial surge in technology buyers' investments in AI and GenAI-driven enterprise software applications to transform their business operations.

Top AI-driven predictions for APEJ for the next five years

• Human-like interfaces fast-track decision velocity. By end-2025, 30% of APEJ organisations will take advantage of humanlike interfaces in their enterprise applications to gain more insights quickly, improving decision velocity.

• Self-healing enterprise applications. By 2025, 15% of A2000 will gravitate to autonomous tech with self-healing code to improve processes; 30% will evolve for seamless integration in 2026, and 50% will evolve to self-healing apps by 2027.

• Enterprises applications modernisation. By early 2025, 60% of APEJ organisations still on legacy systems will need to modernise their applications immediately to survive and adapt to the digital world already surpassing them.

• Human-machine collaboration. GenAI/AI will close 15% of enterprise talent shortage gaps by 2025, but the practice and usage of GenAI/AI will create a surplus of talent across all lines of business by 2027.

• The time gap to decision-making narrows. By late 2024, 40% of the A2000 will focus on technology and the process time between the event that occurs and the point of decision-making to gain a competitive advantage.

Estelle Quek, senior research manager for software applications and channels strategies at IDC Asia/Pacific, says to expect a multi-phased adoption of intelligent enterprise applications by APEJ organisations between 2024 to 2028.

She opined that from 2024 to 2025, Asia's top 2,000 organisations will focus on changing internal perception and receptivity towards human-machine collaboration.

“By 2026, they will progress to integrate data and enterprise applications seamlessly and evolve to run as autonomous organisations by 2028. IDC outlines the deliberate strategies for tech buyer organisations to navigate this era of AI everywhere in this research," she concluded.

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For this reason, I lean on a combination of quantitative and qualitative insights to build out a use-case heat map by industry. Some of you might be familiar with my last iterations of this; if so, I urge you to look at the latest version that just published. For those of you not familiar, here’s some background.

Enterprise stakeholders have three scenarios at their disposal to incorporate IoT into their business strategy: 1) Designers embed IoT sensors into products; 2) process owners use IoT-enabled assets to improve operations; and 3) business leaders incorporate data from IoT sensors and from their ecosystem to improve operations and offerings.

To help you evaluate IoT use cases relevant to your firm, we’ve developed a set of IoT use-case heat maps spanning many operational processes. You can use these heat maps to help evaluate the applicability of each IoT use case to your firm’s unique strategic business priorities and operational initiatives. Start your firm’s evaluation process by:

• Considering key elements to prioritise relevant IoT use cases for your organisation. Start by assessing the number and value of physical assets and structures (e.g., cars, equipment, machinery, land, buildings) used across your firm. It is also important to evaluate specific use cases that are relevant in your vertical industry or to your firm’s strategic priorities.
  For example, massive government funding and regulatory requirements are spurring companies to make sustainability a strategic imperative. IoT-enabled environmental monitoring solutions can help firms address their sustainability initiatives.
• Assessing broadly applicable horizontal IoT use cases that apply to many vertical markets. Examples of horizontal IoT use cases include facility management to monitor the design, construction, and operation of structures and building systems or energy management to monitor, manage, and report usage of water, electricity, and other energy resources.
  Security and surveillance use cases manage and monitor security and public safety. These horizontal use cases are broadly applicable and deliver incremental value but generally don’t provide a strategic advantage.
• Evaluating functional IoT use cases that create value for many firms. Use cases for specific operational processes boost efficiency and sometimes provide significant value, although they don’t have universal appeal.
  Examples of functional IoT use cases include supply chain management solutions to optimise the supply chain process by tracking materials, forecasting availability, and managing inventory and warehouse processes to ensure that the right products are available for immediate delivery to customers who make online purchases.
  Other functional use cases include predictive maintenance and asset performance management that are particularly relevant in the manufacturing, production, chemical, and oil and gas sectors.

Identifying specialised IoT use cases to address specific situations at a narrow set of firms. The heterogeneity and diversity of the IoT use-case landscape provide enterprise stakeholders in every vertical market with opportunities to differentiate operations, processes, and customer experience. Examples of these specific use cases include remote diagnostics and monitoring of patient status in healthcare, self-optimising production in manufacturing, and cold chain monitoring in perishable pharmaceuticals and consumer products.

First published on Forrester

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IDC expects APeJ FoW spending to grow at a year-over-year (YoY) rate of 19.9% in 2023 compared to 21.5% in 2022. Despite the slowdown of the growth rate, the total spending of the market continues to increase over the forecasted period.

IDC defines the FoW as a fundamental change to the work model to one that fosters human-machine collaboration, enables new skills and worker experiences, and supports a reimagined physical workplace and borderless digital workspace.

This IDC market forecast presents spending forecasts from 2022 to 2026 for the three pillars (space, augmentation, and culture) that make up the Asia/Pacific FoW market. The total spending in all three segments of the market is estimated to have reached US$99.8 billion in 2022.

With the widespread adoption of hybrid work, organisations are investing in devices and enterprise applications to foster a better workplace and improve productivity. Further, tech spending is expected to accelerate due to investments in workplace augmentation to achieve better customer and employee experience.

Robotics and drone technology category has the largest spending in the work augmentation market accounting for more than 50% of the augmentation spending in 2023 since organisations are investing in better communication and collaboration tools for their workforce.

Other services and materials technology category which is primarily consisted of implementing and maintaining (IoT) solutions and 3D printing materials has the largest spending in the workspace market in 2023.

The post IDC outlines FoW spending in APeJ appeared first on FutureIoT.

Designed with the well-being of warehouse operators in mind, FusionPort maximises employee performance by presenting two tilted order-picking Bin openings and visual picking aids. These features reduce the repetitive movements operators face as they manually transfer inventory from one location to another while streamlining order picking by providing visual cues with a pick-to-light system for easy item identification. The station additionally includes an enhanced safety hatch that makes the Bins accessible only when the Port is ready for picking.

"Businesses today need to optimise their picking process if they are to meet evolving customer demands, but in order to achieve this, warehouses must be equipped with the tools that will enable their employees to work productively and safely," said Carlos Fernandez, chief product officer at AutoStore.

Fernandez says the two solutions will enable businesses to best serve their staff while leveraging the world-class technology that AutoStore is known for.

AutoStore developed FusionPort Staging based on an in-depth understanding of the space constraints that warehouses face by storing inventory in staging areas. The workstation consolidates order picking and staging to a single Port, allowing businesses to streamline operations and reduce real estate and costs by decreasing the space required for staging. The FusionPort also features visual picking aids and a safety hatch. FusionPort Staging comes pre-assembled for easy installation and allows organisations to store consolidated orders dust-free.

Both workstations feature a compact exterior design for greater flexibility when integrating with additional automation technology, with FusionPort Staging offering up to four times more storage capacity for existing warehouse footprints.

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ABI Research says the smart home and connected equipment market across the smart hospitality and coworking space will see connected shipments rise from 6.8 million devices shipped this year to 19.7 million in 2027, a CAGR of 23.5%.

Examining three market segments – Smart Hotel Rooms, Short-Term Rentals (STR), and Coworking Spaces – embedded connectivity, combined with networked management, enables new opportunities for service and hospitality providers in each segment.

“Service flexibility, cost savings, and meeting changing customer expectations is driving investment in connected technology,” says Jonathan Collins, smart home and buildings research director at ABI Research. “Some dedicated offerings address just one segment of the market. But now, offerings are increasingly being adopted that address the broader smart homes and smart building markets.@

Competitive landscape

The opportunity is driving investment from established commercial building players including Honeywell, Schneider Electric and Siemens in the smart hotel room space as well as smaller, dedicated players such as Minut in the STR market. Meanwhile, broader smart home players, from Amazon and Google to Alarm.com and Assay Abloy, have offerings supporting deployment across the three markets.

Smart-enabled capabilities such as smart locks for access control, smart thermostats for energy management, sensors to support maintenance demands, and even voice control all have significant potential. “But smart home device and service providers will have to understand and meet the shared and distinct opportunities across these market segments,” Collins points out.

While the smart hotel rooms market will see significant adoption and growth over the forecast period, the short-term rental opportunity offers the most significant potential, especially to existing smart home players. By 2027, STR will command more than 11 million smart device shipments, up 22% on 2022 levels. While the coworking space outpaces the other sectors, with shipment growth at 33.8% CAGR over the forecast period, it is an opportunity of a significant but different scale.

“As a market built upon smart device support from the outset, penetration is already high. Growth will flow from total market growth without the benefits of the retrofit potential offered in the Smart Hotel Room space and the greater need and simplicity of STR deployment.”

Jonathan Collins

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To capitalise on the opportunity, Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific (MLAP) and XSQUARE will collaborate to provide businesses with a solution to overcome labour shortages while increasing warehouse productivity and operational efficiency by:

• developing a new line of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) based on Logisnext’s brands of forklifts, and
• distributing xSQUARE’s intelligent warehousing solutions through MLAP’s distribution network in Asia, Oceania, and South Africa

The solution is implementable across all types of warehouses, factories, and dynamic environments, seamlessly supporting daily operations and making safety an integral part of the logistics value chain. 

Yasuo Kubota, managing director of Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific, said, “We believe that our partnership with xSQUARE will help strengthen our ability to expand the product and service offerings in the material handling equipment industry. This collaboration will also enable us to be a complete solutions provider in this domain.”

“We’re excited to work with xSQUARE to bring new cutting-edge solutions to the market so that our customers can manage high order volumes in a seamless manner while reaching their sustainability goals.”

Yasuo Kuboto

XSQUARE’s intelligent warehousing solutions enable warehouse operators to overcome automation fragmentation and achieve full interoperability – all while dealing with high volumes of goods movement.

XSQUARE CEO, Jens Bohnwagner, says the company’s intelligent warehousing solutions have been specifically designed to deliver benefits that impact not just companies in the industry but also their customers and the environment.

“Our shared vision with MLAP is to become market leaders that will push the boundaries of innovation and transform the warehouse automation industry with solutions powered by intelligent systems and pioneering technology.”

Jens Bohnwagner

Going forward, the two companies intend to roll out the solution in the Asia Pacific market according to the partnership agreement.

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To be clear, enterprise 5G goes beyond standard consumer 5G service. In an enterprise 5G, the enterprise has complete control over the network assuming the company forks out the money to have its infrastructure, radio devices, mobile core, and management software.

The possibility of having private 5G networks means an enterprise will have better control over how it scales its network in addition to better control over cellular resources.

This will grow in importance as enterprises adopt IoT sensors into the workflow and gain real-time insights for improved efficiency and preventive maintenance.

One of the challenges this opportunity presents is around network management. Fortunately advances in artificial intelligence and automation may present a solution in the form of autonomous systems for managing network resources.

IEEE posits that autonomousity is not just making the network capable of managing resources, but rather making the network learn and adapt itself to the dynamic environment.

“In networks, the autonomous tasks refer to self-healing, self-diagnosing, and self-provisioning. With the help of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain, autonomous tasks can be realised in current network systems.”

Autonomous Networks: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications

Richard Howe, chief technology officer for Kyndryl Singapore, says an autonomous network is a self-configuring, or self-healing network that runs with minimal to no human maintenance. The network adapts to changes in devices being added, or degradation of network performance such as data throughput due to packet loss.

“Having a network that keeps devices consistently connected, and transmits data to an edge computing platform, enables fault detection. It ensures worker safety in industrial and manufacturing plants and facilities – you can add new drones to monitor whether employees are wearing hard hats or are in dangerous areas.”

Richard Howe

Benefits of autonomous networks for the manufacturing ecosystem

According to Deloitte, to remain competitive, manufacturers must absorb digital and advanced technologies across their business operations, including production.

The 2019 Deloitte and MAPI Smart Factory Study noted that connecting to an ecosystem was a hallmark of the Trailblazers (pioneers in smart factory adoption), a cohort of manufacturers that were making great strides by adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to solve specific business problems and opportunities.

The manufacturing ecosystem today is no longer limited to the manufacturer and its suppliers of raw materials. In smart manufacturing, an ecosystem is formed when different entities come together in meaningful ways to solve shared challenges and meet shared objectives.

Because the ecosystem comprises several companies, many independent from others in the network but sharing common interests, having a way intelligently manage some of the systems and processes automatically just makes sense.

According to Howe, autonomous networks enable scalable automation and add real-time intelligence to industrial processes, ensuring manufacturing quality, speed and efficiency without the need for much manual and human management.

“It enables fault detection and works safety, and for a manufacturer, this means more reliability and resiliency. For example, you can add cameras inside the manufacturing facility/plant for fault detection,” he added.

The use of 5G permits the use of mobile endpoints capable of collecting vast amounts of real-time data from industrial processes at low latency and taking advantage of local edge computing.

Machine learning leverages the experience of industry specialists at scale humans can’t match given the high data rates possible with 5G.

Use cases of autonomous networks

Asked where early applications of autonomous networks, Howe noted that in the manufacturing sector, these would include remote production monitoring using portable and deployable sensors.

He also highlighted use cases in predictive asset monitoring and condition-based maintenance, as well as vision analytics to ensure quality management.

He also highlighted the use of advanced robotics and human worker coordination (cobots), that can enable worker safety through wearable sensors, or support real-time worker augmentation via low-latency augmented reality/virtual reality that can either troubleshoot field problems or enable knowledge transfer between workers

“It is important to understand that successful integration of such autonomous networking applications will require the migration to cloud-native technologies and robust deployment of 5G. Such a foundation increases the speed and efficiency of properly integrated use case rollout that can be adjusted for specific operating environments,” he explained.

Integrating autonomous networking

Howe warns that implementing autonomous networks and also other related intelligent edge solutions can be a daunting task.

He stressed that a foundation of different technologies across the autonomous network’s application stack will be required like specialised compute infrastructure, wireless network connectivity like Wi-Fi 6 or 5G, along with IoT devices, data acquisition protocols, and lifecycle management tools in which volume of data can be compiled and processed by cloud-based Artificial Intelligence (AL) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms.

“Such an undertaking will certainly require the right expertise for building applications on the autonomous network, and knowledge of the latest orchestration techniques. A majority of these technologies have only recently evolved and developed over the last decade, there is also an existing shortage of skill sets that can support these emerging use cases,” he added.

He posited that introducing and deploying autonomous networking to tomorrow’s industrial and manufacturing environments is a challenge that will require concerted support from an ecosystem of multiple vendors and partners.

“Such an ecosystem will include the major hyperscalers, vendors that provide low latency connectivity or analytics, AI and ML, and also managed services providers that can interconnect elements across all application layers,” he continued.

Economic implications of autonomous networks

Citing a 2021 study, Statista researchers noted that the concept of autonomous networks implemented in the sector of telecommunications may have a global economic impact of 13 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, and it is forecast that the implementation of this concept could have an economic impact of more than 800 billion dollars by the year 2030.

Howe believes that autonomous networks will simplify and enable the full extent of what can be possible in industrial and manufacturing environments by replacing costly, inflexible workflow processes that are manual and rely on legacy technological deployments.

“Aside from the direct benefits such as cost and workflow improvements, autonomous networks will enable the acceleration of a range of IoT, application and data use cases; this, in turn, will provide the basis for new revenue streams and products,” he added.

Advise for decision-makers

Asked what senior business, technology and operations leaders should bear in mind when evaluating autonomous networks as a solution to solve current business/operations challenges, Howe recommended that for organisations big and small, the transformation of network architectures and technologies can be uniquely challenging – yet imperative.

He further added that it is important to select vendors and partners that provide unbiased guidance and deep knowledge.

“Organisations have broad footprints, and each has the potential for thousands of edge environments needing deployment and management. Every manufacturing floor, every distribution hub, warehouse, or airport terminal counts as a single edge environment.”

Richard Howe

“The adoption of autonomous networks will enable organisations to speed system deployments and service activations, avoid failures and slowdowns, enable more dynamic operations, and operate at a greater speed and scale,” he concluded.

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“Vendors are already building ways for users to replicate their lives in digital worlds,” said Marty Resnick, research vice president at Gartner. “From attending virtual classrooms to buying digital land and constructing virtual homes, these activities are currently being conducted in separate environments. Eventually, they will take place in a single environment – the metaverse – with multiple destinations across technologies and experiences.”

Gartner defines a metaverse as a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality. It is persistent, providing enhanced immersive experiences, as well as device independent and accessible through any type of device, from tablets to head-mounted displays.

Because no single vendor will own the metaverse, Gartner expects it to have a virtual economy enabled by digital currencies and nonfungible tokens (NFTs).

Massive impact on consumer and business engagements

The metaverse will impact every business that consumers interact with every day. It will also impact how work gets done. Enterprises will provide better engagement, collaboration and connection to their employees through immersive workspaces in virtual offices.

Businesses will not need to create their own infrastructure to do so because the metaverse will provide the framework. In addition, virtual events that have gained popularity over the last 18 months will offer more collaborative and immersive networking opportunities and workshops.

“Enterprises will have the ability to expand and enhance their business models in unprecedented ways by moving from a digital business to a metaverse business,” said Resnick. “By 2026, 30% of the organisations in the world will have products and services ready for metaverse.”

Invest with caution

The adoption of metaverse technologies is nascent and fragmented, and Gartner cautions organisations about investing heavily in a specific metaverse.

“It is still too early to know which investments will be viable in the long term, but product managers should take the time to learn, explore and prepare for a metaverse in order to position themselves competitively,” said Resnick.

Indeed, a latest Gartner Marketing Survey warns companies to temper short-term expectations, as more than one-third of American consumers (35%) have never heard of the metaverse.

The survey finds that 58% of respondents have either heard of the metaverse but do not know what it means, or think they understand the metaverse but would struggle to explain it to someone else. Only 6% of people identify as being comfortable enough in their understanding of the metaverse to explain it to others.

Kyle Rees, senior director analyst in the Gartner Marketing practice, noted that the survey result is a helpful signal to temper short term expectations of the metaverse, and its potential impact on consumer’s daily life

Metaverse opens new doors of opportunities

Rees pointed out that it will be exciting to see how meta-aware companies begin to make sense of next-generation technologies to bring new products, services and experiences to the world around us.

“Technologies that are intertwined with the metaverse, such as projects on the blockchain or digital currencies, need to be highlighted as disruptive to the status quo thinking. Even properly communicating business use cases around metaverse-adjacent concepts, such as AI and augmented reality, will go a long way in demystifying what is still largely an unknown technology to the everyday consumer,” Rees added.

Of those who at least know about the metaverse, 60% have no opinion on it, and only 18% are actually excited about it. Meanwhile, 21% say they are concerned about the impacts the metaverse might have.

“Companies with interests in the metaverse have a lot of work to change consumer’s attitudes,” said Rees. “Contemplating the metaverse is a luxury that most people don’t have time for currently. Getting people on board to see past the individual pieces of AI or head-mounted displays is paramount to them to truly embracing the multiple technologies that make up a complete metaverse. There are complex, innovative new opportunities and business models that the average consumer needs to be able to grasp easily, or companies risk losing their interest."

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This was the regional findings of Honeywell’s second annual Healthy Buildings Survey entitled “Workplace Air Quality: A Global Concern Emerges”, where 500 office workers across Southeast Asia joined the 3,000-man poll that included their counterparts from India, Germany, the Middle East, United Kingdom and United States. The survey was conducted between December 17, 2021, and January 11, 2022, using an email invitation and an online form.

Across all regions surveyed, ASEAN office workers are among the least knowledgeable about specific factors that affect IAQ. Just 34% correctly identified  the factors that contribute to air quality. Despite this seeming lack of awareness, ASEAN workers report having more knowledge about their own building’s IAQ than workers in other regions

Many surveyed workers (58%) said their building IAQ is monitored often or continuously – more than the global average of 43% – and more than half (51%) say they are being informed at the same frequency. The option for self-service IAQ data is also prevalent in the ASEAN region; 59% of workers

have a place where they can read or see current air quality data on their own.

“With a large percentage of workers in the ASEAN region working in the office at least part of the time, and despite many having access to IAQ information in their workplace, employees still want more information,” said  Norm Gilsdorf, president, Honeywell ASEAN.

He added that since the pandemic, Honeywell has worked to help companies in the region bring people safely back to their buildings by deploying “innovative technology that helps reassure employees that their workspaces are healthier.

Indeed, Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) solutions integrate air quality, safety and security technologies with advanced analytics to help building owners improve the health of their buildings, operate more cleanly, comply with new guidelines, and help reassure occupants.

Honeywell's advanced IAQ portfolio can help improve occupant well-being, meet energy efficiency goals, and importantly, change the way occupants experience a building.   It is transforming the way every building operates to help improve the quality of life. HBT solutions and services are used in more than 10 million buildings worldwide.

Taking proactive actions

While ASEAN workers are more informed, 90%  worry more about their building’s IAQ with the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.

And the survey said that they are likely to take action if they feel their employer isn’t taking steps to create a healthier indoor environment, with more than two-thirds (68%) saying they would likely quit their job under these conditions.

“These findings suggest that communication of IAQ metrics to employees should be top priority for companies,” added Sharad Yadav, vice president and general manager of HBT, ASEAN.

Doug Wright, president and CEO, Honeywell Building Technologies said: "In a competitive labour market, demonstrating an effort to create a healthier work environment can be an advantage in attracting and retaining employees. Every dollar invested in upgrading workplace air quality, monitoring IAQ data and communicating it to employees is a dollar strategically spent."

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In recent years, the convergence of IoT technologies with machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cloud, along with automation, have raised the possibility of putting smart IoT technology into business processes or workflows with the idea of automating these with minimum human intervention.

Seth Ryding, chief sales officer (CSO) global sales, Telenor Connexion, acknowledges that how IoT is valued by a business varies from industry to industry.

“There are general values that you see in different verticals such as increased reliability, predictability and being able to collect real time data. You can also add a new customer value that can generate new charging models for users. The way you operate your business and the transition from selling a product to selling a product as a service brings new and shifts the total business value,” he continued.

How do average business and operations leaders in organisations see IoT?

Seth Ryding: There are always two sides to a coin. There are risks and, in some cases, hesitation in moving into a new solution. The pandemic has shown us that those who had made or initiated the transition towards a connected solution pre-pandemic, have been much stronger when it comes to continuing through the pandemic.

What challenges must CIOs address if called upon by leadership to introduce IoT into business processes whether it is workflow or automation or actual operations?

Seth Ryding: An IoT solution is something the whole company needs to stand behind. CIOs and IT heads need to be well prepared to have a good plan about security and capabilities within the company and have a clear view on how they want to create their solution.

Things are evolving so fast and are so complex so the faster you develop your solution and focus on the customer value; it helps the operations process.

When is the best time to consider adopting IoT into the business processes? If yes, how do you minimise disruption and risk to existing operations?

Seth Ryding: I would say there is no time to wait. Looking from an employment perspective, we are living in a time where you can recruit people anywhere in the world which means it is easier to acquire competencies for areas you want to develop. It might just take a little different approach on how you do it.

What is your advice for CIOs and CTOs to help them guide the successful adoption of IoT into the business process?

Seth Ryding: You need to focus on what value you want to bring. Without the value that is related to your connected solution, there is really no point of doing it.

In addition, you need to be agile, try not to overcomplicate things. Create the solution that you can test and that you can scale and then start to roll it out.

Finally, you need to have the support of the whole management team as this is a transformation journey.  

Click on the PodChat player to listen to the full discussion including some interesting use cases of IoT integration.

1. In the context of a typical business operation – for example a financial institution, hospital or government – what is the business value of IoT?
2. How do business and operations leaders in these organisations see IoT? Any preconceived ideas that may hinder adoption of IoT in business processes?
3. For CIOs and heads of IT, what are the challenges they must address if called to introduce IoT across several business processes – for example process or workflow automation?
4. Given the continuing uncertainties arising from the pandemic. Is now the best time to consider adopting IoT into business processes? If yes, what is the better approach to ensure minimal disruption to existing operations, and minimised risks?
5. What is your advice for CIOs and CTOs to help guide the successful adoption of IoT into the business process?
6. You spoke about partnerships and core competencies, what is Telenor Connexion’s value proposition in an organisation’s IoT journey?

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Focusing on sustainable facilities management, augmented reality is tapped for instant diagnosis – and when coupled with contactless and predictive maintenance, the overall power efficiency of a venue is significantly improved.

This enables  SMEs operate more sustainably and enhances the productivity of maintenance crew, as repairs and rectifications can be reliably predicted, and preventive maintenance be made ahead of time.

"With NYP's expertise in engineering systems and data analytics, alongside Schneider Electric's technology and solutions, SMEs will now have easy access to kickstart their green journey. This is also a great opportunity to strengthen and inculcate a sustainability-conscious mindset among our youth and empower them to play a role in bringing about a greener future,” said NYP's principal and  CE), Jeanne Liew.

This can help Singapore achieve its goal of having at least 80% of buildings to be green by 2030, according to the Building and Construction Authority's Green Masterplan.

Indeed, another key showcase at the centre helps SMEs identify solutions to optimise power usage and reduce energy consumption. With deft application of automation and sensors, lights would be activated only in areas where needed; and data usage patterns can also be analysed in real-time.

Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Building Operation 3.0 makes this possible by pulling in data from a wide range of sensors, running an analysis, and providing users with suggestions to maximise energy use and reduce overall cost. It can also adjust lighting and temperature on the fly.

 According to Singapore's Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E²PO), occupancy sensors for lighting controls can result in at least 50% energy saving after implementation at workplaces. Implementing such energy efficient measures helps SMEs reduce operating costs and become more competitive.

Training future-ready workforce

Schneider Electric and NYP are also co-training a nexus of future-ready workforce to meet the increasing demands to help companies implement a sustainable transport solution – through electric fleets.

To date, staff from more than 20 SMEs have been trained on the key skills of managing Electric Vehicles (EVs), including setting up charging systems and processes for these EVs. To ensure buildings have enough electric supply capacity for EV charging stations, Schneider Electric also developed an EVlink Wallbox, to integrate with a load management system to regulate the amount of electricity allocated for EV charging in real-time. This allows building owners to deploy such sustainable solutions with minimal infrastructure cost, while ensuring that critical functions are prioritised to prevents electrical overload.

Furthermore, students from NYP's School of Engineering will be able to gain from the centre valuable hands-on experience in cutting edge solutions used by the industry to meet sustainability goals.

For example, students from NYP's Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering will learn how to integrate multiple systems and devices to collect and analyse relevant data. The first-hand experience would provide gainful insights to these students, thereby preparing a steady pipeline of talents to meet the demands for sustainability solutions in future industries.

 "Our commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers and dedication to sustainability are core identities of Schneider Electric. This opportunity to work with NYP is a perfect match with our DNA. We have always been advocates of using cutting edge technology to help the industry meet critical sustainability goals, and our own regional headquarters at Kallang is a testament to that belief,” said Yoon Young Kim, cluster president for Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei at Schneider Electric.

He added: “The Sustainability Experience Centre is a fantastic two-pronged approached where we can showcase our technology to the industry while training the next generation who can help them implement these solutions,”

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"Human augmentation is a burgeoning area of technology which in fact remains underexplored. That’s why making a first step towards clarifying issues related to its use, as well as strengthening security, will help us to ensure its potential is used in a positive way. We believe that to build a safer digital world for tomorrow, we need to digitally secure the future of human augmentation today,” said Marco Preuss, director of Kaspersky’s Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) in Europe.

Bionic devices are artificial implants which replace biological functions which have been lost due to nerve damage. They use electrical signals to stimulate the remaining nerve cells following disease or injury. They have been around since the 1950s with the invention of cardiac pacemakers and  then cochlear implants, which made their appearance in the 1970s. Today, there are a diverse range of bionic devices from prosthetics to replace damaged limbs, other implants and NFC biochips.

According to Global Market insights, the bionic devices market is projected to reach nearly US$8 billion in 2027 spurred by technological developments and rising disposable income in emerging economies. Between 2021 and 2027, the market is expected to grow at  a CAGR of more than 8.1%

Safeguarding the future

Amid all the excitement and innovation surrounding human augmentation, however, too little attention is paid to the security of the dedicated devices.

There are legitimate fears among cybersecurity experts and the wider community  about lack of awareness around the topic, which can lead to uncertainty and risks for both further development of human augmentation technologies, and a safer digital world in the future.

The cybersecurity policy developed by Kaspersky experts governs procedures for using bionic devices within the company and aims to reduce the associated cybersecurity risks in business processes.

The proposed document creates a scenario where augmented employees become more common in the company in the future, and takes into account Kaspersky’s real-life tests with employees’ biochip implants. It addresses the entire company’s infrastructure and all of its business units.

As a result, it applies to the full access control system, as well as administration processes, maintenance processes, and the use of automated systems.

The policy is to be applied to both employees and temporary staff, as well as employees of third-party stakeholders that render contract services to the company. All these factors aim to enhance the cybersecurity of the corporate infrastructure on a larger level.

It offers a range of standardisation processes, enhancing security and granting better inclusion of employees using bionic devices when in the office.

“One of the major objectives of this initiative is also to engage the global IT and augmentation community in the discussion and pursue a collaborative effort for further steps of human augmentation security development. This includes ensuring digital privacy of devices, proving different levels of access rights to stored information, and mitigating any threats related to human health,” said Preuss.

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“We have completed 500 smart campus projects around the world, helping our customers achieve business success," said Bob Chen, vice president of Huawei Enterprise Business Group. "We look forward to continuing to work with our customers, to deal with challenges as we build a smart world together.

Huawei hopes to get a lion’s share of the smart campus market in the Asia Pacific, which is currently estimated to exceed US$10 billion in value based on analyst figures.

The difference between Huawei's smart campus and a traditional one lies in the upper-layer brain, which includes the Intelligent Operation Centre (IOC) platform. The IOC platform delivers intelligent asset management of the campus  with digital twin visualisation of the physical space.

Implemented through wired networks, Wi-Fi, 5G, microwave, and IoT technologies, it is built with energy-saving features where IoT used to connect various terminals and sensors to collect energy consumption information. AI algorithms are used for analysis and optimisation, reducing energy consumption and OPEX of campus networks and achieving green and sustainable development.

“With the digital platform integrated with video cloud, IoT, Internet Communications Protocol (ICP), Geographic Information System (GIS) and other new technologies, customers could leverage on the platform to design, develop and verify solutions to create a secure, comfortable, efficient and green campus,” said Tony Shi, CTO of Huawei APAC Scenario-Based Solution, adding that major use cases for the smart campus include  ubiquitous connectivity, integrated management and new service development.

Huawei’s smart campus solution also implements intelligent video prevention and control and AI analysis. It also features office collaboration – where the smart office and smart classrooms implement seamless collaboration, greatly improving remote communication and efficiency during the epidemic, and bringing users new experience in office, learning, and diagnosis and treatment.

Positive feedback

Several Huawei customer at the launch of the smart campus solution expressed optimism about the new offering.

“As ICT advances, system construction gets more and more complex, with campuses getting bigger and bigger. It is therefore becoming harder to manage them and there is an urgent need for us to understand them better and manage them smarter. The launch of this Smart Campus Solution is timely, providing many of our members with the solution that they've been looking for,” said Tony Khoo, president of the Singapore International Facility Management Association (SIFMA).

Kittikun Potivanakul, the CTO of DTGO,  said Huawei’s smart campus helps enterprises integrate digital services, with its customer-oriented approach replacing a functional one.

“With the deployment of smart services — such as an IOC perimeter management, video-based patrol, and device management — the solution deploys big data analytics to support decision-making at the management level. Similarly, it supports business innovation and will, in the future, facilitate multi-campus access.”

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In 2018, Panasonic started working with car manufacturer with Toyota to develop solutions that would make human interaction with robots safer in the workplace and help ensure that the efficiencies of robot deployment would not be compromised by increases in injury rates. Panasonic contributed its proprietary human-safety evaluation technology, while Toyota shared its extensive knowledge and experience in automated manufacturing.

Segregated no  more

For decades, there are safety fences that strictly segregated robots from humans, particularly in vehicle assembly lines where robot arms perform most of the tasks.

But as the technology becomes more sophisticated and the cost of deployment go down, robots are now found in working environments in close proximity to people, as there are collaborative processes that are difficult to fully automate.

With the increased the risk of accidental injuries to operators' hands and fingers, Panasonic's earliest innovations in this area were aimed at smoothing the interaction between humans and the tools and other devices they use at home. This resulted in more ergonomic designs of power tools and hand-held consumer devices like shavers, for example.

In 2005, Panasonic began its efforts to develop technologies to assess human safety in various scenarios, and in 2008 produced a device that helped improve the safety of larger fixtures and prevent injuries such as trapped fingers in folding or sliding doors. More recently the company has been active developing robots for deployment in the field of nursing care, including machines that provide walking support for those with limited mobility.

Safety device catches manufacturers’ attention

There are currently no laws or safety standards in Japan or other countries requiring potential injury evaluation amid the increased robot-people interaction, but Panasonic and Toyota are considering to propose the creation of ISO standards that would encourage their adoption.

In the meantime, the two companies have been working to ensure the interaction between robots and people on the car factory floor is as safe as it can be.

Toyota drew up a list of needs and requirements for potential new solutions, and Panasonic incorporated these into its design of an initial prototype product that would allow the risks of potential injuries resulting from human-machine collaboration to be assessed and visualised.

The design specs were provided to Tanac, a Japanese firm active in the development of new materials and technologies for use in the field of medical treatments and healthcare. Tanac manufactured the resulting product.

The device consists of a core rod portion that corresponds to the human finger bone enclosed in a soft proprietary silicon-based material designed to replicate the properties of human flesh. By inserting and moving the dummy in and around the parts of the robots or machinery most likely to come into contact with humans while each are performing their designated tasks, operators can assess the risk of potential injuries.

The newly-launched device is already attracting the attention of leading manufacturers, and as people and robots come into increasing contact at workplaces around the world and the risks of injury increase, demand for this innovative solution is likely to be high.

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Under the agreement, Blue Prism will build software as a service (SaaS) offerings on AWS while working closely with the AWS Intelligent Automation team to increase the intelligence and accessibility of Blue Prism’s digital robots. This will allow the digital robots to benefit from the broad and deep capabilities available from the Amazon Machine Learning (Amazon ML) stack.

Blue Prism will speed up its digital robots’ integrations with AWS applications and services, including AWS’s omnichannel cloud contact centre, Amazon Connect; AWS productivity applications, such as Amazon Chime; and AWS artificial intelligence and Amazon ML services, such as Amazon Lex and Amazon Transcribe. Both organisations will align to create workloads supporting industry-specific use cases that drive proven customer business benefits.

“It’s time for businesses to recognise the potential of their workforce through intelligent automation, amid  tactical digital transformation efforts. Our combined offerings provide  a more holistic solution for productivity as businesses continue to transform and expand,” said Dan Ternes, chief technology officer, APAC, Blue Prism.

The increased availability of Blue Prism intelligent automation solutions on the cloud comes at an important time for customers across all sectors. Today, 92% of decision makers see robotic process automation (RPA) as important for driving digital transformation, and 83% agree that RPA and/or automation is essential for their business to remain competitive.

On demand intelligent automation solution

The Blue Prism On Demand offering, available in AWS Marketplace in 2022, will provide one of the industry’s first on-demand intelligent automation solutions portfolios available through a consumption-based pricing model. This new offering will enable companies to assess their intelligent automation needs, unlock value and ROI across business processes, and scale across the enterprise easier than ever before.

For example, Sysco, a global foodservice distribution company, is now able to automate the processing of inbound customer orders received by digital fax by using Amazon Textract, which helps automatically extract printed text, handwriting, and data from any document. It’s been so effective at removing order entry errors that Sysco’s staff no longer have to use overtime to correct them. Sysco’s automation program is realising benefits like this across the business, with 60 digital robots that collectively process 6.2 million transactions and return more than 250,000 work hours to the business.

“As an AWS and Blue Prism customer, our cloud strategy was a critical lynchpin to help scale our automation initiatives. Automation had become a critical need almost overnight and in every area of our enterprise. It was time for us to put what we had planned and theorised into action,” said Kim Meredith, business technology lead, CoE at Sysco.

Meanwhile, Terry Walby, chief executive for Blue Prism Ventures, said:  “The collaboration with AWS will allow us to further enhance our ability to deliver intelligent automation solutions to organisations around the world seamlessly, on demand and at large or international scale.”

“This relationship will give customers even greater access to intelligent automation solutions that can accelerate their business transformation goals,” said Madhu Raman, Worldwide Head of Intelligent Automation at AWS. “Joint customers will have an extensive portfolio of real-world automation capabilities at their fingertips, including business process improvements. Customers will also benefit from more agile and flexible cloud-based contact centre solutions that combine our technologies.”

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Of these applications,  the use of robotic disinfection solutions fit the bill for having the top three features that consumers polled in both cities cited:

• increased cleaning and disinfection efficiency and efficacy;
• executing pre-defined protocols consistently and reliably; and
• the ability to work during off-hours and overnight.

The survey also showed that a majority of Asian consumers in Hong Kong (77%) and Singapore (71%) have experienced anxiety when visiting public areas

The Asia Consumer Index was conducted by Avalon SteriTech through Ipsos’ survey of 2,100 respondents across Hong Kong and Singapore, which revealed health and safety is a prominent concern among Asian consumers. The survey gauged consumer confidence in Hong Kong and Singapore, and the expectations for cleaning and disinfection measures at public recreational venues.

“The findings of the Asia Consumer Confidence Index reveal a shift of people’s values and behaviour – a new social dynamic that businesses need to address not only for their survival but the speed of the global economic recovery. We are dedicated to empower different industry and public sectors to rebuild trust and public confidence with our effective and scientifically proven solutions,” said Lewis Ho, chief executive officer, Avalon SteriTech .

Avalon SteriTech is a Hong Kong-based biomedical group startup established in 2013, which designs and delivers next-generation cleaning, disinfection and sterilization technology infrastructure for public spaces. Led by a diverse team of world-class scientists, medical doctors, academic advisors and business professionals, the company delivers customised solutions that address unmet public health needs.

The survey results were revealed yesterday during the launch of Whiz Gambit, a smart cleaning robot – the first to be developed from the joint venture between Avalon and Softbank Robotics. Whiz Gambit integrates Avalon’s customised bio-decontamination solution with Softbank’s Whiz AI-powered cleaning robot.

“We believe Whiz Gambit is a reliable solution to ease consumer health and safety concerns, and raise public confidence as business and travel begin to resume in Asia. Along with our extensive research work with SGS and SoftBank Robotics, we see Whiz Gambit is sparking a new era of ‘Smart Cleaning’, enabling businesses and public sectors to navigate this challenging moment, as well as what comes next and beyond,” Ho said.

A two-in-one device

According to Kenichi Yoshida, chief business officer at SoftBank Robotics, Whiz Gambit elevates smart cleaning “from art to science” and caters for a market need for a robot that does not only clean but disinfect.

“The Whiz Gambit robot we launched with Avalon redefines cleaning and disinfection protocols by delivering consistent and sustainable performance. It offers the agility of adjusting frequency, intensity of cleaning and disinfection practices based on the specific needs of clients and their spaces with affordable operating costs,” Yoshida said.

He pointed out that the new robot is the first disinfection robot to achieve Performance Mark by SGS Hong Kong with proven efficacy to eliminate >99% microbial bioburden. SGS-tested disinfectant shows >99.99% performance against wide ranging pathogens, including human coronavirus 229E.

“As our first and the only global disinfection sprayer partner and the first product launched under our joint venture, the SGS-certified Whiz Gambit ensures that the efficiency and efficacy of cleaning and disinfection can be maximised, with 2-in-1 disinfection and vacuum cleaning technology. We strongly believe that the solutions we build should not only address the problems of today, but also safeguard the health for the generations to come,” he added.

The Whiz Gambit  is autonomously driven, with sensor-fitted camera that enable it to automatically avoid people and other obstacles in its path such as glass panels and walls. It is powered by a user-friendly OS that enables  for easy assignment of cleaning route and deployment. The sprayer will only be activated if Whiz is in operation, excessive use of chemicals. The sprayer uses dry mist technology that generate <10 micron disinfection particles. The atomising nozzle can be adjusted to target zone, surface or ground bio-decontamination.

The robot issues real-time alert through its wireless communicator once the cleaning route is complete or it any other issues arise.

Helping businesses get back on their feet

With Whiz Gambit, Softbank Robotics and Avalon hopes to do their part in helping businesses raise public confidence in the safety and hygiene of commercial spaces. The two-in-one cleaning and disinfection robot is initially available in Hong Kong and will soon be launched in Singapore and Japan.

According to the Asia Consumer Confidence Index, Asian consumers have raised their expectations for comprehensive cleaning in public spaces, where 92% expect commercial businesses to put more effort in disinfection protocols (92% in Hong Kong and 91% in Singapore) and 93% agreeing that regular disinfection is key to maintaining safe and clean public spaces (93% in Hong Kong and 93% in Singapore).

The majority of respondents (86% in Hong Kong and 87% in Singapore) indicate that the deployment of high-tech cleaning and disinfection applications can restore their confidence in public area safety.

Yoshida has high hopes for the Whiz Gambit given that Softbank’s original Whiz has gained the number one market share in cleaning robots with about 10,000 units sold since its launch two years ago.

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“We are working with companies throughout Asia Pacific, especially Japan and Korea. And facilities managers there are keen to use both technologies from design and development of buildings to daily operations and management,” Schwarz told FutureIoT.

Resonai is an AI company that is digitising physical spaces and delivering real-time intelligence for smarter operations of all software & machines, and innovative, new experiences that improve daily lives.  Its computer vision platform  called Vera creates an intelligent digital twin of any commercial building, enabling mobile applications that address critical business issues.

With Vera, building owners and operators can leverage the huge compute power of the cloud to automate processes, create engaging AR experiences, gain access to a new level of data analytics, and identify new revenue streams from the new digital real estate.

“Computer vision is about teaching machines to duplicate  human vision which is a very complex challenge that has prevented applications from operating with the level of accuracy needed to power business critical applications,” said Schwarz.

She added that Resonai has been working on solving many of these critical challenges in computer vision and spatial embedded AI.

“That’s exactly why we built Vera, which digitally reconstructs a building from the inside out to transform commercial buildings into intelligent environments with unprecedented semantic understanding and object recognition,” Schwarz said. “Vera combines this with very precise localisation and tracking services and the ability to overlay AR content.”

According to Schwarz, these technologies give facility managers highly accurate 3D visualisations of buildings and everything in them. They have one dashboard with real-time data for business insights and they can leverage AR navigation and AR content to create innovative new end user experiences.

Rise of AR in facilities management

AR is currently driving the digital transformation in facilities management (FM), with an average 20% of vertical markets – including hospital and healthcare, manufacturing, education, corporate offices, and shopping malls – are already using AR in the workplace.

Indeed, nearly three out of four facilities managers – approximately 73% of those surveyed – who do not currently use AR expect to implement the technology at their workplace sometime within the next two years.

This is one of the key takeaways from the 2021 State of Augmented Reality in Facilities Management report released by Resonai last week. The digital survey conducted between November 2020 and January 2021 involved a curated audience of senior facility management directors and executives throughout the United States and Europe.

Participants represented a cross-section of building types, including corporate offices, manufacturing facilities, retail/apparel, residential, hospitals and medical, shopping centres, education, entertainment, and food and grocery.

Of the vertical markets survey, AR has been embraced most by facilities managers of hospitals and healthcare facilities at 30%, followed by manufacturing facilities (26%), educational facilities (25%) and corporate offices (23%).

To date, most common uses of AR among facilities managers are marketing applications such as tours and virtual demonstrations (20%), followed by industrial manufacturing applications (18%), smart maintenance and repairs (12%), tenant and visitor services (10%), and training/tutorials (10%)

However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey stated that  many FM professionals are focused on solutions that can help ensure their facilities remain operational and that guests feel safe whenever they’re able to return.

Those polled by the survey said future AR adoption are likely around smart maintenance, with 45% saying that it can help cut down repair times while keeping health and safety prioritised for both visitors and maintenance teams. Future AR use cases are expected to be around  tenant and visitor services (40%) and indoor navigation and wayfinding (38%).

Schwarz told FutureIoT that most of the key findings from the survey are common throughout the world: “And we have a lot of momentum with clients in Asia Pacific. AR is on the rise, and its use by facilities managers and property owners to streamline their operations, boost tenant experiences and improve their businesses in other meaningful ways will increase rapidly in the very near future.”

She added: “We also see a lot of interest for AR in the retail segment for marketing and branding purposes. To provide engaging experiences to consumers and also to extend brands into physical venues. We are working with a number of clients in the region, and we’ll be able to share more details shortly.”

Ubiquity of IoT spurs AR growth

According to the report, the rising adoption of AR in facilities management is driven by the ubiquity of IoT in the workplace, citing that 75% of facility managers currently work in buildings with IoT functionality.

Most notably, 44% of respondents use IoT-enabled environmental sensors, while 42% use the technology in HVAC systems. Meanwhile, many businesses use IoT in cameras (32.74%), lighting systems (25.45%), and automated doors (25.45%)

Modern AR platforms can leverage data points from these physical assets for the safe and efficient management of devices and equipment.

Combined with IoT, AR platforms can ingest data from sensors, devices and applications to glean valuable facility-specific insights that can allow for personalised visitor-level experiences. Survey results suggest that the world is closer to this outcome than ever before due to a variety of pre-existing IoT integration.

Of course, there are challenges. And the report cited cost as the major barrier to AR adoption in FM as the technology is perceived be  too expensive by 40% of respondents. However, this concern is offset by AR’s ability to bring in new revenue opportunities, which was cited as the technology’s greatest potential benefit by 30%t of those facilities managers already using AR or expecting to do so within 24 months.

“AR has come a long way since its first implementations in gaming and entertainment. As buildings become smarter and the digital and physical worlds become one, building owners and facilities managers are turning to AR and AI for everything from improved maintenance to indoor navigation,” said Emil Alon, CEO and founder of Resonai, in a media statement. “We published our state of the industry report to help facilities management professionals navigate the complex world of digital transformation and understand how their peers are leveraging the exciting innovations taking place.”

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This was  one of the major takeaways during a panel discussion at the recent APAC IoT vSummit organised by FutureIoT.

Dubbed “Powering IoT in the Workplace with AI and Edge Computing”, the panel  was moderated by Pankaj Lunia, supply chain & B2B Collaboration Solutions Leader, IBM and composed of Rajan Upadhyay, Head of Digital Lab, Cyberjaya at DHL; Riza Alaudin Syah, CTO at Indonesia-based Eateroo; Manuel San Miguel, CEO, Ignatica ; and, Atul Babu, SVP & Head of International Business, PCCW Solutions.

Burgeoning ecosystem

Any IoT implementation - the panel unanimously agreed – has a number of moving pieces, the least of which are the connected devices and sensors that collect information. Device manufacturers, who are at the hear of the IoT ecosystem, come out with new devices while rolling out enhancements to existing ones. They now monitor and measure – in ways never seen before – details in minutiae that can be found in a work or industrial environment

Upadhyay of DHL noted that the billions of data the comes through these connected devices are essential in the quest for an intelligent enterprise.

“Everything you’ll see, especially in IoT, is a kind of enabler and they are the channel interface to bring some intelligent automation…. I think that is where you can bring the value. If you see this intelligence,” he said.

He added: “AI is bringing intelligence capabilities and billions of devices are pumping the data into our systems. These systems in the edge nodes are accumulating these data and pushing them to the cloud. What are we going to do with these zettabytes of information? Intelligence is the key and the intelligence you can only bring once you we can share these information. And based on this information you can bring intelligence and effectively use it into your business processes. We can make this world more connected and safer.”

Babu of PCCW Solutions pointed out that IoT devices measuring data is just a starting point in an expanding ecosystem.

“You have the entire ecosystem of edge computing  where telcos are playing a key role,  and they are also at a nascent stage. There is hardly any telco that can claim to have a very solid multi-edge compute. They are still in the initial parts,” he said. The same is true for cloud services providers. They have a role to play and they are also adapting with time. On one side while they may have a very mature public service cloud offerings, how can they modify their services to edge compute, multiple-edge compute, and at the same time new services as well.”

A lot of these new companies are coming together to not just look at what is the advancement, but also help choose – what is the right tool, what are the right IoT devices, what are the right ecosystem components that would come together and it's changing every single day because of technology advancements and  new tasks being added.

“Being able to stitch together becoming much more cumbersome than it was in the past. Earlier, we used to talk about working with three four technology components and that's that about that's about it. Now, we are talking about 20 30 components on a regular basis – it is pretty much a norm.

By the time you finish implementing, you realise these four components are no good anymore and I need to look for new ones,” Babu said.

San Miguel of Ignatica echoed the challenge of putting different components together into a functioning whole.

“How can you actually have the enterprise architecture to stitch them all together with enough rigor and robustness to manage a business model that needs to survive more than a quarter. That is where we see a key challenge but also where a massive opportunity for certain platforms are starting to come up,” he said.

Putting AI to work

Once the connected devices and sensor delivers data, the challenge is sorting them out in a way that makes sense. This is where AI comes in.

For Ignatica, which provides a platform for digital insurance, AI is playing a big role in the development of new business models that are changing the insurance industry. The technology is behind use cases such as telematics, usage-based insurance and parametric insurance, which offer pre-specified pay-outs based upon a trigger event.  (An example of this is a farmers insurance, where if rainfall falls under certain threshold a month, the insured gets automatically compensated.)

“From an AI perspective, once you have access to all these billions and billions of data points coming in on a steady basis – how do you make heads or tails of them? And you start seeing now things like algorithmic underwriting. You have automated claims decision; you can now have dynamic pricing based on changing conditions for different product types,” San Miguel said.

Meanwhile, San Miguel sees more dynamic changes on medical devices and ecosystem place.

“Think about the smart refrigerator where you keep your insulin. It measures when and how much people are actually going in there to actively manage a particular disease or condition. And based on disease management, you're able now to reduce the premiums or to provide wellness treatments”

He added: “You are going to see a shift in insurance from protection and kind of compensation after you saw a loss event into actively managed prevention. And  that's going to happen – not only with humans as we start wearing more and more smart clothing that tells us more about what's happening with our bodies and what we can change – but also across PNCs. You start seeing preventive maintenance regimes across ships. You see it across freight supply lines, where the cost and the optimisation on and therefore the insurance around the supply line for how they're using all these resources that are consumed are drastically impacted by sensor data coming in from IoT; and the ability to have a validated well-managed full provenanced data store that can now drive the machine learning algorithms.

“The challenge that insurers have is not just in getting access to the consistent stream of sensor data for triggering activities, but really having the right validation and full management of the business model,” San Miguel said. “Because one of the challenges that we've seen is having the consistent provenance and well-managed data from a data quality perspective and from a security perspective that you can embed into an intelligently automated business model.”

Smart tech  levels playing field for SMEs and large companies

Syah of Eateroo sees SMEs benefiting from IoT adoption. In Indonesia, where the food-tech startup is based, Syah sees customers deploy face recognition and AI-powered recommendation system.

“When I was in Bukalapak ecommerce marketplace, the AI that was first implemented was a recommendation system that was deployed to suggest further purchases.  The AI and ML of the recommendation system were developed inside the app,” he recalled.

He also cited the example of deploying MLs from embedded devices to scan faces for “mass detection”.

“It can be used for example in a commercial kitchen to ensure that every chef is following protocols [in food preparation],” he said.

About simplifying the process of implementing technologies such as IoT, AI and edge computing Babu of PCCW Solutions said all companies face the same scenario no matter their size.

“I think this whole notion of big versus a small is going for a toss. It’s all about fast versus slow. That's why you know you've got a 50-people company coming out of nowhere – such as Whatsapp that takes over 50 billion dollars of revenues of telcos globally. That is the power of speed over being big so whatever we are talking about is true for everyone.”

About ensuring a smooth implementation process, Babu said it eventually comes down to human skills.

“Independent of how advanced the machines you get, eventually somebody's got to put it in the context of business that they are in,” he said. “The contextualisation of that requires some human skills. It's still not as automated as one would want to believe. It cannot be done by one person, it's a combination of skills cross functions and business domain. So, if you're talking about retail, it would certainly require some functional expertise about how the technology can be implemented – something  before sensor and something  after sensor,  something before AI and something after AI.”

He stressed: “It requires huge architectural expertise as well I mentioned earlier. It's about putting things together. I can be given 100 different components, but if I don't know how to put them

together and make the best use of it, it’s no use.”

He also pointed out that cost plays a big role. It has to be cost-effective.

“It has to make business sense. If I am investing 10 dollars, I should  be able to get the return of investment. People are not talking about five to seven years of return of investment, which was norm earlier on, people are talking about if I am investing ten dollars,  can I get it back in three months’ time?  The whole speed context has completely changed.”

Prioritising technologies in an IoT implementation

Asked about how to prioritise from multiple IoT components of a project, Upadhyay said it is not easy since one is faced with a whole ecosystem – of which sensors and devices form a small part.

“Perhaps I can classify this into two spaces: industrial IoT and consumer IoT. It varies a lot from each other. In consumer IoT, we are talking about some household items with basic sensors. With industrial automation, there are many different ways to look into it.”

Overall, what’s important is not only the device, Upadhyay said companies have to look into the network they have established, which is critical. The platform chosen is also critical because it enhances the interface with the channel and bring the effectiveness in their business processes.

“Consider all these three factors. The first thing to identify is what sort of IoT the use case is whether it’s consumer or industrial IoT. Then, the second stage is what network are  you using and how you do computing into it. The third stage will be how to accommodate the information, and how it can bring effectiveness to your business processes.”

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As health and safety are paramount concerns for today's businesses and employees, Proxy's contactless mobile access applications improve the hygiene of workplaces while providing a foundation for future smart workplace initiatives.

Contactless smart access solutions potentially eliminating the spread of viruses and bacteria that originate from the touching of access points. This will provide all employees with a better office experience.

"The pandemic has prompted employers to seek more innovative security requirements in the workspace. At Proxy, we hope to lead technology innovations with contactless, smart mobile access products and solutions that empower businesses to enhance their office experiences in the post-pandemic era. By so doing, we not only create business value, but also drive people to focus on smart workplaces,” said Sean Pan, head of Proxy China, said,

In the wake of the new normal, Proxy envisions smart workplaces where employees move around safely, hygienically and seamlessly, using contactless technology:

• entrance doors will be opened via a user's mobile device rather than keycards
• tablets installed with visitor management application software will seamlessly register body temperature readings for each person entering the workplace
• meeting rooms will be equipped with endpoint sensors using Bluetooth technology to detect employees or visitors entering the workspace and greet them with a personalised message.

Sensors will monitor room capacity to allow enforcement of social distancing requirements; and intelligent sensing devices will automatically adjust ambient temperature, lighting, and other conditions based on the detected density and distribution of people, with all data transmitted to a cloud-based management platform.

Online design platform provider Canva is one of the company’s early adopter is China, deploying Proxy’s mobile access solution at its offices at Beijing Vanke Times Center.

"Proxy offers a unique, light mobile access solution that fits our needs perfectly. With this cloud-based solution in place, our staff can now use their mobile devices to provide streamlined, secure access to the building and their offices. Not only is this a convenient, contactless solution, but it also aligns with our company culture and flexible working hours," said Chris Wang, senior internal architecture engineer at Canva.

Value of localisation

Combining global standards and local support, Proxy provides solutions that are customised to address customers' different needs in various scenarios, providing purpose-designed solutions for multinational companies, as well as organizations with multiple office sites.

Realising the value of localisation to cater to the needs of the local market, Proxy has developed in China a dedicated local product service team, and also launched a domestically hosted cloud platform, as well as local support for the Android system and WeChat mini-programs. All of these capabilities have been developed to ensure the requirements of local customers are fully satisfied when using Proxy solutions.

“We're creating a unique identity signal for everyone on the earth that's universally accessible, secure, and private,” said Denis Mars, co-founder and CEO of Proxy. "We want to live in a world where every object around us can securely recognise our physical presence with our permission to provide us with a frictionless experience, personalized to our individual needs and preferences.”

Unlike traditional access systems, Proxy's mobile access solutions taps Bluetooth built into every smartphone, with access granted and managed via the cloud. This method makes access easier, as well as more efficient, secure and reliable. In addition to smart mobile access products, Proxy also provides solutions for smart visitor and space management, based on contactless technology.

Proxy has passed a number of globally recognised data security and privacy certifications, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and SOC 2 security audit. Proxy's cloud service is currently deployed across the world, with servers based in numerous regions to guarantee the security and access of customer data.

Founded in 2016 in San Francisco , Proxy counts many companies as customers, including Uber, Accenture, Harmay, Shui On Land and WeWork that have deployed the frictionless smartphone-based access.

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In a bid to get manufacturers up to speed with industry 4.0, the three building blocks of process, technology, and organisation which SIRI lays out have been key in assessing companies industry 4.0 readiness.

The advancements of IoT have been instrumental in paving the way forward for industry 4.0, and though it is an exciting prospect for companies to jump into, and they need to understand the considerations needed to make the shift towards industry 4.0.

Firstly, they need to identify what is redundant and needs to be removed. Secondly, how to adopt existing components into the new setup. Thirdly, what is native for the new setup.

Improving the SIRI blocks of process and technology have to be balanced with practicality, depending on the current stage of a company’s technological journey, embarking on a partial or complete system overhaul would be costly, and the disruption with downtime would be impractical. Though change is necessary for our manufacturing industries to stay competitive, it does not need to be painful or drastic.

Predictive maintenance becomes the crucial factor that allows companies to fully optimise their current processes, and no matter the stage of their business. It also functions as the bridge that smoothens the transition as they build up industry 4.0 capabilities, and also a litmus test that determines the level of digitalisation that any process should adopt.

Prior to industry 4.0, maintenance in the manufacturing industry has moved through a few different phases, before landing on predictive maintenance as its latest iteration.

• Reactive maintenance - The most rudimentary approach where things are fixed when they fail, often acceptable for cheaper machines with redundant parts, this addresses the symptom and not the problem.
• Preventive maintenance - Replacing parts before they fail, this timed approach often leads to higher costs as parts are binned while having considerable mileage left, requiring more planned downtime for machines that are working perfectly well.
• Proactive maintenance - Normally reserved to reduce the cost in time and money for complex, expensive machinery, companies address the peripheral symptoms that can lead to problems and is the start to a data-driven and analytical approach.

Predictive maintenance as a bridge

Though cheaper at the onset, the above-mentioned maintenance models resulted in productivity losses between 5% to 20%, which hurts any operation in the long run. By balancing costs to results, the implementation of predictive maintenance can be done progressively to serve as a bridge.

For companies that are at the starting line, examining their processes and establishing a baseline for the condition of parts and machinery involved through any historical or recorded data from their current maintenance workflow.

As the effectiveness of predictive maintenance is predicated on the quality of data, the baseline helps to identify which parts of the process the team knows most about, and which parts have the greatest room for improvement.

Moving step by step and knowing the key data points from the known allows companies to map their way to other parts of their processes that have little to no data.

Gradually giving companies a better picture to navigate their workflow to the unknown will allow companies to get a complete picture of their workflow and to ultimately decide what industry 4.0 means for them.

Predictive maintenance as a litmus test

For parts of the process that lack sufficient data to determine points of failure, businesses are often faced with a feast or famine scenario, where data is o’t collected until a failure occurs. Or sometimes the data collected is good for diagnostic purposes, but not comprehensive enough to aid in predictive maintenance. In such cases creating a visual model or simulation would have to be done first before predictive maintenance can come into play.

Predictive maintenance gives companies the flexibility of being progressive and consistent with minimal disruption, and it has to be tailored for the industry and the workflow. As detailed in a case study predictive maintenance has to be weighed carefully as an option for these reasons.

• Lack of datapoints for predictive maintenance to be truly effective
• The timelines and resources involved in the maintenance process
• Lack of significant impact, for example in the case of multiple redundancies in place
• Lack of cost savings for predictive maintenance to be financially viable

Predictive maintenance as the future

There is still plenty of room for predictive maintenance to become an industry-standard across the board. In a report done by McKinsey & Company, only 30% to 40% of production lines in ASEAN are automated.

By 2025, predictive maintenance will account for 10% to 40% reduction in spending, 3% to 5% improvement in equipment lifetime, and 50% reduction in equipment downtime. Predictive maintenance in ASEAN is projected to have an economic impact in the manufacturing industries between $38 billion to $91 billion USD by 2025.

Adopting predictive maintenance will not be an overnight process, and the Singaporean government is dedicating resources and grants to elevate the manufacturing landscapes. Companies will have to go back to the SIRI board and make sure that their people and organisations are on the same page.

The post Predictive Maintenance: Singapore’s bridge and foundation for industry 4.0 appeared first on FutureIoT.

With digitalisation on everybody’s lips, the question is, how can manufacturers best leverage technology, automation and IoT to rebound from the COVID-19 crisis as smoothly and as quickly as possible?

Challenges to the manufacturing sector

One of the biggest challenges affecting the manufacturing industry, like many others, is the restrictions placed on workplace access.

Employees are being encouraged to work offsite as much as possible due to the pandemic, resulting in lean engineering and service teams on the factory floor, enterprise risk and limited availability of assets and operations.

Firstly, how can companies help to ensure an efficient workforce and operations while protecting employees’ health and safety and carry out training during these challenging times?

Secondly, how do companies keep their business running efficiently and profitably, maintaining business continuity in the mid to long term in the face of logistics challenges? Thirdly, how can companies reduce downtime of assets and the need for maintenance while continuing to operate with lean on-site staff?

To elevate the above challenges, there are three guiding principles that manufacturers should follow to keep their workforce safe while preparing for ongoing uncertainty and long-lasting changes to the work environment.

Considerations

1. Protect the workforce. Companies should standardise operating procedures and tools that keep staff safe, such as implementing regimented social distancing and protective garments on the factory floor, and building workforce confidence through effective, two-way communication that responds to employees’ concerns.
2. Manage risks to help to ensure business continuity. Companies need to anticipate and be ready to respond to potential changes with speed and agility, as exemplified in the rapid spike in demand for PPEs and masks at the height of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.
   Coupled with export limitations from supplier countries, manufacturers had to quickly transition away from their regular portfolio and pivot into PPE manufacturing. A flexible factory floor and scenario planning well ahead of the fluctuations will enable manufacturers to keep operations running smoothly despite unforeseeable volatility.
3. Drive productivity at a distance, even when employees are unable to be physically present. Companies should continue to effectively manage performance at their facilities through remote monitoring and support while physical distancing and remote working policies remain in place.

The above can be achieved through digital transformation, and digitally transformed businesses are best positioned to be agile, enabling manufacturers to respond and adapt quickly to any challenges the business might face.

Amongst our customer base, we are already gathering evidence that those who had begun their digital transformation journey pre-pandemic (pre-March 2020) were better prepared to tackle the above challenges.

Adopting and optimising the use of IOT, AI and AR

The majority of manufacturers are familiar with the Internet of Things (IOT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), key features of digital transformation and Industry 4.0.

IoT has many different applications for manufacturers, such as facilitating production flow and monitoring product development cycles, as well as in the management of warehouses and inventories through networked sensors and intelligent devices.

IoT devices also collect data to drive artificial intelligence and predictive analytics and maintenance.

AI, also known as ‘machine intelligence’, can be used in the manufacturing industry to oversee operations and alert teams to production anomalies. Employees can investigate or intervene as necessary, observe product quality and specify issue causes, and flag equipment issues before unplanned downtime or catastrophic failure.

AI also allows a company to leverage the data they are generating to increase capacity, reduce energy consumption and improve the quality of their output.

On top of IoT and AI, Augmented Reality (AR) is another tool that manufacturers can use to unlock opportunities across the value chain and build out resilient operations.

In manufacturing, AR can be used to mock-up a finished product, identify unsafe working conditions and predict equipment and hardware servicing needs.

These technologies often work in tandem, and by enabling IoT, AI and AR across various functions on the shop floor, companies can leverage these digital enhancements to address and overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic.

For example, on the servicing and engineering front, virtual team collaboration is made possible through AR and VR. AR and IoT enable remote servicing and customer self-service, reducing the need for the costly dispatching of technicians or truck rolls.

The technology also enables greater technician productivity as well as breakthrough digital product experiences.

Not only are off-site employees able to access machines or systems remotely, but AR can be used to upskill other employees on how to use these systems, enabling collaboration to continue efficiently even if engineering teams are forced to work remotely.

To support sales and product marketing efforts, product lifecycle management (PLM) and AR can be used to create 3D holograms for configured product demonstrations, and IoT and AR can be used to present differentiated product or brand experiences.

This allows sales and marketing teams to continue to build a pipeline of leads, presenting their company’s capabilities, products and services effectively even when physical meetings are kept to a minimum.

To maximise the benefits reaped from IoT, AI and AR, these technologies need to be embedded within an existing infrastructure that is secure and has both IT and OT systems in place. In turn, manufacturers also need to be able to protect and maintain this infrastructure.

This can be achieved through the application of managed security services like threat detection, response and recovery, infrastructure administration and monitoring, even 24/7 remote support.

Device integration to the cloud will also allow for round-the-clock remote monitoring of device health and collection of performance data, enabling manufacturers to make data-guided adjustments to optimise systems performance and undertake predictive maintenance of their assets, avoiding costly downtime.

Flexible and agile manufacturing enabled by digital transformation is essential to maintaining business continuity, especially against the backdrop of an unpredictable and rapidly changing environment.

With the COVID-19 pandemic likely to restrict the movement of employees for some time to come, manufacturers should be prepared for their workforce to be separated from the factory floor for the foreseeable future.

Manufacturers should act now, investing in digital transformation capabilities which will equip their employees with remote tools to maintain efficient processes, maximising throughput, optimising asset utilisation and decreasing expenses. All while ensuring business continuity and protecting the health and safety of employees well into the post-pandemic future.

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Otherwise known as the “SMT Programme”, the course will include practical operation know-how on automated mask production lines and mechanical assembly, as well  the introduction of new technologies to improve production quality under the trend of digital transformation, such as an overview of Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence production monitoring system, remote data collection and analysis of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to name a few.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic (COVID-2019), the strong demand for personal protection equipment such as masks and has led to the emergence of the local personal protection equipment manufacturing industry in Hong Kong.

However, the large professional talent gap and insufficient technical support in the industry have become major challenges for the industry.

Sinopharm Tech is pioneer in the local personal protective equipment manufacturing industry in Hong Kong. The company’s practical experience and technical resources can be learned from and be used for reference, by industry participants or potential entrants through the SMT Programme course. This will help accelerate the overall improvement to the management and production excellence of the industry.

Chan Ting, executive director and chief executive officer of Sinopharm Tech, reiterated the company’s commitment to quality by “our product quality into another level” with recent partnerships with world leading melt blown manufacturers, together with its investment in setting up a world-class testing laboratory.

“Quality staff is the most critical contributing factor to high quality product. With the rapid development of mask manufacturing in Hong Kong, the whole industry is lacking experienced workers and machine technicians,” Chan said. “We are very happy to work with VTC and FHKI, to contribute our professional know-how and experiences. We hope more people will understand the potential of the mask manufacturing industry and join Sinopharm or other mask manufacturing companies to fight Covid-19 together."

Through training programmes on production, processing, and quality monitoring, the practitioners will be able to put theory into practice to effectively ensure the efficiency and quality of the manufacturing process. The knowledge from the education chain of smart manufacturing of personal protection equipment manufacturing industry continually benefits the practitioners, while this continuous supply of professional talents to the market will help to further Hong Kong's reindustrialisation.

The SMT Programme is running under the recently launched “Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme” (RTTP)  of the Hong Kong SAR Government. While the SMT Programme will be under the RTTP, and the SMT Programme will provide practitioners in the personal protection equipment industry with both theoretical and practical training. In addition, the SMT Programme will also cover Hong Kong "Q-Mark" Scheme and related international standards of testing knowledge and certification.

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With the spread of "Work From Home culture", cloud computing, IoT devices and distributed ICT applications technology is now highly relevant across multiple types of environments.

"Remote working, automation of operational process, video conferencing and the like have become the new normal whilst we work under the constant threat of the pandemic. With the increasing popularity IoT applications, all of the changes show that the market for smart offices is continuing to expand,” said Aaron Yim, managing director of RICOH Hong Kong.

“As the companies' business operating partner, RICOH Hong Kong launched a new Network Operations Center to break the old tradition with innovative office concepts and provide customers with integrated support. And to meet the needs of enterprises for improving efficiency, reducing costs, optimizing customer experience and rapid business changes,” he added.

Furthermore, as cyberattacks have become more sophisticated, the company has geared its new facility as one-stop-shop for advanced cybersecurity, offering Security Workshops, Design & Construction Validation, and Assessment & Analysis of Current Threats & Vulnerabilities.

By making this available to enterprise customers, security standards can be continuously upheld and updated, and they will be provided with full support in the form of optimised security countermeasures in the face of ever-evolving cyber-attacks.

According to Yim, enterprises can now safely optimise their business remote deployments and business continuity plans through the use of cloud network integration which RICOH Hong Kong is innovating sympathetic solutions built around the "3 Smarts"; Smart Workplace, Smart Process and Smart Technology.

Shift towards the “IoT SMART Workplace”

Faced with the New Normal, many companies are reconsidering how they invest in office layouts and resulting access to technological devices, according to Yim.

“We recognises the necessity of having a more flexible workplace, including an effective space utilisation plan, technological support and functionality in use,” he said. “First and foremost, this helps companies address the complicated issue of reopening offices. Safeguarding workplace hygiene as well as the health and wellness of employees and visitors are the top concerns of businesses in the post-pandemic age. For example, facility management teams are seeking alternative ways of organising and running operations to keep them going.”

They must also consider how maintaining physical distancing can be prioritised when creating functional workspaces, he added.

“While helping to keep operations manageable, introducing more Smart devices improves workflows, such as with RICOH's cloud-based Interactive Collaboration Board and integrated tasks such as video conferencing, document printing, etc,” Yim said.

“With IoT technology in place, Smart sensors facilitate workplace management, including lighting system, temperature and air quality control. Sensors are also able to identify health condition indicators of staff members, and data collected from the sensors can be sent to a central database or used to issue priority alerts,” he said.

The company pointed out that information from the sensors can then be used for further analysis, appropriate device control, or to drive business organisational planning and strategies.

The application of these smart technologies not only enhances energy efficiency but also creates a secure digital workplace in which employees can thrive, through supportive, appropriate and intelligent workspace design powered by RICOH Hong Kong.

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Restaurant owner Lee Gwangjo has cited labour shortage as the major factor for deploying robots to deliver food orders of dine-in customers last year.

“Despite having a small human waitstaff, we are able to fulfil customer orders in a timely manner thanks to the robots. The Pudu robots are able to complete many of the tasks a human can do while serving in a restaurant,” he said.

“Due to their autonomous ability to navigate obstacles, the robots are able to deliver food to multiple tables throughout the restaurant. Moreover, the robots are able to carry the orders for more than one table, creating greater efficiency for the restaurant,” he added.

The robots are supplied by Shenzhen-based Pudu Robotics, which focuses on the R&D, design and production of robots and offers a number of popular delivery robots, including PuduBot (food delivery robot), BellaBot (food delivery robot), HoloBot (building delivery robot), HolaBot (dish-return robot), and GazeBot (multi-scene delivery robot).

Its first mass-produced robot PuduBot has been widely used in extensive scenarios, including restaurants, hotels, office buildings, hospitals, Internet cafes and Karaoke, with customers in 200+ cities in more than 20 countries.

With its latest delivery of three PuduBots, Muhguri has increased its non-human serving fleet to 11. The 11 Pudu robots have been implemented along with the human waitstaff in the restaurant to provide higher quality service for the diners.

With their successful deployment, Pudu Robotics expects more restaurants in South Korea to use robot technology in their restaurants and anticipates filling the demand.

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With an eye on helping the manufacturing sector comply to these new measures, Zebra Technologies has rolled out its newest solution featuring proximity sensing with user-level alerting and contact tracing to enable employers to help protect their employees’ health while in the work environment.

Called  MotionWorks Proximity, the company’s latest offering meets the requirements of many governments return-to-work guidelines and the needs of many enterprises looking for a viable option to enhance their reopening strategies.

Zebra’s solution provides proximity and contact tracing insights, dashboards and reports to employers as well as individual proximity alerts for the employees. The data is tied to an employee ID or anonymized user ID, allowing for actionable insights by the employer while allowing for the privacy of individuals, unlike other public contact tracing solutions. Accurate, automated contact tracing can help companies quickly identify exposed employees for testing, potentially limiting widespread facility closures.

“The health and safety of our employees has been our utmost priority and we stand firm in protecting our front-line workers and those returning to the offices,” said Fang-How, Lim, regional director for Southeast Asia, Zebra Technologies. “Various teams across our company came together to define, develop and deploy a proximity tracing, alerting and contact tracing solution within one of our largest distribution facilities. It is currently available for our customers to deploy and protect their employees working in manufacturing and warehouse environments.”

Leveraging Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) and WiFi, the solution is hosted in the cloud, implemented quickly and managed remotely by Zebra, eliminating on-site professional services. It doesn’t require new infrastructure and can be leveraged on existing supported Zebra Android devices or new devices available in different form factors and price points depending on customer requirements.

“Our solution uses front-line workers’ existing devices which helps in reducing additional capital costs and accelerates employee adoption,” said Lim. “With our depth of expertise and experience in ruggedised Android mobile computers, we are able to provide this solution with security and privacy embedded at the outset.”

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Alternatively, businesses may be investing in technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA), as part of their digital transformation initiatives in order to save cost and scale services in an agile manner. No matter what the reason; digital transformation is helping to improve the customer and employee experience, powered by the network.

These initiatives will only be accelerated with the support of relevant, secure infrastructure in the ‘new normal’ especially with respect to businesses’ technology, operational and financial initiatives. The COVID-19 outbreak and consequent surge in bandwidth consumption is putting strain on the network, compounding existing challenges, and, ultimately, creating a perfect storm. With an increase in remote working, remote access and consumption of voice and video services, organisations’ network and security infrastructure are under incredible pressure.

“The network is the platform for business digital transformation. It needs to be ubiquitous, flexible, robust and secure to adapt easily to business change, while increasing the maturity of the operational support environment,” said Ron Lopez, executive vice president, NTT Ltd. “Businesses that use a high-level of network automation and intelligence to optimise operations will gain a significant competitive advantage and realise the benefits of the cloud economy, securely.”

Cloud outpaces on-premises infrastructure spend

NTT released this week a new report entitled “2020 Global Network Insights Report” which found that as businesses move applications to multi-cloud environments, investment in the cloud is outpacing organisations’ on-premises infrastructure spend.

This has caused refresh and upgrade patterns to slow down, with many businesses choosing to continue to sweat network assets and to slow investment in re-architecting their on-premises network and security infrastructure. As a result, there has been an increase in obsolete and unpatched network devices containing software vulnerabilities, introducing risk, and exposing the organisation to information security threats.

Commenting on the report’s key findings, Lopez  noted that with companies coping with the new normal,  many businesses will need, if not be forced, to review their network and security architecture strategies, operating and support models to better manage operational risk.

“We expect to see strategy shift from a focus on business continuity to preparation for the future as lockdown begins to ease. Network infrastructure needs to be appropriately architected and managed to deal with unplanned surges, which will require a relook at cloud and on-premises infrastructure to reduce the impact and frequency of business-critical outages.”

Ageing and obsolete devices – a security risk in the future workplace

The report, which is based on data from technology assessments conducted on more than 1,000 NTT clients covering over 800,000 network devices, found 47.9% of organisations’ network assets were ageing or obsolete, as a weighted average, representing a huge surge on 2017, when this figure was just 13.1%.

Obsolete devices have, on average, twice as many vulnerabilities per device (42.2) when compared with ageing (26.8) and current ones (19.4), creating unnecessary risk. This risk is exacerbated further when businesses do not patch a device or revisit the operating system version for the duration of its lifetime. And although patching is relatively simple, and often free under a maintenance agreement or extended warranty, many businesses still don't patch their devices.

According to NTT, companies facing the new normal have to reimagine the way they work – embedding resilience into the organisation’s operations will be key. The pandemic will introduce permanent changes to the way businesses operate, including implementing smart workspaces that accommodate social distancing within their physical offices, while many companies will continue to embrace remote working. Meanwhile, with the adoption of new wireless infrastructure on the rise – an increase of 13% year-on-year – and the rise of open office and co-working spaces, a novel approach to all network architecture will be needed.

“Businesses will need the tools, knowledge and expertise to be able to re-architect the network for the short, mid and long-term evolution of the ‘new normal’ with people working remotely and from any device at any time,” Lopez said. “They will need to find strategic partners who can guide them with a view of what the future network looks like – not just in terms of supporting corporate space, but also public and retail areas where social distancing is typically difficult to attain. For example, as we move into the ‘new normal’, AI and machine learning may be applied to help monitor social distancing measures – the network will be the platform enabler.”

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Tapping technologies, including 5G, AI, autonomous driving and IoT, the robot carries out diverse activities such as contactless temperature screenings for visitors and disinfection of the building.

Designed with mobility in mind

The robot is designed to detect and automatically moves towards incoming visitors to check their body temperatures using a thermal imaging camera. In case the measured temperature is 37.5°C (99.5°F) or higher, it sets off an alarm and _alerts the control centre. Based on this data transmitted over 5G network in real time, SK Telecom will be able to take necessary measures like prohibiting people with suspicious symptoms from entering the building, among others.

Furthermore, equipped with UV lamps and two automatic floor disinfectant sprayers, the robot automatically disinfects the building. It can achieve 99.9 percent disinfection of 33 square meters of surface areas in just 10 minutes.

“We are seeking ways to help relieve the unprecedented situation brought by the coronavirus,” said Choi Nag-hun, vice president and head of industrial data business unit of SK Telecom. "We will continue to introduce diverse services fit for the non-face-to-face era by leveraging our ICT including 5G and AI.”

Kim Young-ho, president of Omron Electronics Korea, echoed the same sentiment.

“The 5G autonomous robot is an innovative case where cutting-edge technologies have been applied to overcome the crisis caused by the coronavirus,” he said. “The collaboration between Omron Electronics Korea and SK Telecom will serve as a great example showing how businesses can contribute to resolving social issues.”

Both companies plan to deploy the 5G-powered robot at their headquarters first and will officially launch the device in Korea this year and in global markets next year.

Using data analytics

The 5G robot has SK Telecom’s self-developed AI-based video analysis solution built into it, enabling it to identify places where people are gathered and then move to the location to play a message stressing the importance of social distancing. It will also identify people who are not wearing face masks and request them to wear one.

Moreover, SK Telecom will ensure greater efficiency in both operation and management of the robot through the application of its big data analytics solution Metatron.

Metatron will analyse the robot’s component management data collected via IoT sensors to check the real-time status of the robot and perform predictive maintenance.

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While some confirmed cases of COVID-19 showed asymptomatic infection, a fever remains an important symptom for screening and distinguishing infected people. Through the deployment of different front-end devices such as a face recognition access control system with a body temperature monitoring module, fast screening and automatic alert can be conducted at public premises such as subways, airports, train stations, bus stations, schools, communities, and enterprises. This latest technology from Pensees can be used to help curb the spread of virus.

Fitted with technologies, including face detection and body detection, developed in-house by Pensees Singapore, the new system will issue real-time alert in forms of voice message, lighting and etc. when abnormal body temperature is detected. This can greatly help relevant staff quickly locate the person with fever and his/her close contacts for blockage, further detection and medical observation.

With infrared thermal body temperature measuring, Pensees’ Intelligent Non-contact Body Temperature Monitoring System includes intelligent FR access with an integrated temperature screening module and portable thermal temperature screening system with FR capability. The system is able to achieve a maximum temperature deviation of ±0.3°C, in the body temperature range of 30°C～45°C.

Since the launch of the system in March 2020, Pensees Singapore has received numerous inquiries and requests from the international schools, service apartments, hotels, apartments, and industrial estates for the deployment of the products.

Pensees is among the COVID-19 pre-approved solution providers appointed by the Infocomm and Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore. The scope of Pre-Approved generic solutions had expanded to help enterprises implement COVID-19 business continuity measures.

As such, Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore can receive 80% reimbursement from Productivity Solution Grant (PSG) when they purchase Pensees Intelligent Facial Recognition Access Control with Temperature Monitoring system.

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The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is forecasting a global GDP contraction of 2.5% in 2020 far worst than during the global financial crisis of 2007-2008.

“The negative effect on growth will come via both demand and supply channels. On the one hand, quarantine measures, illness and negative consumer and business sentiment will suppress demand. On the other, the closure of factories and disruption to supply chains will create supply bottlenecks. The economic shock will be concentrated in the first half of this year, with regional variations that will follow the gradual spread of the pandemic across the globe,” said the EIU.

Canalys expects 718 million consumer IoT devices to be shipped by vendors in 2020. The firm warns of a strong downturn as COVID-19 continues to plough its way around the world. Vendor are responding to the downturn by becoming more proactive to weather the pandemic storm.

According to Canalys consumer IoT vendors are shifting focus to help users effectively work and learn remotely. With social distancing and lockdowns in effect, they are also targeting the need to stay connected with friends and family, as well as stay active and entertained during the crisis.

Hearables

“Hearable vendors have shifted their marketing messages to highlight key benefits, particularly conference calling abilities. Consumers are looking for wireless audio devices that offer flexibility for work, education and play. Canalys predicts smart personal audio device shipments will increase by 15.5% in 2020 to become the fastest-growing consumer IoT segment this year,” said Cynthia Chen, research analyst for Canalys.

She added that more time spend sitting around means there’s also an opportunity for wearable bank vendors to increase engagement with users by promoting access to premium workouts and the accompanying devices that help them stay active.

Corporations should learn from COVID-19 and take heed of the productivity lost due to annual seasonal flu/influenza. Business Continuity Plan should increase focus on staff preparedness against Influenza and be part future audits. With the usage of earbuds getting more common for WFH (and WFO too), IoT devices with sensing capabilities such as earbuds that can sense fever, fatigue, respiratory rate (all early symptoms of the flu) will become a standard repertoire as is the laptop. I see that happening this year.

Well Being Digital co-founder and director, Kow Ping, suggested corporations learn from COVID-19 and take heed of the productivity lost due to annual seasonal flu/influenza.

“Business Continuity Plan should increase focus on staff preparedness against Influenza and be part future audits. With the usage of earbuds getting more common for WFH (and WFO too), IoT devices with sensing capabilities such as earbuds that can sense fever, fatigue, respiratory rate (all early symptoms of the flu) will become a standard repertoire as is the laptop. I see that happening this year,” he concluded.

Wearables

Canalys expects wearable bands to grow by 3.8% in 2020.

Canalys senior analyst Jason Low says China will be a key growth driver in 2020 as the country is confident that the pandemic is well under control.

Reflecting on the government’s strict regulatory measures, he expects economic activities will resume quickly and consumers will start to spend again. “The same will likely happen when countermeasures kick in,” he added.

Challenges ahead

But not everything is rosy as economic uncertainty remains. While vendors acknowledge the challenges that lay ahead, Canalys believed vendors must take additional actions to mitigate the impact.

“The pandemic will be the critical moment that splits future market leaders from laggards, depending on the actions companies take now. In addition to more proactive and targeted marketing to stay connected with consumers, it is a good time to form new partnerships, for example with new online service and content providers, to grow user bases for both parties with additional services targeting stay-at-home consumers,” said Low.

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Responding to the industry’s rapid digital transformation, Topre Corporation – a manufacturer of pressed automotive components for frames and other parts of automobiles – has deployed a cloud-based ERP solution as its core business system for management of production, sales, purchasing and inventory for its domestic automotive business across seven sites.

The company has selected Infor CloudSuite Automotive for upgrading from their existing ERP solution and will also use the suite for accounting management across its entire domestic operations.

“To survive what people are calling a once-in-a-century transformation in the automotive industry, we have to transform our business structures in cooperation with the automakers,” said Tesshu Harada, acting general manager, Business Process Re-Engineering Department, Auto Parts Headquarters, Topre.

“We will start this process by stepping away from our old systems and rebuilding a core business platform in a highly scalable cloud environment to drive further digital transformation across Topre. We chose Infor for its highly specialised cloud solution with  a track record in realising the standardisation of business transformation,” he added.

Cloud adoption was the way to go

Infor CloudSuite Automotive is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-based cloud ERP suite of solutions for the automotive industry. With rich functionalities for the automotive industry incorporated into a beautifully-designed user interface, it is delivered on the highly-reliable Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform.

Topre chose Infor CloudSuite Automotive as the solution comes packaged with the functionalities required by automotive suppliers, and that it is already being used extensively in the industry. Enabling advanced production and quality management, coupled with the sharing of data with automakers, and visualisation of supply chains, the suite offers cloud-based functionality for agile responses to marked changes in the industry. The Infor Automotive Exchange component of the suite, in particular, supports the unique Electronic Data Interchange system for managing sales of the main domestic automakers, and helps improve the efficiency of Topre's operations.

At the same time, Topre will adopt Infor Birst, a cloud-based business intelligence platform to utilise data accumulated in the cloud for its transformation. Together with Infor CloudSuite Automotive, Topre will build a platform for driving digital transformation aimed at improving business processes through standardisation and efficiencies, and implement data-based management and policies.

Looking ahead, Topre plans to roll out the cloud ERP solution to all its global sites, including the US, China and Thailand. Infor's cloud ERP is viewed as a platform with capability in production management, which is an absolute priority among automotive companies seeking accurate production-planning and on-time customer delivery.

Besides manufacturing pressed automotive parts which accounts for 70% of the company’s total sales, the company creates a range of products such as refrigerated trucks for the safe transportation of food, air-conditioning systems to improve comfort, and electronic equipment that is essential in the information technology economy.

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At the heart of Hytera's smart manufacturing system is the flexible production line, which utilises a manufacturing execution system to streamline the entire production process through real-time information. The production line is so flexible that it can be reorganized to manufacture many different products, ensuring a fast response to changing markets and customer demands.

This provides a flexible and agile manufacturing and supply chain system. Intelligent manufacturing and management systems, automated dispensing, assembly and functional testing are designed to guarantee production precision and high levels of efficiency. This is augmented by an automated packaging system and the ability to remotely monitor products.

Journey toward smart manufacturing does not end

The company started to automate much of its production processes in 2013  to meet demanding manufacturing criteria – including customisation and reliability of delivery cycles, for its professional mobile communications devices, such as two-way radios.

Hytera now has more than ten smart production lines. At the start of 2020,  its smart manufacturing processes officially reached Industry 4.0 stage. In the next five years, one of Hytera’s main goals is to upgrade all its manufacturing processes to keep pace with smart manufacturing standards.

The Hytera smart factory in Shenzhen incorporates intelligent warehousing and logistics systems. An important part of the global supply chain is the Hytera manufacturing centre in Zaragoza, Spain, which focuses on providing customised solutions designed to meet the specific needs of its European and American customers.

The development of smart manufacturing system is one of the main outcomes of Hytera’s strategy of continuous investment in research and development. The company invests 15% of its annual revenue in R&D and has 2,342 patents filed globally. Around 40% of its staff headcount are R&D engineers, of whom 80% hold a master’s or doctor’s degree.

Converting part of manufacturing  line for face mask production

The flexibility of Hytera’s smart manufacturing processes has also enabled the company to switch some production lines to the manufacture of disposable face masks to help combat the global shortage caused by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Production of face masks began in early February and has been rapidly ramped up to achieve mass production levels. Hytera's disposable face masks are already available in the market around the world.

Hytera’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak has gone farther.

The company immediately set up a national emergency support team and got in contact with health committees, prevention and control departments, medical institutions, and non-profit organisations throughout China to help coordinate all aspects of support, including equipment donations, communications support, and field services.

The company has also donated more than 3,000 communication devices nationwide, helping fulfil its corporate social responsibilities.

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The IoT extension module that will also leverage the intellectual property from recent technology acquisitions of Connexient and CNL Software. As a result, organisations will be able to gather a broader range of situational intelligence and automate targeted responses throughout their entire safety, security, and operational continuum – from across a global footprint to within campuses and facilities.

With the number of IoT devices expected to approach 75 billion by 2025, the Everbridge CEM platform enables organisations to use vast amounts of electronic data, including IoT sensors, to digitally transform how they manage the safety and security of their employees, customers, patients, first responders, residents, and visitors, as well as the resiliency of their operations and supply chain. CEM for IoT extends the number of use cases for the Everbridge platform within the broader critical event management market, complementing the company’s existing offerings for supply chain and wearable devices.

Helping people cope with COVID 19 pandemic

Companies, governments and healthcare organisations use CEM to mitigate risks from coronavirus with several million COVID-19 related communications deployed by Everbridge in recent weeks. The expansion of CEM for IoT enhances coronavirus-related use cases to better protect people, operations, supply chain and brand. For example, the Everbridge ecosystem supports over 1,500 healthcare entities including the top pharmaceutical, biomedical and medical device and manufacturing companies, as well as the largest healthcare systems (overseeing more than 25 percent of all hospital beds in the U.S.), managed care organisations, pharmacies, and statewide health alert networks (HANs), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). CEM for IoT improves the ability to coordinate first responders and other critical healthcare resources such as intensive care unit (ICU) beds, respirators, expert medical staff, etc., based on real-time data on the broader impact of COVID-19.

Everbridge’s IoT initiative employs the same CEM framework currently being used by industry leaders from aircraft manufacturing, financial services, entertainment & media, high tech, healthcare, hospitality, retail, pharmaceuticals, the federal government, and other sectors. The Everbridge CEM framework includes aggregating tens of thousands of data sources to identify threats; determining the relevance of a threat to an organisation’s people, facilities, assets, supply chain and reputation based on their dynamic locations; automatically initiating and orchestrating an enterprise-wide response plan using the organization’s policies and procedures and monitoring execution of that plan; while analysing cycle times and results to identify bottlenecks and improve future performance.

New acquisitions rounds out IoT capabilities

The acquisitions of Connexient and CNL Software augment the IoT capabilities of the Everbridge CEM Platform bringing the total number of out-of-the-box integrations to over 225. Integrations include numerous healthcare systems, indoor positioning, digital wayfinding, building management, access control, intruder detection, video management, and many more. Everbridge solutions secure major events, cities, states, military installations, government buildings, universities, airports, corporate campuses, and healthcare facilities, providing instrumental functionality to Safe City and Smart Building use cases across multiple critical events including coronavirus.

“The CEM platform monitors threat data streams continuously, alerts stakeholders when there is a relevant issue, and automatically orchestrates a coordinated response—it is always on,” said Imad Mouline CTO of Everbridge.

Everbridge has experience with early implementations of Safe City and Smart Building programs in both the public safety and corporate space. According to IHS Markit, the global Safe City market will reach US$35.8 billion in 2024. Brand Essence Market Research forecasts the overall Smart Building market will grow to US$59 billion in 2025. The utilisation of a network of connected devices, or IoT, will make up a portion of both markets.

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“Reaching a billion people with Windows 10 is just the beginning. We will invest in Windows not only within Windows 10 for PCs but also across many other Windows editions, serving diverse customer needs including Windows IoT, Windows 10 Teams edition for Surface Hub, Windows Server, Windows Mixed Reality on HoloLens, Windows 10 in S mode, Windows 10X and more.” said Yusuf Mehdi, CVP Modern Life, Search and Devices, Microsoft.

With 100 percent of the Fortune 500 now using Windows 10 devices, it has become a critical platform for driving business transformation in the enterprise and beyond. In addition, one in seven people, from developers, business professionals, students and families are planning, creating, ideating, executing, and doing great things with Windows 10. More companies are also transitioning from older operating systems to Windows 10 as part of their commitment to running the business more efficiently and securely, positioning themselves to offer better products, services and solutions to their customers.

From PCs, to Mixed Reality, Xbox and more

Microsoft claimed Windows 10 is the only operating system globally that runs in over 80,000 models and configurations of laptops and 2-in-1s from over 1,000 different manufacturers. The operating system also powers Windows Mixed Reality, Microsoft HoloLens and the entire Xbox family of consoles, including the latest Xbox Series X, which will be available later this year -- transforming the way people build, design, learn, play and experience the world around them.

The operating system has also enabled new categories of device creation including Surface Pro, Surface Book, and Surface Hub 2S; and will power future devices such as Surface Neo, a dual-screen device that will run Windows 10X, presenting users with unique experiences on multi-posture dual-screen PCs.

"With Windows 10, our focus has always been to put the customer at the centre, to listen to feedback, and to have that feedback shape the development process. One of the strongest examples of this customer focus is our Windows Insider Program which now has over 17.8M Insiders in every country of the world," said Mehdi.

He added: "We have also strived to make Windows an open, inclusive, and accessible platform that can empower everyone to achieve their goals. Our Windows Accessibility team focuses on human-centred design, a method where engineers and designers work to deeply understand peoples' needs, and then co-design and continuously iterate on solutions directly with them".

Windows is a diverse and powerful canvas that gives Microsoft's OEM partners the flexible tools they need to deliver innovation to the world. This can be seen in their latest devices such as the Acer ConceptD 700 workstation, ASUS ExpertBook B9, XPS 13 from Dell , HP Elite Dragonfly,  Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Book Flex α.

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The new Henkel smart factory has a high level of process automation, which enables end-to-end digitalisation of the plant operations and digitised workflows for a high efficiency in manufacturing.

It  also meets the highest standards of sustainability. It is among the very few chemical manufacturing sites to be awarded the LEED Gold certificate by the US Green Building Council based on a holistic energy efficiency concept.

“India is one of the most important emerging markets with tremendous growth opportunities for our adhesives business”, said Jan-Dirk Auris, executive vice president Henkel Adhesive Technologies.

He added: “Our trusted brands and leading solutions based on our unmatched portfolio of 40 technologies create sustainable value for our customers. With the launch of this state-of-the-art, multi-technology manufacturing facility, we have created capacities to meet the demands for our high impact solutions in this dynamic market. This investment will enable us to further drive profitable growth.”

With a built-up area of 51,000 square meters,  the new plant is India’s largest adhesive manufacturing site. It will further increase Henkel´s capabilities to serve customers across various markets including flexible packaging, automotive, agriculture and construction equipment, general industry and metals.

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Environmental conservation

Firstly, video technology can be effectively utilised to impact environmental conservation efforts. Beyond enabling the forecasting of weather, observation of coastal patterns and pollution tracking, video networking solutions have proven particularly useful in observing surroundings too delicate or dangerous for humans to monitor. Halfway around the world, this can already be seen with video technology used to track polar bear movements in Canada, which helps them maintain a safe distance from nearby cities.

Closer to home, an Australian rainforest observatory had sought to study an osprey’s nest, which was perched atop the forest canopy. To enable researchers to observe the birds and happenings surrounding the nest, researchers mounted cameras in precarious positions, which then provided remote and round-the-clock tracking on a consolidated video management platform. With these intuitive video management systems, researchers were also able to quickly download and monitor the osprey camera output from various remote research facilities.

In Singapore, this could be applied in a similar capacity, aiding the research and conservation of endangered local wildlife, or even the inspection of trees. And it’s not just stationary camera systems that provide this support; video drones also present an exciting option in enabling real-time visibility over wide expanses of land or water. Singapore’s NParks, for instance, is currently exploring drone use as part of its smart roadmap to improve efficiency in its environmental conservation and management efforts. The Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring Systems prototype will see an installation of cameras in forested areas to enable continuous, real-time monitoring and the early detection (and prevention) of forest fires.

Corporate sustainability

Beyond equipping organisations in their efforts to save the environment, video technologies, such as video analytics, can play a crucial role in sustainability strategies today – these include monitoring energy consumption and wastage and even suggesting ways in which energy-saving technologies may be applied. Such reduced energy emissions can directly correspond with significant savings in energy spend.

Video can empower everyday businesses to adopt sustainable business practices. Research continues to prove that doing one’s part for the environment and prioritizing profitability do not have to be mutually exclusive — Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had recently advocated on embracing sustainability in corporate mandates, as they actually do make ‘good business sense’. Furthermore, as Singapore realises its Smart Nation ideals, smart building solutions become increasingly pertinent considerations for business leaders. With a plethora of smart building management solutions in the market, video stands out as a multi-faceted tool that goes beyond security to provide smart metrics for intelligent workplace management.

For starters, having an AI-powered camera network within offices provides operations managers with data on key areas of traffic and footfall. This then translates to actionable insight on how office spaces and resources can be used to maximise work productivity. With IoT-backed capabilities, organisations will be able to monitor and act on common areas that are at capacity or when shared resources need to be replenished. Furthermore, these solutions can automate the adjustment of air conditioning and ventilation systems based on how populated spaces are, as well as adjust lighting requirements based on how much natural light enters the office.

Think about that for a second — simply consider the office lights, air-conditioning and digital appliances left on and charging throughout the night. This can account for a hefty percentage of your average business’ energy bills; money that could then be rechanneled into the business.

Although Singapore firms are well ahead of other countries in their smart building implementations, a simple way to effectively boost corporate sustainability efforts may lie in greater adoption of intelligent energy solutions such as these. In short, it remains a win-win situation.

Adopting video technology solutions empowers organisations to better identify opportunities to embrace sustainable business efforts, circumvent existing problem areas in wastage management and save operational costs in the long run; exemplifying how businesses can do their part for the environment, while ensuring profitability.

In a time where the technology space is saturated and existing solutions are constantly drowned out by emerging ones each day, it remains evident that there continues to be plenty of applications of video technology in enhancing our lives and environment.

There remains much more that Singapore can do for sustainability and leveraging video solutions can serve to further propel those efforts. So perhaps what sustainability requires isn’t necessarily a redo, as much as it is a rethinking and resolve in our approach. Innovation gives us a leg up in tackling today’s increasingly complex challenges, but a simple solution can already be found in video technologies.

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As part of this partnership, HKBN Enterprise Solutions has also provided connectivity support to expand the Thinxtra operated, Sigfox 0G network to achieve a population coverage of 97% in Hong Kong, making its IoT network connectivity one of the highest in the world.

As the innovator of the global 0G network standard, Sigfox is the world's leading connectivity provider for IoT. Its global network has connected billions of devices to the Internet in more than 65 countries.

Thinxtra is the local Sigfox operator for Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Macau

Removing legacy IoT barriers

Through this new partnership, HKBN Enterprise Solutions wants to eliminate legacy IoT barriers and pave the way for businesses to thrive in an everything-connected world.

"We're proud to be the first telecom carrier in Hong Kong to deliver Sigfox's world-class IoT technology and applications,” said Billy Yeung, HKBN co-owner and CEO — Enterprise Solutions. “Our work with Thinxtra will empower our customers with game-changing technology and IoT applications to significantly enhance their operational efficiency and generate new business opportunities."

Unlike conventional IoT approaches which struggle with the drawbacks of traditional network solutions (e.g. steep pricing, high bandwidth footprint, high energy consumption, and complexity of deployment and maintenance), the 0G standard relies on a compact radio protocol (each uplink message has up to just 12-bytes of payload), meaning low power consumption, low data footprint, low cost, more reliable, and easier to deploy, maintain and scale.

Because the overwhelming majority of IoT use cases require wireless sensors to send small data messages, Sigfox's unique low-energy, low-cost device-to-cloud approach makes it the ideal platform for companies to build and expand innovation via IoT.

Unleashing IoT's business potential

By leveraging Sigfox's 0G network technology, HKBN Enterprise Solutions' customers from both public and private sectors will be able to unlock the limitless potential of IoT in a simple and cost-effective manner.

From IoT-based solutions that focus on energy savings (e.g. automated lighting, air conditioning) and health & safety (e.g. sanitation leakage monitoring, indoor air quality monitoring) to transformative smart city technologies (e.g. city-wide intelligent waste management, public transport tracking), the opportunities and applications for enterprises are virtually endless.

"Thinxtra, as the local Sigfox operator for Hong Kong, is thrilled to work with HKBN Enterprise Solutions to enable 97% population coverage in Hong Kong, and we share HKBN Enterprise Solutions' vision of mass IoT business solutions,” said Joe Sun, Thinxtra, general manager for Hong Kong and Macau.

He added: “The key to successful IoT mass deployment is the power to provide proven end-to-end business solutions that deliver long term value. This is exactly what this strategic partnership between Thinxtra and HKBN Enterprise Solutions delivers, reaching from connectivity to devices and supporting services."

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Yet many organisations are facing challenges in their IoT journey. A Cisco survey reveals that only 26% of the surveyed companies consider their IoT initiatives a success, with a majority saying they were more complicated or took longer than expected. Sixty percent of the top IT executives polled by Cognizant’s Centre for the Future of Work said IoT will add tremendous complexity to their IT infrastructure in areas such as networking, integration and data analysis.

In reaping the benefits of IoT, enterprises face many challenges, including integration of the IoT infrastructure with existing systems, understanding unfamiliar data formats, and communication protocols as well as implementing new technologies across the IoT continuum. Navigating these challenges requires careful planning, domain knowledge, and rigorous implementation. In order to make the IoT initiatives a success, there are five essential requirements for processes and practices that organisations should consider:

1. Edge computing/analytics

Edge computing, a technology that is expected to grow at a high 40% rate in Asia Pacific by 2023, captures and analyses data on distributed devices positioned at the edge of a network. It involves both local sensors that gather data and edge gateways that process it. Edge computing enables data analysis close to where it is captured, resulting in faster response to changing conditions. In fact, an edge-processing system can respond in a few milliseconds, compared with a cloud system, which could take more than 100 milliseconds.

Before considering edge computing, organisations should, firstly, fully assess lifetime device costs at the planning stage, factoring in the operational overhead expenses, such as monitoring, upgrades, and power requirement. Secondly, they need to create policies to secure devices with appropriate firewalls and hardened operating systems, and encrypt data at rest and in transit. Lastly, organisations should assess which analyses are most time-critical for their business and perform them at the edge to allow immediate action.

2. Data ingestion and stream processing

Six out of 10 IT executives say collecting, storing, integrating  and analysing real-time data from endpoint devices is a key  barrier to a successful IoT implementation. Organisations should put processes in place to gather data from multiple devices and sensors, and transform it for use by cloud-based analytic platforms. Data ingestion refers to device telemetry data being imported and converted into a format usable by cloud-based IoT services. It helps to normalise the data into a common data model that is easier to analyse by business applications and users. Data ingestion also comes handy when organisations have to ensure that ingested data is stored in compliance with government or industry regulations, such as European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation or Personal Data Protection Act in Singapore.

3. Security and device management

With rapid proliferation of IoT sensors, and growing complexity and volume of data exchanges, it is imperative for organisations to strengthen their adoption and enforcement of highly evolved security practices and procedures. The scale of investments, talent as well as thought leadership around security would need to dramatically increase as IoT implementations grow in scale and start becoming the backbone of day-to-day operations in organisations.

Businesses need to ensure their IoT devices are provisioned securely, communicate efficiently, and can be updated with accelerated and agile approaches. Device management covers the hardware, software, and the processes that ensure devices are properly registered, managed, secured, and upgraded.

Required functions include device configuration, security, command dispatching, operational control, remote monitoring, and troubleshooting. The organisation will need to account for these functions, even if the cloud provider doesn’t offer the required device management components. Comprehensive device management enables connected devices to easily and securely communicate with other devices and cloud platforms, while helping the enterprise reliably scale to billions of connected devices and trillions of messages.

4. Cold path and advanced analytics

Currently, large-scale processing can include loads greater than 100,000 events per second. With the adoption of cold path processing, large amounts of data are analysed by advanced algorithms after the data is stored on the cloud platform.

Such analysis can uncover trends or corrective actions needed to improve the business or customer experience. Unlike streaming analytics (hot path) that apply relatively simple rules to data in real time for short-term actions (detecting fraud, security breaches, or critical component failures), cold path processing involves more sophisticated big data analytics, such as machine learning and AI, being applied to provide deeper insights.

To drive the most insights from data, organisations should consider using a complex event processing framework that combines data from multiple sources, such as enterprise applications and IoT devices, to dynamically define and process analytical rules by inferring meaning from complex situations. It is also important to aggregate data before than during analysis to improve processing speed. Usage of data lakes, which store data in their native format, can also help consolidate data and allow easier access. Organisations should also consider creating dedicated data services to make it easier for users to access data on demand.

5. Enterprise integration with business systems

IoT insights need to be delivered to enterprise systems and receive reference metadata in order to interpret device data. Integration with business applications and enterprise systems enables the sharing of raw and processed data, as well as analysis-driven insights.

With deep enterprise integration, the IoT architecture can deliver benefits such as improved efficiencies, reduced costs, increased sales, heightened customer satisfaction, and the ability to create and lead new markets. To share data and insights, businesses need mechanisms such as application programming interface (API) gateways, service buses and custom connectors.

Every IoT implementation will be distinct, depending on each business’s requirements, expected outcomes, levels of IoT and data skills, and technology infrastructure maturity. In all cases, however, these five requirements are essential to ensuring a successful IoT implementation, with minimal cost and delay. Each enterprise must conduct a rigorous needs assessment, and carefully plan its roadmap to deliver a flexible, secure, and scalable IoT solution. To help guide the implementation, organisations should also consider using pre-built solutions, reference architectures, and blueprints from experienced technology service providers.

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This reliance on physical labour resulted in low productivity and inconsistent quality. Customer numbers and orders were low, affecting workers’ income. Realising that it was imperative to embrace automation, the company deployed two UR10 cobots (collaborative robots) to undertake two tasks: pick and place and machine tending.

The state-owned coal and mining giant, a subsidiary of the Vinacomin Group, has sought the help of Universal Robots (UR) to future-proof production processes by deploying the latter’s popular cobots at its manufacturing plants.

VMIC reached out to local automation systems integrator Vnstar Automation JSC (Vnstar) - a partner of Servo Dynamics Engineering (Servo), a UR distributor in Vietnam - to automate its processes.

“Although new to robotics, VMIC’s engineering team successfully deployed the cobots in about a month after receiving three days of theoretical training and two days of hands-on experience from our team. We also provided proactive and responsive technical support, ensuring there was little disruption to the workflow,” said Kelly Kao, director at Servo Dynamics Engineering.

He pointed out that the cobots’ advanced safety features enable employees to work alongside the cobots safely, with no fencing.

“No changes were needed to the work space, saving costs while improving productivity,” Kao said.

To date, VMIC has seen productivity increase two to three times, with improved product quality, leading to a 50% to 60% percent rise in orders.

Darrell Adams, head of Southeast Asia & Oceania at UR said cobots continue to offer businesses in Southeast Asia vast benefits to transform their manufacturing processes and remain competitive.

“VMIC is exemplary of this, automating its once heavily-reliant manual processes and now boasting high productivity and better output quality,” he noted. “And we are the forefront of cobot technology, helping businesses like VMIC accelerate the transition to smarter production and sustainable growth.”

Vietnam is a key market for UR as automation demand rises. The automation and control market in Vietnam is estimated to be worth US$184.5million by 2021 according to Frost and Sullivan. Since its entry into the market in 2016, UR has doubled its network of distributors and systems integrators, covering Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Growing Adoption of Robotics in Southeast Asia

Adams expects greater cobot technology adoption in the Southeast Asia as companies realise the immense potential of automation.

Robot adoption is increasing in the region. According to the International Federation of Robotics, Asia is the largest industrial robot market, with over 280,000 units installed last year. While Southeast Asia makes up a small share of that total, the region has steadily seen an increase in installed robots annually.  Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia are ranked among the 30 largest markets in 2018 with a total of 87,100 operational robots. The electronics and automotive industries remain the largest robot users in the region.

Singapore claimed the highest robot density globally in 2018 with 831 robots per 10,000 workers, followed by Malaysia and Thailand with 52 and 51 units each. Digitalisation and greater automation in industrial production is expected to drive robot installations. Countries such as Malaysia and Thailand are expected to see an average annual growth rate of 5 to 15 percent from 2020 to 2022.

“Beyond the mining industry,  cobots are deployed in sectors such as automotive, electronics, textile, pharmaceuticals, footwear and food processing industries,” Adams said.

VMIC eyes further expand robotics adoption

In the next few years, VMIC aims to add three to five more UR cobots in order to automate more processes in their factories.

“Since using the cobots, our productivity has increased two to three-fold and product quality is now very consistent. This has led to a rise in orders, as much as 50% to 60% and subsequently, an increase in workers’ income,” said Pham Xuan Phi, CEO, VMIC.

He revealed that with the UR10 cobots, fewer workers are needed on the factory floor, enabling VMIC to assign some of them to higher-level tasks, which in turn increase worker satisfaction and reduce the risk of workplace accidents”

“Return on investment (ROI) in Vietnam for such robotic investment is typically between six to eight years, but we are expected to reach it within just one or two years,” Pham said.

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According to Ronald Wong, general manager for Hong Kong and Macau at Lenovo, enterprise customers in the city are still in the consultative phase about new projects involving new technologies such as IoT. However, Lenovo is keen to have a sit at the table in this early stage to get a foothold into the market.

“Companies are still looking into which specific area is ready to pilot the technology,” Wong said. “However,  I think it is the right time for us to talk to them in order to understand their pain points and their readiness. We can then put together our understanding on the coming market trends with their understanding on their particular industry. We can start to work on what could be some of the potential IoT scenarios that they can work on and we can agree with the customers to prioritise.”

Working on the three vertical sectors

Lenovo sees three vertical sectors in Hong Kong that show huge potential for wide IoT adoption. First among these is in the smart workplace environment where companies can use IoT to determine the number of desks it needs support employees in the office.

“From industry analysis, we know that one desk can cost US$200-US$250 per month to manage. If I’m running an office of 100 employees and if I have to spend $250 per month per desk, is there a way I can optimise the usage of the desk?” said Vinay Solanki, head of IoT business for APAC at Lenovo.

By adopting smart workplace approaches such as hot desking or what they call a flexi-working arrangement, companies can actually plan for an 80-seat office to accommodate 100 to 120 employees.

“The reason is because we know that everyday occupancy will never reach 100%,” Solanki said. “Some of the employees will be salespeople; some people will be working from home; some people will be on vacation; which means I don’t need 100 spaces in the office to accommodate 100 employees. That’s where the usage of smart office comes into play. There are a few other used cases like allowing you to book a meeting room on demand and so on.”

For smart retail, Lenovo hopes to help companies use IoT to help improve their customer experience with several in-store solutions such as self-checkout, mobile payment, backend inventory management system as well as facial recognition  system – all of which can generate data that help retailers predicts and anticipate customer needs/

For smart transportation, Lenovo hopes to work with transport operators on solutions that would help monitor drivers’ behaviour in real-time. And the technology vendor also hopes to work with other transport-related areas such as monitoring traffic jams across the city.

Being at the heart of the IoT hardware lifecycle management

According to Solanki, Lenovo is positioning itself to be at the centre of the hardware management lifecycle of the IoT ecosystem.

“The one of the biggest challenges right now is how to  manage an IoT solution landscape -which means which do you understand how to manage the complete hardware lifecycle? We call that the hardware lifecycle management under IoT, which means starting from sourcing the hardware to supplying it to the customers, maintaining it and managing it in the customers’ premises throughout the lifecycle of the solution of IoT, not the product,” Solanki said.

“While we are still working on it, I think the key of value that we are looking at to offer to the market is on the capability that we already have explored and has matured over past many years as part of our heritage,” he added.

Also, Wong pointed out that the company has invested in new technologies such as IoT in the past two to three years. In fact, its newly launched ThinkCentre  IoT devices are now being used to help some local startups build their IoT solutions.

Besides innovating on smart IoT devices, Wong said Lenovo is keen to work with other technology partners in providing different parts of the IoT ecosystem – particularly where smart infrastructure is concerned.

“Whenever we have the hardware devices, it will be for Lenovo to work with the ecosystem partners or specifically targeting in some enterprises on smart cities’ solutions,” Wong said. “In the smart infrastructure areas, combining all of the PCs, servers, storage and together with the new VR, AR technologies, we’ll be providing an ecosystem. Then, we’ll urge to work with the solution partners, making Lenovo readier to provide the total solution to the market.”

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In the latest Warehousing Vision Study, 73% of decision makers in the APAC region said that they are  planning to make the investment in the next three years.

This is one of the key messages in the global study that included 1,403 (of which 352 were from APAC) IT and operational decision makers in the manufacturing, transportation & logistics, retail, post and parcel delivery and wholesale distribution markets in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe who were interviewed by Qualtrics, on behalf of Zebra Technologies.  The study hoped to get insights into for the respondents’ current and planned strategies to modernise their warehouses, distribution centres and fulfilment centres.

Another key finding for the region is that 87% of respondents plan to implement a mobile execution system to better manage workers on the warehouse floor by 2024.

“Warehouse leaders today are turning to technology to address business critical challenges resulting from this global phenomenon, by adopting advanced technology and empowering their workers with a performance edge,” said Aik Jin Tan, APAC vertical solutions lead for manufacturing and transportation & logistics at Zebra Technologies. Zebra Technologies delivers industry-tailored solutions to elevate shopping experience, track and manage inventory as well as improve supply chain efficiency and patient care.

Meanwhile, Tan pointed out that expanding space, implementing new processes and enhancing workflows are only part of the equation.

“By 2024, warehouse leaders will be shifting their focus to the integration of more holistic solutions to build data-powered environments that balance labour and automation in the warehouse, ultimately empowering front-line workers with a performance edge to lead the way,” Tan said.

He added: “To match up to the on-demand mentality of consumers, decision makers will need to quickly train their front-line workers to fill orders more efficiently. Outdated Windows devices running green-screen applications are not designed to match the speed and volume of today’s on-demand economy.

“Conversely, modern Zebra Android touch-screen devices like the MC9300, MC3330R and MC3390R are designed for faster, more flexible operation that improves warehouse performance to meet the expectations of demanding consumers today.”

Key focus on automation and worker augmentation

The study revealed that both automation and worker augmentation solutions will be a key focus for decision makers’ plans over the next five years.

More than three-quarters (81%) of respondents agree that augmenting workers with technology is the best way to introduce automation in the warehouse, but only 34% have a clear understanding of where to start automating.

Currently, up to 88% of decision makers are either in the process of or are planning to expand the size of their warehouses by 2024. Meanwhile, up to 85% anticipate an increase in the number of warehouses during this timeframe.

“The on-demand economy has fuelled that "want-it-now" mentality of consumers today, who are on the hunt for products almost 24/7. These demands have disrupted the supply chain, impacting manufacturers, retailers and the warehousing operations that serve their need,” said Fang-How Lim, regional director for Southeast Asia, Zebra Technologies.

He added: “Our study further revealed that 49% of the surveyed business leaders reported an increase in consumer demand as a top driver for growth, with almost 40% of respondents stating that shorter order lead times are fuelling their expansion plans and causing them to reanalyse their strategies.”

Below are some the key survey findings:

By 2024, automation will enhance worker performance rather than replace workers.

• 57% of decision makers plan to enable partial automation or labour augmentation with technology in the warehouse.
• 70% of respondents believe human interaction is part of their optimal balance in warehousing, with 43% citing partial automation (some human involvement) and 27% citing augmentation (equipping workers with devices) as their preference.
• Decision makers anticipate using robotics for inbound inventory management (27%), packing (24%) and goods in/receiving (21%) by 2024.

Rethinking fulfilment strategies and operations to meet emerging challenges across the warehouse remains a top priority.

• 68% of respondents cited capacity utilization as one of their top expected challenges over the next five years.
• 68% of organizations cited labour recruitment and/or labour efficiency and productivity among their top challenges, with 62% of respondents wanting to improve individual worker or team productivity today while also achieving workflow conformity.
• IT/technology utilization was identified both as the biggest operational challenge (68%) within the next five years and a desired long-term outcome for increased asset visibility, real-time guidance and data-driven performance.
• As warehouses expand, so will the volume of stock keeping units (SKUs) and the speed items need to be shipped. Decision makers will seek increased visibility and productivity by implementing more robust returns management operations (85%), task interleaving (85%), value-added services (84%) and third-party logistics (88%).

The investment and implementation of new technologies is critical for remaining competitive in the on-demand economy.

• Almost half (48%) of surveyed respondents cited faster delivery to end-customers as the primary factor driving their warehouse growth plans.
• Three-quarters (75%) of decision makers agree that they need to modernize warehouse operations to remain competitive in the on-demand economy but are admittedly slow to implement new mobile devices and technology.
• 73% of companies are currently modernizing their warehouses by equipping workers with mobile devices. By 2024, modernization will be driven by Android-based mobile computing solutions (90%), real-time location systems (RTLS) (60%) and full-featured warehouse management systems (WMS) (55%).
• 66% of respondents cited mobile barcode label or thermal printers as a key area of investment as part of their plans to add, expand or upgrade devices in the next three years.

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The Gartner “AI and ML Development Strategies” study was conducted via an online survey in December 2018 with 106 Gartner Research Circle Members noted that 59% said that they have AI deployed today.

Jim Hare, research vice president at Gartner, acknowledged a substantial acceleration in AI adoption in 2018. “The rising number of AI projects means that organizations may need to reorganize internally to make sure that AI projects are properly staffed and funded. It is a best practice to establish an AI Center of Excellence to distribute skills, obtain funding, set priorities and share best practices in the best possible way,” he added,

Responded expect to add six more projects in the next 12 months, and another 15 within the next three years (see Figure 1). This means that by 2022, those organizations expect to have an average of 35 AI or ML projects in place.

Figure 1: The average number of AI or ML projects deployed

Source: Gartner (JULY 2019)

Drivers

Forty per cent of organizations named customer experience (CX) as their top motivator to use AI technology. While technologies such as chatbots or virtual personal assistants can be used to serve external clients, 56% of the respondent organization today use AI internally to support decision making and give recommendations to employees.

“It is less about replacing human workers and more about augmenting and enabling them to make better decisions faster,” Hare said.

Twenty per cent of respondents named automating tasks as the second most important motivator. Examples of automation include tasks such as invoicing and contract validation in finance or automated screening and robotic interviews in HR.

The top challenges to adopting AI for respondents were a lack of skills (56%), understanding AI use cases (42%), and concerns with data scope or quality (34%). According to Hare, finding the right staff skills is a major concern whenever advanced technologies are involved.

“Skill gaps can be addressed using service providers, partnering with universities, and establishing training programs for existing employees. However, establishing a solid data management foundation is not something that you can improvise. Reliable data quality is critical for delivering accurate insights, building trust and reducing bias. Data readiness must be a top concern for all AI projects,” he explained.

Measuring success

Gartner says many organizations use efficiency as a target success measurement when they seek to measure a project’s merit.

“Using efficiency targets as a way of showing value is more prevalent in organizations who say they are conservative or mainstream in their adoption profiles. Companies who say they’re aggressive in adoption strategies were much more likely instead to say they were seeking improvements in customer engagement,” said Whit Andrews, distinguished vice president, analyst at Gartner.

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South Korean wireless operator SK Telecom envisions an environment where “only a smartphone is needed to fulfill all office tasks.”

According to the plan, desktop PCs and laptops will be replaced with mobile virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), which enables employees “to do their work on a shared monitor without any PC or laptop by connecting their smartphones to the docking pad.”

Landline business phones will disappear, according to SK Telecom. But its mobile business phone service “will provide two separate phone numbers for business and personal use, allowing employees to access all existing features of a business phone from their smartphones.”

On June 5, 2019, SK Telecom signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Samsung Electronics and Cisco to realize the vision.

Under the MOU, the three companies will work together to plan and develop a comprehensive smart office package that will be launched in the second half of 2019.

The comprehensive smart office package will include a mobile business phone, collaboration solutions, mobile-centric work environment, and 5G network.

“Along with the smart factory, the smart office is considered a key 5G-based service for businesses, which will significantly improve work efficiency and productivity,” SK Telecom said in a news release.

In February 2019, SK Telecom has already unveiled its 5G smart office at Centropolis Building located in downtown Seoul. It featured a ‘5G walking-through’ system, which allows entry without ID cards/passes via AI-based facial recognition and a mobile VDI docking system that replaces desktops to realize an optimal work environment.

“The idea of a digital workspace that Cisco is in pursuit of has now embarked upon a fast track with the opening of the 5G era,” said Choi Ji-hee, Vice-President of Cisco Korea. “Cisco will work together with SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics to provide users with the best smart office experience.”

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The telecommunications and technology industries, businesses and even governments are investing significantly in new technology, be it 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT) or digital transformation. As emerging technology enters the market with pilot-tests and commercial launches, 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) will come together to realise the near future, where all products will be “born connected.” This implies that connectivity is not an afterthought.

Designing with the customer in mind

Some hotspots in these developments largely circle around 5G and IoT. What makes them the talk of the town? Coupling 5G with IoT will help unlock possibilities in fields like smart factories and autonomous vehicles.

However, it is always important to take a step back and have the customer or user in mind. How do we help the factory workers do their jobs better? How can enterprises track progress and lapses with more visibility? How can we operate more sustainably on both business and environmental fronts?

Part of the digital transformation process involves a problem-solving mindset, rather than a technology-first one. Technology is advancing fast. Sometimes, even faster than processes and infrastructure can adapt. This brings us to what makes regional IoT deployment an arduous task, where the slightest of gaps gets magnified with the scale of deployment.

Common challenges in regional IoT deployment

Highly fragmented markets within a region. It is important to recognise that when it comes to IoT, there are varying levels of development in each market. The state of development is highly fragmented even in markets within a region. Different governments mean different regulations, which alters the playing field dramatically.

Another key factor is in market readiness and characteristics, where some markets could lack in terms of infrastructure and use cases vary according to needs. For example, markets like Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia could benefit from IoT in the farming industry but face adoption barriers. Having an understanding or sensitivity to such nuances within the market could go a long way.

There is no one-size fits all solution. IoT development is still in progress. Expertise in this field is also very niche. You will need to figure out how to customise the various elements of the solution to realise your final product. The present climate is such that the individual components of an IoT solution originate from different parties. The hardware might come from one vendor, the software from another, the connectivity from an operator and the security layers by another third party.

Having this many parties involved in a single product will require lots of coordination, possibly dragging the product development timeline and testing periods. That is a significant investment in terms of time and resources, which could affect your return of investment (ROI).

Connecting disparate systems. Working with multiple parties with different systems will entail spending time to integrate them, allow communication and distilling key information for users. The need to redesign operation processes might also emerge during the integration.   

Simplifying workflows for the business and user

When it comes to strategizing your regional IoT deployment, choosing the right mix of partners that have future-proofed their solution is really important in ensuring a smooth delivery process. Considerations in partner selection include whether they have a good understanding and proven experience in working together on multiple projects, providing end-to-end solutions to customers as one seamless team. It is also a good idea to reduce the number of partners required, so that it lightens the load when it comes to management.

The value of harmonization can be seen on multiple fronts, be it integration or service levels and support, or even pricing and commercial models. It is important to avoid having pricing as the sole consideration when seeking IoT solutions. There are lots of potential hidden costs and liabilities over and above headline costs if the solution is not a good fit for your product, or if the eventual operating model is not efficient.

Simplifying workflows will allow you to focus on designing your solution to in turn, simplify the lives of others. With 5G complementing the opportunities that IoT can unlock, we can expect to see an amplification of how the process of regional IoT deployment can be further simplified. That is the magic of the future revolution with 5G and IoT.

Bridge Alliance will be at ConnecTechAsia 2019 in Singapore. Visit David and his team at the Bridge Alliance booth in BY3-05, MBS Basement 2. Speak with them to learn more about how enterprises can simplify their regional IoT deployment with a network of top tier operators and technology providers.

Ms. Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance, will also be speaking at the summit on “Maximising the Power of IoT” as well as participating at a CXO Roundtable on “5G: The Future Game Changer of Data, Networks and Consumption”. View the full summit programme here.

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Business leaders in Singapore were much more likely to have installed smart building initiatives, such as networked appliances and energy efficiency measures, compared with other countries, according to Condeco.

Almost three-quarters (72%) of Singapore respondents said their offices had these measures, compared with around half (55%) of respondents as a whole, it added.

Peter Otto, Chief Product Officer, at Condeco, said "it's been only two years since Singapore launched it's Smart Nation initiative, but ""it really looks like it's paying dividends."

"Our survey respondents were well ahead of other countries in significant areas like smart building initiatives, and this is having a knock-on effect on their use of other technologies in the workspace, for example using apps to book meeting rooms, cloud computing and the internet of things," he explained.

Singapore's Smart Nation initiative is a government-backed program in place since 2017, which aims to merge technology into every aspect of Singapore citizens' lives.

Condeco said that compared to last year's survey, Singapore businesses had seen a significant increase (17%) in the use of mobile apps to book meeting rooms. Respondents in Singapore were also more likely than average to say they expect certain key technologies to be important over the next 12 months.

"Cloud computing is likely to be important for 55% of businesses in Singapore, compared with 46% for the survey as a whole, with similar responses for the internet of things (50% versus 35%) and big data (46%, versus 33%)," it added.

The report, which draws on a survey of 750 business leaders in six countries, followed by qualitative interviews, found that digital transformation (37%) was the biggest challenge that business leaders across the globe are facing in the next 12 months, followed by the adoption of new technology (35%).

Across all countries surveyed, access to talent supply (26%) and regulation and compliance (24%) are considered greater organizational challenges than business uncertainty (22%).

Condeco said the report, "The Modern Workplace 2019: People, places & technology," draws from a quantitative survey of 750 business leaders in six countries: the UK, the USA, France, Germany, Australia, and Singapore.

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This offers insurers opportunities to provide personalized risk protection services, safe driver incentives, and more. Accenture has the vision, industry knowledge, skills and capabilities to help insurance organizations develop and execute the right IoT strategies.

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Paul drives EY initiatives and investments in blockchain technology across consulting, audit and tax business lines. He has held a number of leadership positions in the areas of internet of things, supply chain and operations and business strategy, working with many client organizations.

He led EY first blockchain strategy engagement, examining how digital services, payments and internet of things are coming together in new ecosystems, and building a strategy and technology road map for one of EY’s major clients.

He has 20 years of consulting and strategy experience in mobile and electronics. Prior to joining EY, he served as Vice President and Global Industry Leader of Electronics at a multinational technology company.

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For Keating, the ability to engage with her fans, her audience, directly can be as important, if not more important, than receiving monetary compensation for her work. And she is not alone in this view. The financial services industry has started to accept the premise that the only way they will emerge unscathed by the onslaught of digital disruption is by harnessing the power of data.

The use of technology to disrupt traditional financial services, and in the process introduce new players in the market, has caused incumbent financial institutions to investigate emerging technologies like advanced analytics, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more recently, the Internet of Things or IoT.

Some of the early use cases are in wearables, payments, blockchain-based smart contracts, using beacons to create smart banking experiences, home banking, and chatbots.

But as Chris Lim, partner, advisory – risk & regulatory at EY, caution in the rush to identify and mine innovative ways of using IoT in banking and insurance, vendors are responding with solutions that are not built with an appreciation for how regulations have evolved to safeguard both customers and the financial institutions that serve them.

To date, IoT is being used in product planning and management, to help in creating tailored marketing for the customer of one, is being used to deliver so-called proactive service, and the growing popularity of wearables is making its way into retail banking and insurance.

Lack of standards: the number one problem of IoT

As with all emerging technologies and free market society, everyone hopes that their approach becomes the standard.

IDC predicts that by 2020 50% of IT networks will transition from having excess capacity for handling the additional IoT devices, to being network constrained with nearly 10% of sites being overwhelmed. Within a year, 40% of IoT-created data will be stored, processed, analyzed, and acted upon close to, or at the edge of the network, predicts the analyst.

But to get to this future, the world will need to come to the understanding that standards must be applied to reduce risk while providing viable economic returns to everyone.

In a press release, M2M Alliance chairman, Dr. Andreas Fink said: “Uniform standards and appropriate certificates would eliminate the greatest weak points from the outset. “If we want to ensure that insufficiently protected hardware cannot become a mass phenomenon, the industrial, research and political sectors need to sit down and work together on solutions.”

Security: the other number one problem of IoT

In a similar vein, financial institutions are wrestling with defining use cases for IoT. The Smart Payment Association (SPA) paper, IoT Payments: addressing the protection problem, raises several concerns about the security of mobile payments. It refers to a Symantec claim that “the number of malicious attacks on IoT-enabled devices grew some 600% between 2016/17.”

IoT is certainly a large and growing target, and with personal data ‘gold’ on offer for successful hackers, there’s every reason to assume attacks will continue to grow in volume, ferocity, and sophistication.

But just because risks abound shouldn’t stop the industry, and the rest of the ecosystem, from stopping to develop and evolve the technology. The SPA points out that where payment is concerned the opportunities are many. The SPA believes that the industry should push ahead, but to “do so with caution and a better understanding of how to protect these internet-connected devices to minimize the risk of attack and fraud.”

What to do now

In the short term, such security standards and mandatory certificates may cause growth in the IoT sector to be somewhat slower than predicted by Gartner and other studies at the moment. However, in the long term, secure solutions should contribute to its popularity and thereby encourage further growth.

Lim offers this advice: “Focus back on the fundamentals and then in the back of that overlay what exactly you use cases and then you're probably in good hands.”

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IDC predicts APEJ to become the world’s largest market for robotics applications followed by the United States and Japan. Both are expected to record for more than 61.6% of the world’s entire robotics market in 2022.

"To survive the escalating competition, APEJ manufacturing organizations surveyed by IDC in 2018 are putting robotics as their top priority for technology investment," said Dr. Jing Bing Zhang, Research Director for Worldwide Robotics at IDC. “While the uncertainty of the trade war between the United States and China is likely to dampen the market growth in the near term, we expect the growth trend to pick up from 2020 onward.”

Discrete and process manufacturing are the dominant industries in robotics (including drones) spending, which turns over 58.1% of the overall spend in APEJ in 2019. Largely, welding and assembling use cases in discrete manufacturing, whilst pick and pack, and bottling use cases in process manufacturing are driving the robotics spend in 2019.

However, customer deliveries, vegetable seeding and planting are the drone use cases which we expect to grow at fast pace with a five-year CAGR 126.4% and CAGR 112.1% respectively over the forecast period (2017-22).

“There has been an intensive wave of industrial automation for which robotics and drones provide a major base; hence attracting investments with each passing year. Under Robotics, despite Manufacturing being a dominant industry in this area, investments will continue to increase in resource industry, retail, construction, among others,” said Swati Chaturvedi, Senior Market Analyst at IDC.

“On the other hand, drones, which are majorly a consumer-oriented technology, are gaining momentum in its industrial usage by enterprises and governments alike for tasks as mundane as filmmaking and inspection or as complex as agricultural uses, mining operations assistance, and insurance assessment,” he continued.

From a technology perspective, hardware purchases related spending on robotics systems (including drones) in APEJ, which includes industrial, service and consumer robots and after-market hardware, is forecast to grow to US$81.0 billion in 2022.

China accounts largest market share in the Asia Pacific robotics (including drones) market, with spending on robotics expected to reach US$80.5 billion, representing 62.2% of APEJ region's total spending in 2022.

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Monica Collier, IDC's ANZ practice research manager, noted that "Companies are finding that their proof-of-concept projects are revealing wider issues around security and infrastructure that must be addressed in order for them to deploy commercial-scale IoT systems.”

She says Australian companies are trying to use IoT data to generate insights about new product development and to improve customer service but are struggling to find useful insights within the data collected. They also face issues with data integration and have problems capturing enough data for the analytics to be meaningful, according to Collier.

“Many Australian enterprises told IDC that they want IoT vendors to improve their analytics and data visualization offerings so that the systems provide greater value ‘out of the box’. However, companies also need to be realistic and not aim too high when first deploying new systems. Leveraging the data to get closer to customers and creating new business models is what really excites people about IoT, but to start with, analytics is about operational efficiencies and productivity gains," she added.

"To move past the barriers inhibiting production scale IoT, organisations have to solve the broader security and upgrade issues. At the same time, IoT vendors need to be supporting enterprises with IoT security expertise, more comprehensive analytics and helping measure how solutions are performing against business requirements," Collier concluded.

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Gartner defines a strategic technology trend as one with substantial disruptive potential that is beginning to break out of an emerging state into broader impact and use, or which are rapidly growing trends with a high degree of volatility reaching tipping points over the next five years.

“The Intelligent Digital Mesh has been a consistent theme for the past two years and continues as a major driver through 2019. Trends under each of these three themes are a key ingredient in driving a continuous innovation process as part of a ContinuousNEXT strategy,” said David Cearley, vice president and Gartner Fellow.

Gartner defines ContinuousNEXT as the future evolution of concepts introduced by the analyst in recent years, and that will build momentum through digital transformation and beyond.

“For example, artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of automated things and augmented intelligence is being used together with IoT, edge computing and digital twins to deliver highly integrated smart spaces. This combinatorial effect of multiple trends coalescing to produce new opportunities and drive new disruption is a hallmark of the Gartner top 10 strategic technology trends for 2019,” elaborated Cearley.

The top 10 strategic technology trends for 2019 are:

Autonomous Things, such as robots, drones and autonomous vehicles, use AI to automate functions previously performed by humans. Their automation goes beyond the automation provided by rigid programing models and they exploit AI to deliver advanced behaviors that interact more naturally with their surroundings and with people.

“As autonomous things proliferate, we expect a shift from stand-alone intelligent things to a swarm of collaborative intelligent things, with multiple devices working together, either independently of people or with human input,” said Cearley.

Augmented analytics focuses on a specific area of augmented intelligence, using machine learning (ML) to transform how analytics content is developed, consumed and shared. Augmented analytics capabilities will advance rapidly to mainstream adoption, as a key feature of data preparation, data management, modern analytics, business process management, process mining and data science platforms.

Automated insights from augmented analytics will also be embedded in enterprise applications — for example, those of the HR, finance, sales, marketing, customer service, procurement and asset management departments — to optimize the decisions and actions of all employees within their context, not just those of analysts and data scientists. Augmented analytics automates the process of data preparation, insight generation and insight visualization, eliminating the need for professional data scientists in many situations.

AI-Driven Development refers to a future business model where a professional application developer can operate alone using predefined models delivered as a service – without the need for support from data scientists. This provides the developer with an ecosystem of AI algorithms and models, as well as development tools tailored to integrating AI capabilities and models into a solution.

Gartner forecasts that by 2022, at least 40% of new application development projects will have AI co-developers on their team.

“Ultimately, highly advanced AI-powered development environments automating both functional and non-functional aspects of applications will give rise to a new age of the ‘citizen application developer’ where non-professionals will be able to use AI-driven tools to automatically generate new solutions. Tools that enable non-professionals to generate applications without coding are not new, but we expect that AI-powered systems will drive a new level of flexibility,” said Cearley.

A digital twin refers to the digital representation of a real-world entity or system. By 2020, Gartner estimates there will be more than 20 billion connected sensors and endpoints and digital twins will exist for potentially billions of things. Organizations will implement digital twins simply at first. They will evolve them over time, improving their ability to collect and visualize the right data, apply the right analytics and rules, and respond effectively to business objectives.

“One aspect of the digital twin evolution that moves beyond IoT will be enterprises implementing digital twins of their organizations (DTOs). A DTO is a dynamic software model that relies on operational or other data to understand how an organization operationalizes its business model, connects with its current state, deploys resources and responds to changes to deliver expected customer value,” said Cearley.

Empowered Edge refers to the growing trend of bringing computing resources (or topology) and content closer to the edge where it is needed. One of the goals is to keep the traffic and processing local, with the goal being to reduce traffic and latency.

In the near term, edge is being driven by IoT and the need to keep the processing close to the end rather than on a centralized cloud server. However, rather than create a new architecture, cloud computing and edge computing will evolve as complementary models with cloud services being managed as a centralized service executing, not only on centralized servers, but in distributed servers on-premises and on the edge devices themselves.

Over the next five years, specialized AI chips, along with greater processing power, storage and other advanced capabilities, will be added to a wider array of edge devices. The extreme heterogeneity of this embedded IoT world and the long life cycles of assets such as industrial systems will create significant management challenges.

Longer term, as 5G matures, the expanding edge computing environment will have more robust communication back to centralized services. 5G provides lower latency, higher bandwidth, and (very importantly for edge) a dramatic increase in the number of nodes (edge endpoints) per square km.

Conversational platforms are changing the way in which people interact with the digital world. Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) are changing the way in which people perceive the digital world. This combined shift in perception and interaction models leads to the future immersive user experience.

“Over time, we will shift from thinking about individual devices and fragmented user interface (UI) technologies to a multi-channel and multi-modal experience. The multi-modal experience will connect people with the digital world across hundreds of edge devices that surround them, including traditional computing devices, wearables, automobiles, environmental sensors and consumer appliances,” said Cearley.

Blockchain, a type of distributed ledger, promises to reshape industries by enabling trust, providing transparency and reducing friction across business ecosystems potentially lowering costs, reducing transaction settlement times and improving cash flow.

Today, trust is placed in banks, clearinghouses, governments and many other institutions as central authorities with the “single version of the truth” maintained securely in their databases. The centralized trust model adds delays and friction costs (commissions, fees and the time value of money) to transactions. Blockchain provides an alternative trust mode and removes the need for central authorities in arbitrating transactions.

”Current blockchain technologies and concepts are immature, poorly understood and unproven in mission-critical, at-scale business operations. This is particularly so with the complex elements that support more sophisticated scenarios,” said Cearley. “Despite the challenges, the significant potential for disruption means CIOs and IT leaders should begin evaluating blockchain, even if they don’t aggressively adopt the technologies in the next few years.”

Cearly many blockchain initiatives today are positioned as a means to achieve operational efficiency by automating business processes, or by digitizing records. They have the potential to enhance sharing of information among known entities, as well as improving opportunities for tracking and tracing physical and digital assets. However, these approaches miss the value of true blockchain disruption and may increase vendor lock-in.

A smart space is a physical or digital environment in which humans and technology-enabled systems interact in increasingly open, connected, coordinated and intelligent ecosystems. Multiple elements — including people, processes, services and things — come together in a smart space to create a more immersive, interactive and automated experience for a target set of people and industry scenarios.

“This trend has been coalescing for some time around elements such as smart cities, digital workplaces, smart homes and connected factories. We believe the market is entering a period of accelerated delivery of robust smart spaces with technology becoming an integral part of our daily lives, whether as employees, customers, consumers, community members or citizens,” said Cearley.

Digital ethics and privacy is a growing concern for individuals, organizations and governments. People are increasingly concerned about how their personal information is being used by organizations in both the public and private sector, and the backlash will only increase for organizations that are not proactively addressing these concerns.

Clarley cautioned that while privacy and security are foundational components in building trust, trust is actually about more than just these components. Trust is the acceptance of the truth of a statement without evidence or investigation. Ultimately an organization’s position on privacy must be driven by its broader position on ethics and trust. Shifting from privacy to ethics moves the conversation beyond ‘are we compliant’ toward‘ to ‘are we doing the right thing’.”

Quantum computing (QC) is a type of non-classical computing that operates on the quantum state of subatomic particles (for example, electrons and ions) that represent information as elements denoted as quantum bits (qubits). The parallel execution and exponential scalability of quantum computers means they excel with problems too complex for a traditional approach or where a traditional algorithm would take too long to find a solution.

“CIOs and IT leaders should start planning for QC by increasing understanding and how it can apply to real-world business problems. Learn while the technology is still in the emerging state. Identify real-world problems where QC has potential and consider the possible impact on security,” said Cearley. “But don’t believe the hype that it will revolutionize things in the next few years. Most organizations should learn about and monitor QC through 2022 and perhaps exploit it from 2023 or 2025.”

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The ebook describes the IoT platform, IoT stack, advancements in IoT, IoT ecosystem and the technologies underway around IoT. It also presents current challenges for the technology as well as a list (not exhaustive) of vendors offering IoT products and platforms.

Download the ebook here.

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Integral to these connected devices are microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors – a highly sensitive measuring instruments that teaches modern electronic devices how to “sense” and adapt to the world around them. They collect and translate information gathered from touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste into data. These components are now present virtually everywhere – in smartphones, vehicles, and even in kitchen appliances such as blenders.

However, it is not about technology alone. Technology should be the enabling element with all the development attention focused on the IoT user. User centricity, be it for solutions in the workplace or at home ensures that our efforts become scalable, successful and useful solutions that have a positive impact on our lives.

IoT for the home user

Consumers can now reap the benefits of IoT from the comforts of their own homes. Today’s smart home products cater to a broad spectrum of applications and help users in many different aspects of their lives.

The prevalence of smart home systems has made it possible to control connected devices using a single application, allowing users to automatically control regular processes in their homes. These networked devices communicate with one another to automatically adjust to changing circumstances and users’ daily routine.

For instance, intelligent cooling control saves energy costs and creates a cosy climate, while the automated house surveillance works to protect your home around-the-clock, with a simple click of a button.

With advanced networking capabilities and infrastructure, home automation, better security, energy management and savings can be easily achieved.

IoT at the workplace

Data is rapidly changing the way work is done, even across the most traditional of industries. In addition to manual and technical skills, new competencies such as processing, evaluating and securing data, and the ability to improve productivity are becoming increasingly important as the technology kicks into higher gear. IoT enables the convergence of physical and informational flows within the industrial sector, allowing manufacturers to achieve greater outcomes with less effort by effectively harnessing information.

This can be exemplified by an equipment manufacturer, whom made the decision to equip their advanced handheld tools with network connection. Many of these tools features wireless connectivity, allowing the tool to control process efficiently and provide quality feedback to back-end systems. As a result, the equipment manufacturer could immediately identify the location of the tools within its plant at any given time, determine which tool should be used on which product, and quickly direct employees to the tool’s location to improve manufacturing efficiency.

Moreover, the tools are able to provide additional information such as tool calibration and battery status, which helps the company to control maintenance processes and improve quality control. With a wealth of new information available, the manufacturers are able to create leaner production processes, minimise workflow disruptions, and lowers inventory and overhead costs.

Analysts at Bosch estimate the global IoT market will account for USD 250 billion by as early as 2020. Given the vast potential of IoT, companies must learn to manage the large volumes of data, harness the technology to gain an undisputed competitive advantage and maximise returns for their businesses.

Moving forward in IoT

IoT holds great promise for the future and companies driving this change are more likely to succeed. However, continuous adaptation is needed to keep up with the ever changing digital landscape.

This is only the beginning as more powerful networks with the ability to rapidly process vast amounts of information are being introduced faster than ever before - inevitably shifting the technological landscape and the norm further. The new circle, connected at every stage, is one driven by a core objective – to make lives easier, more comfortable and safer.

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Deloitte Insight wants that while these smart, connected objects offer tremendous opportunities for value creation and capture, they can also create tremendous risk, demanding new strategies for value protection.

The consultant warned that a single vulnerable device can leave an entire ecosystem open to attack, with potential disruptions ranging from individual privacy breaches to massive breakdowns of public systems.

Watch the video for a quick recap of the risks that come with IoT.

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