How developers use data will shape the IoT
Mark Armstrong
There are a lot of media inches dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT), increasing the IoT hype and piling pressure on developers to deliver data driven apps that monetise services.
Sometimes when we talk about the IoT it can feel a little like trying to run before we can walk. No one is feeling this more than those who are in charge of building it – developers. According to a recent survey of 675 application developers worldwide conducted by Harbor Research and commissioned by Progress Software, developers are still concerned that they cannot deal with the data, skill and tool demands that IoT apps require.
It is important though, that developers get to grips with data, quite simply because it’s one of the key aspects that make an app work. Consumers and employees alike are experiencing app weariness. Unless they offer any real benefit to them by making their lives easier or their work more efficient, they simply are fed up of giving an app a go. With this in mind, developers are realising that real app value comes through timely updates that deliver the user relevant information at the point of need. But doing this is a much harder challenge; they need to analyse and integrate multiple disparate pools of contextual data before serving it, at the right time, to the user.
So it’s no surprise then that nearly a third of developers (30%) are already experiencing data overload and feel overwhelmed trying to manage it; as data collection gets more prevalent and every device becomes a connected device, this is sure to only get worse. But, it’s non-negotiable, especially for businesses. Making sense of the data deluge is the only way to ensure actionable insight from data – the app is only a channel to get this to employees.
Businesses should give developers the tools necessary to realise the data and IoT promise. This is made more urgent by the 50% of developers who feel that they do not have the necessary technology today to deliver on IoT expectations. Development tools, cross-platform development, developing for multiple screens and devices are the key to unlocking the greatest IoT opportunity, helping developers conserve resources, manpower and money and create opportunities for new cross platform services.
Yet, despite these data integration challenges 65% of IoT applications have generated revenue, which is good news. And there is an expectation that revenue will rise as the market matures. As developers focus more on services rather than devices, significant revenue potential will open up – for example, charging for a service rather than single download. Many developers predict the proportion of revenue-generating apps will rise to 80% in the next 2-3 years.
As the market develops, IoT applications with future potential include those for more mature markets like healthcare, urban usage and automotive applications. To seize on that opportunity, businesses need to implement technologies that already exist to ease the development process and bridge the gap between gathering data and sharing it safely and securely. This will help to reduce developer workload and allows them to maximise their skills.