Does Unified Communications have a role to play in the Internet of Things?

The development of the Internet of Things (IoT) will see multiple systems be linked in order to realise automation, data sharing and efficiency benefits, writes Phill Peston, a senior analyst at Beecham Research.

It promises to tie sensors, devices, machines and humans in a connected bliss through dedicated channels and webs of channels. Unified communications (UC) has allowed people to correspond, hear, see and speak to others by bringing together text, voice, video and visual tools. It is therefore uniquely positioned to enhance and help develop IoT systems. Beecham Research believes UC contributes across two broad approaches; experiences and complementary technologies.

Experiences
The evolution of UC has seen vendors already face many of the issues integrators of IoT systems are facing today. First, they have faced how to ensure a reliable connection between endpoints. From a UC supplier’s perspective this means installing a line of data exchange that does not drop calls, lose video, or prevent emails from coming through. The same is crucial for many IoT solutions also.

Second comes the question of how to secure those channels. Whether it be sensitive emails, calls or web conferencing, it is important to protect the information being transferred. A significant topic of conversation when having any discussion on IoT is security. With increasingly more connections in all aspects of personal and professional lives the opportunity to exploit weak links in the system and gain further access.

Third, providing insights on communications channels. The advancement and application of data analytics is a key factor in why IoT has extended beyond just a buzzword in recent years. However, many modern day UC platforms will include some level of usage analytics, with some more advanced offerings including machine learning that adapts to how an individual user interacts with the system.

Finally, interoperability. The communications and collaboration market is a mature one, with well-established vendors competing in a saturated market. The technology offered therefore, must work with competitors’ solutions. Similarly, a true IoT cannot be comprised of solely one company’s parts.

Complementary technologies
The other area UC can contribute to a better IoT is in its interaction with people. The majority of the focus on IoT is on machine-to-machine communications, but there is a very important machine-to-human element also. What happens when a fault is identified by the automated process that is unexpected or unlike anything the system has seen before? Human intervention is needed. By linking automation systems, analytics platforms and others with UC, an IoT deployment can introduce human-to-machine communications much easier. For example, smart glasses that send the image the wearer is seeing to an expert sat managing numerous field engineers from headquarters.

In summary there are many roles that UC can play in IoT. The examples given above are by no means an exhaustive list also. There is an argument for utilising UC infrastructure for example. Nearly all businesses will have some form of telephone line and internet connection that allows email and web conferencing. This provides a building block from which to build out other systems, or even connect to new IoT solutions to offer additional added value. This value can be added for the customer, the UC vendor and the IoT provider. Cisco, for example, recently brought its IoT division under the leadership of its collaboration team, run by Rowan Trollope, in a clear indication that there are multiple synergies to be draw from combining the two technologies. There are limitations to UC networks of course, and any integration with IoT will require secure, robust SDKs and APIs. However, the benefits of incorporating UC with IoT cannot be passed off and ignored.