Traditionally the Internet of Things (IoT) has only affected the public from a consumer standpoint - think smart thermostats and talking fridges. However, the Industrial IoT market will start to play an equal, if not greater role, in improving public safety and efficiency. For example, the utilities industry has long used sensors in reservoirs to monitor water levels and predict when more supply is needed. In a recent survey by 451 Research, it was discovered that 71% of global businesses are now gathering IoT data and 90% expect to increase invest in connected technologies in the next 12 months. IoT can even automate communications and pre-empt a crisis before it causes serious damage.
Critical communications platforms are already deployed by businesses, local authorities and national governments around the world to warn and advise people in the event of a crisis. These incidents can range from sourcing a relevantly-skilled IT technician to repair a broken server, to engaging with the public during a terror threat. Central to the success of critical communications platforms are two key functions. The first is the capability to deliver messages using a variety of different methods - this is known as multi-modal communications. No communications channel can ever be 100% reliable 100% of the time, so multi-modality transforms the speed at which people receive the message. Multi-modality facilitates communication via more than 100 different communication devices and contact paths including email, SMS, VoIP calls, social media alerts and mobile app notifications, amongst many others.
The second is effective two-way communication, which is the ability for recipients to respond to emergency notifications quickly and easily, enabling them to acknowledge receipt, confirm actions or declare status.
Combining data from IoT devices with a critical communications platform offers an emergency alerting domain experience, automated decision making and sophisticated communications logic. This provides businesses with the ability to add context to critical alerts, connecting the right people to physical devices, at the right time, to take the appropriate action. By integrating critical communications with IoT, organisations can improve physical security and business continuity, minimising the impact of crisis including a security breaches, a mechanical warehouse fire or malfunction on the assembly line.
Virtually any IoT device can be integrated with a critical communication platform to improve its self-regulation and ability to communicate. Imagine a world where your appliances and business applications could self-diagnose. For example, airports can identify when a new bulb is needed on a runway.
Some examples of IoT and critical communications applications include:
• A state government operated dam may have sensors placed inside the stone & metal walls to automatically alert the correct engineers and local authorities if water levels rise too high, tailoring the communications based on severity level and the roles and responsibilities of appropriate workers.
• In the medical industry pacemakers can be fitted with sensors that relay information to a team of doctors and notify them via email, text and/or phone if anything requiring their attention arises. They can also send messages to the patient to let them know if they are exerting too much energy and should rest.
A crisis can mean something different in every industry. For example, an IT breach could spell disaster for one business, but be less of an issue in another. Whatever happens, communications need to be fast, effective, and meaningful. Harnessing the power of critical communications platforms and combining it with IoT applications offers a fast and highly effective means to ensure that, in the event of an emergency, the lines of communication remain open. This ensures people are kept up-to-date on fast-changing situations and resources are deployed to keep them safe and protected.