The Internet of Things (IoT) has started a new era of automation in businesses worldwide. Its ability to connect remote devices and people has helped companies grow and reach people in different parts of the world.

In this age of digital transformation, IoT has also helped them solve problems with connectivity and productivity. 

Whether you’re a startup or an established business, there are always ways that you can improve your workplace using technology.

This article will explore six ways the Internet of things (IoT) can make your office more efficient and productive. Keep reading to find out how you can use IoT to your advantage!

1. Improve Productivity In the Workplace

When IoT is used in the workplace correctly, it helps increase the overall efficiency of operations. Straightforward examples are: 

• Using smart speakers with voice recognition and AI apps in offices;
• Smart virtual assistants will automatically schedule meetings or interviews that you need to do repeatedly;
• You can set reminders for your most important tasks to stay on top of your task management;
• Their ability to turn speech into text helps record minutes from previous meetings.

These features make it easier for employees to do important work that only they can do. 

Industrial robots made by FANUC are another example of a specific industry. With more than 100 robot models, FANUC has the right Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to help manufacturers solve problems and meet production goals. These robots work with people to improve high-precision tasks like assembling, quality testing, pick-and-place, and more.

2. Increase the Efficiency of the Workforce

Productivity goes up a lot when the physical environment at work is good. Let’s look at some examples to see what it means. For example: 

• A smart lighting system keeps employees from getting bored and helps them stay focused and energized, which makes them more productive;
• A smart standing desk keeps track of how long you work at your desk and tells you to stand up every so often. So, it keeps the workforce active by stopping people from sitting all day.

Apple and Tesla, known worldwide as tech giants, also give their employees smart desks. 

Smart kiosks are another use of IoT. You can put them outside a conference room so that your employees can rate the quality of a meeting on a scale from 1 to 5. It lets you get feedback immediately and figure out what you can do to improve future sessions.

3. Allow for Proactive Risk-reduction Actions to Be Taken

IoT technology lets people be in charge of making decisions and taking preventative steps to avoid problems and risks. These risks may be related to resources, equipment, the workplace, or all. 

For example, an IoT-enabled workplace can keep an eye on working conditions and pick up on things like high temperature, humidity, vibrations, smoke, etc., that are out of the ordinary. IoT predictive maintenance also lets you know when equipment needs to be fixed to avoid breakdowns and accidents.

Also, workers in industries like metallurgy, mining, etc., that are more dangerous can use wearable devices to keep track of their vital signs. If you keep an eye on these vital signs, you can tell if you have a health emergency that needs medical help right away. So, the boss can call the medical team to ensure the worker’s condition doesn’t get worse. 

Also, some smart security cameras can read what’s going on in the videos and send out alerts if they think someone might be trying to steal.

4. Facilitate Qualified Administration of Supply Networks

IoT helps the management of the supply chain in several ways. Radio Frequency Identification System (RFID) chips or sensors are a popular way to use IoT. When RFID tags are put on storage containers, raw materials, or finished goods, they can be tracked and verified in real-time by GPS. 

With these real-time updates about where and how products are moving, manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors can get ready to receive goods and cut down on handling times. It also lets you make a backup plan in case something goes wrong.

Some things, like chemicals and food, need to be in a particular environment. IoT devices, primarily sensors, keep an eye on the following things: 

• Temperature, 
• Humidity, 
• Light intensity, etc.

An alarm goes off when a specific parameter reaches its threshold. So, it gives you time to “act” quickly and keep the food from going bad.

5. Improve Occupational Health and Safety

IoT technologies help businesses keep track of internal and external factors that affect the safety of their workers. They can track and measure how workers move around the factory floor and look for signs that someone might get hurt. Smart helmets, jackets, and watches track their movements and warn them about dangerous conditions and restricted areas to prevent fatal accidents. 

General Motors and Ford Motors are great examples. They give them exoskeleton vests to help them with the overhead jobs that require them to lift heavy objects and weights.

A laser scanner also watches how vehicles and equipment move in warehouses and storage areas to find objects that stick out. So, it helps keep people and things from getting hurt in significant accidents. 

Wearable devices with sensors can also help medical staff and rescue teams during significant accidents. Devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) collect essential data that people can use to avoid fatal accidents and help rescue workers in emergencies. Wearable IoT devices can use GPS to find the exact location of injured or trapped workers, which speeds up their rescue.

You can also invest in healthcare app development. Then, the employee’s health data will be transmitted directly to the app via sensors. That way, it will be easier to make quick, life-saving decisions for workers. 

6. Reduce Needless Expenditures

IoT devices, when integrated with artificial intelligence, may give insights into areas of potential cost savings that can then be acted upon. It employs predictive analysis to avert machine breakdowns on an unprecedented scale, which would otherwise result in downtime and expensive repairs. 

A smart building, for example, can do the following: 

• Use Internet of Things devices (sensors, software, and so on);
• Monitor various aspects of the building, 
• Analyze data; 
• Give insights into use patterns and trends and improve these aspects. 

Using this technology allows one to remain informed of the CO2 levels and, as a result, manage the apartment’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems appropriately (HVAC).

What are the best ways to use IoT in your workplace?

• Identify cost-cutting opportunities. Look for ways to decrease costs using IoT devices. In inventory management, low-stock sensors may be used to prevent order cancellations and boost profits. LG Dual-Smart Wi-Fi ACs, thermostats, etc., may minimize utility expenses. Smart LG ACs have a twin inverter compressor with a dual rotary motor. It cools quicker than standard compressors and saves power;

• Take precautions. Strong security is needed to safeguard IoT networks from attackers. First, maintain track of the number, kinds, and hazards of IoT devices linked to the network. Second, update default device passwords to secure ones. Patch and update the IoT framework regularly. Patch management fixes cyberattack-vulnerable framework faults and vulnerabilities. It updates features and functions, increases system uptime, and maintains compliance requirements;

• As you grow IoT, create an in-house team. In-house IoT teams are superior to external consultants for long-term IoT adoption. When scaling up, focus on developing in-house IoT skills. Train personnel in quality of service, IoT integration, IoT data analytics, etc. You can check ProjectPro Data Science Projects to learn and solve IoT problems that are used by the biggest companies.

Conclusion

The Internet of things is a powerful tool to help your business run more efficiently. Have you tried using IoT in your workplace? If not, now is the time to start!

We’ve outlined six ways that IoT can improve productivity in the office, so take a look and see how you can apply these principles in your workspace. Good luck!

Dmytro Sokhach is an entrepreneur and the 6-Figure Flipper Club member. Founded Admix Global (web agency) that builds websites, makes them profitable, and sells them as business.

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