Vodafone is launching a new range of IoT services that will remove barriers to IoT adoption for UK businesses. By partnering with IoT.nxt, part of the Vodafone Group, Vodafone will offer customers every part of an IoT solution, with a single data management platform, and the capability to integrate old and new devices in one system.
As part of the new range of services, Vodafone will provide IoT sensors and devices, create a data management platform, and offer ongoing professional services. This complete offering will ensure IoT is accessible to all businesses, including those that do not have specialist capabilities in-house.
IoT, or the ‘Internet of Things’, is the capability to track, monitor and manage any assets, giving businesses vital data, insight and control. Markets that can most quickly benefit from IoT adoption include utilities, logistics, public transport, healthcare, manufacturing, and building management.
Vodafone today released a report on the benefits of ‘Digital Buildings’ which found that investment in IoT in public sector buildings could reduce carbon emissions, reduce energy usage and save taxpayers up to £380 million annually. The report, which calls on the UK Government to explore digital buildings technology, estimates new technology could reduce carbon emissions by up to 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 a year and reduce overall energy usage in buildings by 15 per cent.
As part of Vodafone’s recent IoT Spotlight research, 87 per cent of UK early adopters said they have already seen a return-on-investment for IoT, while 76 per cent suggested they are able to do things they could not do before. IoT is helping businesses adapt to the digital economy, but complexity has been a major barrier to adoption.
“We’re making it easy for any business to adopt IoT. We are taking away complexity, and making it simple to deploy, simple to manage, and simple to see the return on investment,” Anne Sheehan, business director, Vodafone UK said. “With our colleagues at IoT.nxt we can be unique in the UK market – we will grow our leadership position from here and deliver customers a digital capability that will prove invaluable in meeting the pressures of business today.”
In 2019, Vodacom – part of the Vodafone Group – acquired a 51 per cent share in South Africa-based IoT.nxt. The addition of IoT.nxt to the Vodafone Group will ensure that Vodafone UK grows its leadership in the IoT space, by opening new markets through the ease of deployment, the simplicity and flexibility of operation, and the capability to customise to any application. The new platform lets businesses consolidate multiple processes on to one simple platform and integrate old and new devices with a single system.
“It is great to be part of the Vodafone Group,” Nico Steyn, CEO of IoT.nxt said. “After a successful collaboration with Vodacom in South Africa, we are thrilled to power the new era of Vodafone UK’s IoT strategy. IoT is perceived by many businesses to be complex and bespoke, but it does not have to be. We hope to change that perception with a platform which can be adapted to any business, and type of connection, and any use case.”
