Predictions 2015: Software Platforms Drive Internet-Of-Things Adoption

The Internet of Things (IoT) has gotten huge visibility as firms like Cisco Systems and General Electric (GE) promote the size of the market and number of connected devices and IBM talks about building a smarter planet. With industry discussion at an all-time high, what's coming next? Forrester believes that the IoT trend is about to enter a second stage in its development that will focus on software application platforms that provide prebuilt connectivity, security, management, and analytics capabilities. Firms ranging from Ayla Networks to GE to PTC offer such platforms to make it easier for product manufacturers and asset owner/operators to implement IoT solutions. As the IoT focus shifts away from devices and networks toward platforms and applications, CIOs have a central role to play in helping their line-of-business counterparts understand how to incorporate the IoT into their business technology (BT) agenda.