In this exclusive article for IoT Insider, Jegan Raghavan, Global Product Head of IoT at Zoho espouses the benefits of low-code platforms
There has been a growing demand for rapid Internet of Things (IoT) adoption across industries in recent years, with the number of IoT connections projected to reach 18 billion this year and set to rise to 39.6 billion by 2033.
Connected devices have seen increasing complexity, increasing market demand for scalable, customisable and easy-to-use solutions. IoT device proliferation has introduced challenges with system integration, security, and data management, prompting a need for platforms that also simplify these processes. This is not a one-industry problem but is seen across manufacturing, energy, smart buildings and more.
Business agility is critical today to drive competitiveness in crowded markets among a sea of macro-economic factors that continue to bring new challenges. IoT can bring much needed automation and efficiency to many business functions. However, businesses need solutions which enable fast deployment, enhance operability, can seamlessly integrate with existing systems and scale without disruption.
These market drivers, as well as demand from existing Zoho customers, led to Zoho’s recent low-code IoT platform launch. It extends solutions from IT-driven requirements to operational needs in addition. The platform offers great value, extensive customisation opportunities to suit individual business needs, and as it all built in-house on Zoho’s platform, robust security is baked in. It also offers pre-built vertical industry solutions for Industrial IoT, Smart Buildings, Energy Management and Connected OEMs.
Why low code is important
Traditionally, building applications and IoT tools required a team of specialist software engineers to avoid hitting technical bottlenecks. However, using low-code brings many benefits to help address the shortage of skilled developers. Business users with little or no coding knowledge can now access and develop their own solutions with ease. A platform can be developed much more quickly with lower development costs and customising to business requirements can result in higher user engagement.
Customisation is critical to ensure the specific needs of a business are met. Low-code can also be used to enable those with limited technical expertise to curate a platform which delivers against the goals of their organisation and not only measures, but brings the right notifications or reporting to the right people at the right time for actions to be taken. Automated actions can also be easily set up when data prescribes it has reached certain levels or limits.
Overall, the simplification of low-code based IoT platforms can accelerate digital transformation, enabling businesses to automate workflows, optimise asset utilisation, and gain real-time insights, leading to improved operational efficiency.
AI and ML Infused IoT
AI and ML capabilities within IoT platforms can elevate business efficiency through features such as predictive maintenance and anomaly detection to help businesses proactively manage their operations. Some platforms give users the option to create reports within dashboards, schedule email exports and the capability to share insights easily, vital for those managing productivity and maintenance.
Ensuring data security in IoT
Robust data security should be top-of-mind when using and developing IoT applications, given the vast amounts of data and connections they interact with.
Users should seek platforms that ensure data security and reliability through a multi-layered approach, include encryption for data in transit and at rest, feature stringent authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication, and adhere to global compliance regulations such as GDPR and ISO standards.
These measures can enhance safe data handling for sensitive IoT operations while restricting access to authorised personnel only. Regular security audits, backups, and a strong disaster recovery plan can further bolster reliability by minimising downtime and ensuring data integrity.
The future of low-code platforms
According to Gartner forecasts, 70% of business applications will use low-code or no-code technologies by 2025, up from less than 25% in 2020.
As low-code and IoT adoption continues to grow, barriers such as data security and integration will only become more pressing, making the case for privacy-by-design and technology-agnostic frameworks.
Customisation will remain critical to meet the ever-changing requirements of businesses as the scale of data generated from IoT continues to grow.
Developments in AI and ML continue to accelerate and will generate new capabilities within IoT platforms to enhance user experience, efficiency, and contextual data-driven insights. These are all factors which help businesses increase agility, adaptability, and flexibility to increase resilience, especially in continuously changing market conditions.
As more businesses seek to integrate IoT into their operations, low-code platforms will play an important role in enabling them to do so efficiently and cost-effectively.
Jegan Raghavan heads the Zoho IoT platform globally, and has been with the company for over two decades. He began his professional journey with Zoho, and during his tenure, he has held key positions across product management, engineering, and enterprise customer implementation. His initial focus was telecom network management, later he transitioned to Cloud solutions, and now the Internet of Things.
Author: Jegan Raghavan, Global Product Head of IoT at Zoho
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