Considering the speed with which IT landscapes are currently changing, how we manage the future is more important than the track records of our past. As of 2017, “things” connected to the internet outnumber the computers, tablets and phones we are used to. Thus, IT is frequently spelled IoT and the way we handle this shift will determine our future.

Onboarding new data models in an application has always been a challenge in software design. The ability to automate the inclusion of new connected devices, sensors, actuators or entire subsystems, into a new service offering has become crucial. And the inclusion of “things” is not enough. Your new information models also consume APIs of various cloud services. Combined, “things and clouds” equate to new opportunities. But they emerge faster than you can plan your next release. So, how do you cater for this?

Learning from others

The changes we face, emphasize the importance of learning from others. In the IoT shift, “Enterprise IT” has a lot to learn from Telecom. After all, managing vast numbers of network components, and rapidly onboarding new network services, is what Telecom is all about. And this is quite similar to the onboarding of new more or less smart IoT devices or APIs. Bringing software development teams and teams with a telecom background together is therefore an ideal way forward when you make strategic decisions about the role of IoT and APIs in your digital transformation.

IoT platforms and Hybrid IT

In Gartner’s 2017 Emerging Technologies Hype Cycle, “IoT platforms” are approaching the peak of expectations. The tasks of these platforms are not simple. They have to join and combine the services of legacy IT infrastructures with the new and “agile” services introduced in the course of your digital transformation. They also have to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning into what will be your future business as usual. As a result, Hybrid IT and Hybrid Integration Platforms emerge as the next generation of hype. For examples, see the Network Orchestration & Automation page on this site and how Ductus combined its Telco and software development skills to develop the IoT platform of the E.ON’s smart home solution.

Agility beyond software development

IoT impacts the way we all work today. The new focus on service-orientation which it requires, leads to a re-invention of agile. Developers have used agile methods since the 1990s. But IoT also requires agility in business development to motivate software development efforts. Furthermore, to avoid the pitfalls of creating isolated IoT silos, you need a concept of agility and Continuous Delivery built-into your infrastructure. For more on this topic, see Architecting agile and Agile teams need agile infrastructures.

Enabling the business development of your digital transformation

New service-oriented business models drive the demand for IoT. On the flipside, the capabilities of IoT devices enable and motivate the creation of new service-oriented businesses. Consequently, agile business development and agile system development become two sides of the same coin. The take home from this? To meet the new demands, developers must adapt their architectures to meet the requirements of faster turnarounds in business development and embrace the concepts of hybrid IT.

At Ductus we specialize in helping companies and public organizations to embrace the challenges posed by IoT and use it to drive change and embrace new opportunities.

Do you need expert help with an IoT challenge?