Benefits (and Challenges) of M2M Deployments

K. Weldon

Summary Bullets:

• M2M is starting to provide many benefits to enterprises across diverse industries
• Challenges remain that require solid operational, financial, and resource planning

What is so exciting about M2M technology is that the use cases are expanding so rapidly. Enterprises start out with one application – using low-speed, sporadic data connections – and then think of a half-dozen other aspects of their business that can benefit. The most tangible benefits are the productivity gains from automating processes that have been done manually. By collecting data on the performance and status of remote assets, such as industrial equipment, vehicles, people, inventory, containers, and cargo, businesses can prevent problems and save substantially on onsite service calls. By optimizing routes, companies can save on gas, mechanical wear and tear, and the time it takes for a technician to get to and complete a call. By remotely checking on the status of equipment and setting alerts if a device is out of compliance, companies see reductions in problems, service calls, and the need for routine maintenance, as well as less customer frustration due to out-of-order equipment or low inventory. Benefits relating to productivity gains, resource optimization, and problem and cost avoidance are often the starting point for M2M deployments, as they represent almost guaranteed and rapid ROI.