Celebrating 25 Years of IoT Transforming our Everyday World

Since then, IoT has transformed a wide range of industries, bringing increased efficiency, cost savings, enhanced operational visibility, and even environmental benefits through waste reduction and optimized energy use. This milestone offers a perfect moment to appreciate the often-invisible role IoT plays in our daily environments, from the food we eat to the spaces we work in.

To celebrate a quarter of a century of IoT, we highlight some of the key places where this cutting-edge technology is quietly and consistently transforming everyday environments, often without you even realising it. Discover the latest ways this technology is enhancing operations and see if you can spot IoT in action in your world!

IoT Keeping Your Food Fresh and Safe

Petrol stations are quietly evolving, especially with the rise of electric vehicles. In 2023 alone, nearly 14 million electric cars were registered worldwide, bringing the total number on the roads to 40 million. As more and more drivers are charging instead of refuelling, they’re spending two, three, or even four times longer at these locations, driving demand for additional facilities and amenities at these sites.

In response, many filling stations are expanding their food offerings ­– and this is where IoT steps in. Technology that has been implemented in many supermarkets for years is now being leveraged in these smaller format sites to ensure the high standards of food quality and safety consumers expect. These IoT solutions monitor critical assets like refrigerators, freezers, and HVAC systems in real-time, managing the conditions in which food is stored to maintain optimal safety and freshness. Not only does this technology identify potential issues automatically, but it also intervenes to prevent spoilage, machine breakdown, and unnecessary waste. This enables the expanded offering of fresh foods in petrol filling stations to meet the highest standards and be seen as a beneficial new offering to consumers.

Driving Cost Effective Digital Transformation

Local corner shops are also evolving, offering more food options and a wider variety of items in a bid to stay competitive against other food retailers. As they expand into temperature-controlled foods, many shop owners face the challenge of upgrading infrastructure on tight budgets. With narrow profit margins, they need cost-effective ways to enhance their offerings without overspending.

Once again, IoT provides the solution. By utilising control-agnostic, plug-and-play technology, corner shops can integrate both legacy and modern equipment from various manufacturers. This allows them to digitally upgrade without needing to replace existing assets, offering the visibility and control needed to confidently expand their food options—while keeping costs in check.

Once implemented, IoT’s real-time, data-driven monitoring helps further cut costs by identifying and flagging equipment faults early, preventing breakdowns that could lead to costly stock loss and excessive energy consumption. For small businesses, this means IoT doesn’t just support growth; it also helps reduce waste and contributes to sustainability efforts.

Ensuring Cash Access with IoT

Even in a world with increasing digital transactions, the ability to access physical cash on demand is essential. In fact, this year in the UK there was an unexpected jump in the number of people who primarily used notes and coins for their daily spending.

But did you know its IoT working behind the scenes to keep ATMs accessible and stocked with optimum levels of cash? IoT provides real-time insights into ATM performance including a cash threshold system that monitors levels continuously. When thresholds are breached, automatic alerts prompt immediate intervention, ensuring ATMs stay ready for use.

IoT also enables precise performance tracking, allowing faults and failures to be identified the moment they arise. This data-driven approach includes automatic engineer dispatch: engineers can access detailed, real-time machine data remotely, enabling faster, more efficient fixes. By eliminating manual call-outs, IoT helps streamline the fault-to-fix process, keeping cash access seamless.

Expanding Across Industries

IoT’s impact also reaches far beyond the everyday environment. In healthcare for example, it enables remote patient monitoring, providing real-time data that supports proactive care. In agriculture, IoT can be used to help farmers optimise water use and crop health for more sustainable farming. Meanwhile, in manufacturing, IoT-driven predictive maintenance reduces downtime and cuts costs. Even the energy sector is benefitting, with IoT supporting renewable energy efficiency.

Across these industries, IoT is driving both efficiency and sustainability, demonstrating its potential to transform many aspects of our world.

IoT … An Unstoppable Force

In the 25 years since the term IoT was coined, the technology has had a profound impact on how we live, shop, and access products and services. An enormous number of businesses globally have come to rely on scalable, flexible, data-driven IoT solutions to enhance operations and continually provide insights, control, and visibility.

As IoT innovations continue to evolve, especially with emerging advancements like AI-driven IoT and renewable energy management, it’s essential for organisations and individuals alike to understand the pivotal role IoT plays, as well as the opportunities it offers to create lasting benefits.

The first 25 years of IoT has been defined by development, growth, expansion, and advancements. At IMS, we are excited and proud to continue being a driving force in the IoT industry and look forward to seeing what the next 25 years will bring.

Want to learn more about how IMS solutions deliver immediate and tangible value across industries? Find out more here.