IoT has turned our world into a cluster of billions of connected devices, which can be efficiently managed from anywhere. As disparate devices are being connected to each other and to the internet, it yields greater potential to improve productivity, agility, and efficiency. The physical tasks that we once used to do have now been automated because of IoT.
Workflow automation in IoT helps in getting desired results, including efficiently managing IoT systems and enabling effective communication amongst devices.
Workflow automation produces a string of automated actions to improve and streamline business processes. It is employed to automate everyday mundane and repetitive tasks, so that your workforce can concentrate on their core competencies. Ultimately, it improves work efficiency and provides a solution for lost time and incomplete processes.
According to the MarketsandMarkets™ report, Workflow Automation market is estimated to reach USD 18.45 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 23.56% between 2017 and 2023.
The benefit of using workflow automation is that it is event driven and provides abundant data about what, where, and when (GPS/ WIFI/ CELLULAR) connections are made and for what purpose i.e. tracking/ monitoring according to the event. In an event, where sensors receive data from a device, it automatically transmit or generate events. These events need to be captured correctly to manage it better to connect people with the automated systems and processes.
However, there are some challenges that we may face while implementing workflow automation.
Main Challenges to adopt workflow automation
Smart Sensors and Workflow Triggers
Most workplaces may have server rooms where the temperature has to be maintained from going beyond the optimal range. The temperature in the room could go out of the optimal range, in case of human errors or any technical faults. This will affect the performance of the servers and can result in a catastrophe.
However, a smart sensor installed in the server room could closely monitor the temperature, and when it goes beyond the optimal range; the sensor could trigger an automated workflow that immediately notifies maintenance and an engineer could be sent to check the issue before it escalates further. This saves time and efforts of a team member, who will have to constantly check the temperature and ensure that in case of any problems, the issue is addressed.
IoT sensors help to increase visibility into existing workflows and processes, enabling companies to see where and how of things in real-time. As companies continuously, extract data from those sensors. With the help of the sensors, one can predict the next threat by collecting real-time status about fleets and suggest the drivers with optimized routes. We can get also get the information about driver’s driving style, fleet load factor, diagnostics, etc. for effective management.
Work like Robotic automation
IoT does not necessarily have to do with robotic automation, though eventually that can become a potential game changer in automated workflows in the later stages of development.
A smart GPS unit in a fleet vehicle can, for instance, monitor mileage and automatically schedule the vehicle for maintenance without the driver or fleet manager having to regularly check the vehicle’s mileage. This allows the fleet manager to assign the vehicle for maintenance remotely once an indication is given.
However, with the use of robotic automation software, robots can easily manage and address such alerts and flags. Main advantages of robotic automation that can help in workflow automation are-
- Improved data management
- Provides autonomous responses to events
- Leads to operational optimization.
Integration is the Main Challenge
Automated workflows have been around a long time, and currently, the main challenge in putting IoT to work in these workflows is integrating IoT elements with workflow software.
The various advantages of IoT workflows are as mentioned below:
- IoT workflows will enable the users to get a view of the state of the business processes in real time.
- It will enable businesses to take action based on the data made available. For example, a facility services company uses their multi-device IoT software to enable support personnel to receive alerts about service issues and take immediate action.
- Compared to traditional workflows, IoT workflows enable the tracking of granular activities, provided with sensors and granular monitoring activities. Data about the business process and alert/ notification (SLA violations) can be stored and mined to derive insights
- Constantly monitoring the KPIs and SLAs will enable business benefits like better customer experience, quality of service delivery, balanced revenues and expenses, etc.
- Real-time prediction made to avoid traffic and SLA violations.
Implementing IoT in your workflow can help organizations to streamline their business process and derive more value from it. eInfochips has expertise in providing secure IoT solution and services to help clients in building a highly scalable, reliable, and cost-efficient infrastructure with custom solutions for IoT and Cloud. To know more, get in touch with us.
