The Pandemic Affects IoT adoption in the United States; Challenges Cited around Security and Device Onboarding

According to new data, 77 percent of respondents in the United States indicated their IoT project was only partially effective in fulfilling goals and realizing advantages, but 86 percent still want to boost investment.

FREMONT, CA: According to a new State of IoT Adoption Study commissioned by global IoT connectivity specialist Eseye, over a third (36 percentage) of US organizations have reduced their IoT investment plans. 33percent have canceled their IoT initiative entirely due to COVID-19, a figure significantly higher than their UK counterparts (19 percent).

Fewer major IoT projects were underway in the United States, with just 13percent having deployed more than 10,000 devices, indicating that the market may not have evolved as swiftly as parts of Europe. This lack of maturity may explain why some respondents in the United States have scaled back their investment intentions and are wary of IoT success.When it comes to deploying IoT, security is regarded as a critical challenge by 41percent of respondents in the United States, compared to 36percent in the United Kingdom. Device onboarding (i.e., device setup, configuration, and design), testing, and certification also cited as major concerns by 41percent of US respondents, compared to only a 29percent of UK respondents.As a result, according to three-quarters of US businesses that have launched an IoT initiative in the previous 12 months, IoT projects have not realized their full potential.

Opinion Matters, an independent research firm, conducted the study among 250 senior decision-makers and implementers of IoT strategy in five vertical sectors from the United Kingdom and the United States.It looks at the current status of IoT adoption and the obstacles, opportunities, and untapped potential of the technology, as well as the influence of COVID-19 on adoption plans and the importance of intelligent connection to fuel future growth.

The 2021 State of IoT Adoption Report from Eseye examines the differences between vertical markets such as Smart Vending, Supply Chain and Logistics, EV Charging and Smart Grid, Manufacturing, and Healthcare and Medical Devices, and provides a detailed analysis of the IoT challenges and trends affecting businesses in the UK and USA.In addition, it covers actions and tactics that firms should focus on to improve business outcomes and the value obtained from such projects.