How low-code can help businesses automate IoT networks

Implementing the Internet of things in growing organizations can provide unique insights if data is managed properly. And low-code platforms can allow organizations to quickly build the infrastructure needed to do just that.

1. How much data can the IoT collect?

In 2019, the estimated volume of data in zettabytes (a trillion gigabytes) from the IoT was 13.6. In 2025, it’s estimated to be 79.4. The average data companies manage, however, can vary. Usually, it’s anywhere from 47.81 terabytes (TB) for the average small business to 347.56TB for the average enterprise. In short, the IoT can provide a business with a lot more data—no matter your business’ size. This opens the door to deeper, more accurate customer and business insights. However, the sudden surge of all that extra data also presents a major challenge.

2. The challenge with implementing IoT networks

The IoT empowers organizations to increase productivity, streamline workflows and redefine how a business operates. The data streams it provides can move across a range of IT infrastructures. Innovation is essentially constant, with new apps and features added daily. When you start connecting more and more devices to the IoT, you face an increasingly vast data lake with streams flowing into it constantly. Thus, the challenge quickly shifts from capturing data to managing data. And that can create a major bottleneck for growing businesses. When people try to explain the benefits of the IoT, they often use the logistics metaphor: Sensors in refrigeration containers can track temperatures to ensure perishable goods stay within defined parameters. https://www.techopedia.com/2/28629/internet/social-media/7-sneaky-ways-hackers-can-get-your-facebook-password

3. More data, more problems?

Often one of the biggest pushbacks to connecting more systems to the IoT is whether anyone has the time to actually analyze that data. Depending on how you approach implementing IoT, it can be like turning on a firehose of data. And if you don’t have the right systems, that data ends up where most data goes to die: endless spreadsheets. When data is siloed in spreadsheets (or other platforms), it becomes increasingly difficult to manage. Reporting can’t happen in real time. Manual data entry errors are costly and put your business at increased risk. Moving data around requires either delegating it to a team member (who has to find time to do it) or outsourcing. Both involve more costs.

4. How can IoT networks and low-code support business functions?

Low-code platforms are Software as a Service (SaaS) interfaces designed to streamline the development of applications and integrations. In short, they’re an incredibly agile way to build apps. Rather than building up complex custom applications from scratch, you simply drag and drop bits of code or visual elements to create the solutions you need. This drastically reduces the time and cost needed to build custom applications. Instead of spending seven figures on custom app development and waiting months to test and go live, you can design custom software solutions in days. Low-code platforms also present many benefits as a cost-reduction strategy. As a SaaS platform, costs scale with use—which makes them very affordable solutions for businesses with a limited IT budget. Plus, they’re designed for people who do not have a coding background. This means they’re easier to use and onboarding is much faster (and cheaper). https://growntechnology.com/why-network-analytics-are-vital-for-the-new-economy/

5. Challenges with IoT networks and low-code

While many of the mainstream low-code applications are built to support the IoT, there are still potential challenges. For one, the IoT is complex. And even though users can build custom applications with only a little background knowledge of code, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easy to do so. You’re potentially looking at an intricate web of disparate systems, IoT endpoints and platforms. Plus, you need to know the best way to organize data streams and present them in meaningful ways. Additionally, applications are increasingly complex: Advancements happen every day. IT teams, with their background in code, are better equipped to set up the necessary infrastructure businesses need to gain meaningful insights from these new technologies. As a result, low code isn’t positioned to replace software developers. Instead, it’s a tool that can help them scale their efforts. Other team members can write the basic business logic needed to run the automation and they can highlight the relevant data points. However, they still need to collaborate with IT to build the necessary infrastructure to support IoT effectively.

Despite the challenges it comes with, low-code platforms have the power to amplify the work developers do. And in the end, it can help them build the systems businesses need to capitalize on all the benefits the IoT and automation offer. It’s important for businesses—especially those thinking the IoT is out-of-reach due to data complexities—to realize low code is the ladder that will help grasp its full potential.

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