Enterprise IoT: top 7 use cases, real-life examples, and trends

IoT solutions in enterprise buildings can automate the process of office equipment maintenance. By gathering data on equipment exploitation, performance, energy consumption, errors, and updates, IoT sensors help monitor the condition of all types of office equipment, from HVAC and smart locks to laptops and printers. Such continuous monitoring makes it possible to timely alert the team when the appliances require maintenance before the actual breakdown.

The activity information from each IoT-enabled device can be instantly transmitted into a unified database, creating a steady digital trail of all security events within the enterprise. In case of intrusion on-premises, this information can be passed on from surveillance cameras to door locks, immediately blocking the closest ones and thus stalling the perpetrator’s progress. With suitable devices in its infrastructure, enterprise IoT solutions can also enable access control through facial identification, voice and biometric recognition, movement tracking, and intelligent door-locking systems. Every lock in the building can have an access controller and require a card with an assigned IP address to enter the room.

Smart lighting systems encompass digital and motion sensors, communications interfaces, actuators, and lighting devices. They are programmed to operate remotely and can be used to change the light spectrum and color or adjust the level of illumination when a motion sensor detects activity. IoT sensors allow the HVAC equipment to measure air temperature, humidity, and purity, consider weather predictions, and monitor HVAC usage trends, so the indoor climate always stays optimal for employees.

IoT technologies can also prove valuable for building and workspace occupancy monitoring, allowing for real-time space management and efficient resource allocation. IoT technologies provide real-time data on space, meeting rooms, and desk utilization with cameras, infrared sensors, and access control tools installed across office facilities. As a result, such occupancy monitoring solutions provide accurate insights into how effectively the office space is used and help make data-driven decisions on space allocation, saving costs on unused desks and rooms.

Enterprises can utilize IoT solutions to monitor and control energy consumption in their commercial buildings. Smart sensors collect data on energy usage, HVAC utilization as well as facility occupancy to determine electricity overconsumption and optimize lighting and heating patterns across the building. For instance, the IoT infrastructure can detect that the C-suite uses the meeting room once every two weeks and reduce the temperature there for the period of non-use. This way, IoT will help save money on energy bills and reduce environmental impact.

IoT can help large enterprises with numerous car owners optimize their parking. Companies can ensure only their employees have access to the parking spaces by implementing intelligent parking systems where the parking gate arm opens with a smartphone or a special remote controller. They can also apply visual image processing and optical recognition technology to identify the car and automatically open the gate to the parking lot. Enterprises with large parking areas can also utilize the system’s hardware sensors to detect available parking slots and communicate the information to the drivers via their smartphones.