IoT Trends to Watch, According to CEO of OptConnect, Chris Baird

September 13, 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) industry is experiencing rapid growth, with Statista predicting 32.1 billion IoT devices by 2030. Chris Baird, CEO of OptConnect, highlighted several key trends in a recent, exclusive interview with IOT Insider.

Pandemic Accelerated Existing Trends

Baird noted that the pandemic accelerated the push for constant connectivity. As suggested in the interview, existing trends grew rapidly, with many retailers using interactive kiosks to replace positions that would typically involve human interaction. During this period, many businesses adopted technology to replace in-person interactions, including OptConnect.

Rising Connectivity and Data

The pandemic led to substantial infrastructure investments, with major U.S. carriers expanding their fiber networks. With the number of connected devices expected to reach about 30 billion, there’s a vast amount of data to handle. This demands advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to process and extract actionable insights. For instance, one of OptConnect’s clients use data to manage electrical grids and prevent disasters.

Cybersecurity Concerns

As IoT devices proliferate, security becomes increasingly critical. OptConnect emphasizes the importance of security from the beginning, rather than an afterthought. The recent Crowdstrike outage, which impacted various sectors, underscores the importance of adopting robust security measures, including zero trust architectures. In Baird’s mind, according to his recent interview, security and cybersecurity are becoming synonymous with one another.

Future Outlook

Baird is optimistic about the future of technology, noting that we are on the brink of widespread adoption of transformative innovations. For refreshment operators, there are notable trends to adopt early, rather than ignore until everyone else is using AI-powered technology, data, and security.