Inc.

Bio: Matthieu has been working in the electronic security and technology industry for over 20 years. Since 2017, he has led a team of engineers, operators, experts, and sales consultants to deliver best-in-class technologies and services to support organizations in their efforts to achieve operational excellence. His areas of expertise are electronic security, growth strategies in a technological environment, and business transformation. Experienced in multicultural management, he places a strong focus on diversity leadership, agile leadership, continuous learning, and a growth mindset. 

Business growth is driven by assets, and as working models shift, organizations must consider how best to safeguard these assets and foster growth.

The STANLEY Security 2022 Industry Trends Report revealed that according to 72 percent of business leaders, the security of their assets–inventory, equipment, and facilities–was their primary concern with hybrid working. To ensure the protection of these assets, leaders are looking to gain greater visibility into their security operations.

However, as organizations accelerate the digital transformation of their security infrastructure, they are not only thinking of how best they can secure their assets, but how they can extract the most value from their investment. 

The Internet of Things (IoT) provides the ultimate solution. With the use of smart technologies, such as sensors, GPS, and tags, organizations can oversee their network of assets and, when combined with artificial intelligence (AI), this technology gives companies the tools to use their physical assets to power business transformation. 

The IoT Resurgence 

IoT solutions are experiencing a revival. Devices are becoming smaller, faster, and more affordable, and technological advancements–including 5G mobile networks and cloud computing–are enabling expanded connectivity and bandwidth. According to IoT Analytics’ latest report, by 2025, it is expected that there will be more than 30 billion IoT connections globally. That’s almost four IoT devices per person, on average.

These devices are crucial for tracking the status of key assets–for example, in the past few years, IoT solutions have ensured that COVID-19 vaccines are stored at proper temperatures during production and shipment. And this technology ultimately helps businesses to protect their most important asset: their people. With better oversight of material assets, organizations can better ensure they are deploying their workers effectively and safely.

Many businesses are currently operating on restricted budgets, but luckily, leveraging IoT technology does not have to come at the cost of replacing existing equipment; in many cases, companies can retrofit existing surveillance and monitoring systems with IoT sensors. Organizations should see this not only as an investment in the security of their assets but as the key to unlocking the valuable insights they hold.

Optimizing Operations with AI 

Organizations recognize the importance of data in accelerating business transformation, but many are still missing out on the insights that can be gleaned from physical assets and related security infrastructure. 

The latest STANLEY Security Industry Trends Report identifies integrated analytics, driven by AI and machine learning, as one of the top three technology investments expected in the next 18 months. While only 29 percent of organizations reported that they have implemented integrated analytics, two-thirds (66 percent) would consider using them to safeguard their assets, and 78 percent would consider using them to optimize operations, helping them operate more effectively and efficiently.

Supply chains have experienced severe disruption over the last few years, but with IoT sensors and AI analytics already in place for security purposes, logistics managers can access real-time data on the location and condition of goods and assets. This helps to ensure the safe delivery of assets and can also help optimize operations–powering just-in-time supply chains.

"While Technologies Certainly Help To Identify Potential Opportunities For Optimization, It Is A Business’ People Who Will Determine How These Insights Are Implemented To Build Resilience Today And In The Future"

 

The combination of IoT and AI provides a big-picture view of the supply chain, identifying emerging patterns and anticipating disruption. Equipped with this information, stakeholders at each point of the value chain can work together to streamline processes–boosting supply resilience and directly impacting profit margins.

People Power Progress

Despite rapid technological advancements, a robust security program will never be achieved by simply installing the right hardware and software; it remains a question of people. IoT technology can flag potential risks, but organizations need accountable expert teams to actively monitor their operations and make the final call. 

In fact, people are becoming increasingly important in helping businesses manage the technologies they’re implementing. The Industry Trends Report shows that 65 percent of organizations expect to hire a leader this year to oversee new technologies they implemented as a result of the pandemic. Many are also looking to partners to provide support in needed areas, such as monitored security. The report shows that 40 percent of businesses are interested in adopting professional and managed services in the next 18 months.

So, while technologies certainly help to identify potential opportunities for optimization, it is businesspeople who will determine how these insights are implemented to build resilience today and in the future. It is only with the right policies, processes, equipment, and people in place that organizations can gain 360-degree visibility into their operations. 

Maximizing Assets, Minimizing Risks

In the new world of work, it’s not enough to just react to security threats. Advances in technology are enabling organizations to unlock the value of asset-based data, helping them to take a more predictive and proactive approach to security, and supporting their long-term strategic goals. 

With IoT and AI, and the possibility of integrating both in a holistic ecosystem, security tech is fast becoming a key source of competitive advantage–and we are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible.