SigmaWay Blog

Technology in the natural resources business is changing the environment for producers of major commodities like oil, coal, iron ore, natural gas, and copper by giving them better opportunities for increasing the production and lowering the cost. Combining robotics, internet-of-things technology, and data analytics with macroeconomic trends and changing consumer behavior will enable the producers to efficiently use the energy. Technology is also helping the consumers to utilize the energy in their homes, offices, and firms more efficient. Development of technology is also helping in reducing the transportation and electricity cost, increasing the safety of the miners, providing advanced forms of grinding and grinding of many metals and accessing the mines and wells which were once unexplored. By using the existing and new technology, the productivity, efficiency can be increased. The extensive use of technology in mining is not an easy process and will take a lot of time but its reward will be very attractive. Read more at: https://hbr.org/2017/06/how-the-natural-resources-business-is-turning-into-a-technology-industry

Adoption of Internet of Things rose dramatically in the year 2016. Factors like the increased numbers of sensors and connected devices, a growing pool of IoT developers, and real-time data and analytics support for IoT systems are a few of the major reasons for its expansion. "The Internet of Things Market", by Aman Naimat, presents a snapshot of IoT culture. It  describes a data-driven analysis of the companies, industries, and workers using IoT technologies. As the volume of data sets grow and more robust computation power evolves and scalability will lead to more IoT breakthroughs which in turn will lead to more  business investment in the future. You can read more at : https://www.oreilly.com/ideas/all-grown-up-the-iot-market-today

Big data refers to huge amount of structured and unstructured data collected from multiple sources and devices, Explosion of Internet of things is expected to connect 26 billion devices by 2020. There have always been two challenges : Organizing all information in a warehouse so that it can be fetched and processed efficiently . Second processing it in a way that it will provide meaningful results. It turns out only 58% company is understanding the value of their big data solutions. In contrast, small data address a specific problem in limited domains. It tends to focus on log analysis like user behavior on a website. A logging mechanism allows to capture specialized data for business teams and engineers without the need to dig into the ocean of big data. You can read more at : http://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/how-big-data-is-becoming-smaller-than-small-data

The internet makes the world a small place. It brings everybody and everything closer and helps in communication. Customer Relationship Management or CRM as we call it is getting revolutionized by the Internet of Things (IoT). They are now being able to access data from IoT to enhance customer experience and improve services. Companies are able to shift strategies, change decisions in a flick of a second, because all information is now available at the tip of their finger. Read more at: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/insidecrm/crm-joins-the-internet-of-things-73690

Internet of Things or IoT has revolutionized the technology sector. It is the buzzword which everybody is talking about. The idea of connecting every device together sounds exciting. And this trend is obviously on the rise with more and more devices connecting to the internet daily. But one factor which no one is really emphasizing on is the security of IoT devices. So here are some habits which might help achieve the same:

1.       Get a Vulnerability Report from the Vendor

2.       Make Security Patches Part of the SLA

3.       Know Where Your Data Goes

4.       Choose IoT with Remote Firmware Upgrades

5.       Always Use Role-Based Network Access

6.       Encrypt IoT Traffic during Transit

7.       Change Default Passwords

8.       Stay Vigilant Through Constant Monitoring

Read the complete article here: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/itmanagement/eight-habits-for-better-iot-security-73286

Today companies are gathering more and more data but are not certain of what to do with this data. For the last five years, companies are getting in to the big data practices in order to get competitive advantage. Big data is basically using analytical software to visualize unstructured data (data available to the public) and structured data (companies propriety information) .This visualization does wonders, it gives predictive sales figures, future prospective of the company and sales target .Gathering information is getting simpler with the emerging software & IoT; but sorting and filtering the huge pile of data is a complicated process.

According to a new report, an analyst spends about 50-90% of their time in just cleaning and filtering the raw data. Companies can solve this problem by improving the data software where data can have lower level of risk for data scientist and algorithms can help in data cleaning.

To know more: http://www.zdnet.com/article/big-datas-biggest-problem-its-too-hard-to-get-the-data-in/

Data analytics is now not only restricted to the IT sector, but also serves other sectors of the society. If we look at the services and other sectors where data analysis can be used then, the list will be very long in today's world. Data analytics is used in each and every sector including sports, politics, medical and financial firms. Some of the predictions of how analytics will shape the business, sports, and political landscape in 2016 are:

Prediction #1: The hottest corporate job of 2016 is data analyst.

Prediction #2: IT will embrace the self-service analytics movement.

Prediction #3: Predictive analytics go mainstream.

Prediction #4: The "Internet of Things" (IoT) will get more organizations interested in geospatial analytics.

To read the full article, follow: http://www.forbes.com/sites/valleyvoices/2016/01/20/five-ways-data-analytics-will-shape-business-sports-and-politics-in-2016/#612ab3395a1d

The term "Artificial intelligence" (AI) was first introduced by the John McCarthy for the study of intelligence which is carried out using a computer. AI is becoming reality and both fear and faith are also increasing day by day. Even many movies like the terminator, ROBOT, RA-One are based on AI and machine taking control. Similarly, the world famous physicist Stephen Hawking shows his fear on the growth of AI and IoT by saying that the full development of AI could "spell the end of the human race". It is expected that by 2020, about 80% of adults will own a smartphone. It is also changing the way people relate to one another and their surroundings. There are apps for most of things that you can think of, like fitness apps, cooking apps and much more. Today AI and IoT are allowing people to do more things on their phones and off them too. Read more at: http://www.notchcommunications.co.uk/blog/2015/03/the-dawn-of-artificial-intelligence-and-the-internet-of-things

We've been thinking about the Internet of Things all wrong. According to various predictions by various companies, there were various statements specifying volume and amount of money, number of connections. These are just numbers, Numbers, more numbers. If we believe in the predictions, there is no way that current analytical solutions can manage that level of information. In the immediate future artificial intelligence capabilities are required. Which means all companies who have an analytics platform play will have to invest in A.I. research, acquire and finally emerge with solutions based on methods beyond machine learning. Or risk being left behind. If this sounds vaguely familiar, it's because right now all efforts are pointing towards machine learning and algorithms as the goal for analytics. To read more visit on: http://www.forbes.com/sites/theopriestley/2015/12/08/a-series-of-unfortunate-tech-predictions-artificial-intelligence-and-iot-are-inseparable/#39f25ec8523a1253d985523a

The Internet of Things (IoT) is impacting on consumers’ lives and corporate business models. It is increasing at the rapid rate and by 2020, more than half of the major new process will incorporate some element of the IoT. IoT is basically connecting device with an on and off switch to the internet. By 2020, a black market exceeding $5 billion would exist to sell fake sensor and video data for enabling criminal activity and protecting personal privacy. To address this compromises in IoT security will have increased security costs to 20% of annual security budgets. To read more visit on:  http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/by-2020-more-than-half-of-new-business-processes-will-incorporate-some-element-of-iot-says-gartner-295467.html

Mobile Marketing is the use of the mobile medium as a means of marketing. According to a report, the IoT device market will double the size of smartphone, PC, tablet, connected car, and wearable devices combined by 2019. The Internet of Things provides a network of physical objects or things embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, thus enabling collection and exchange of data. To know more about how it can hit the target mobile marketing, follow the article written by Arun Bhattacharya (author) at: http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalmarketing/mobile/how-to-add-wearable-devices-to-your-mobile-marketing-strategy/

Internet of Things has become the second name for futuristic technology and advancement. Automotive sector has always been the first to absorb sophistication. With increasing propagation of embedded in-vehicle connectivity and smartphone integration platform, connecting automotive technology with phones, watches and computers will be a rage. Connected cars, as we might call them, will be extremely helpful in combating traffic congestion, reducing fuel consumption and road accidents. But, with this huge opportunity comes challenges like affordability, threats like malware, odometer fraud, hacking etc. Todd Franks in a blogpost in CloudTweaks believes that connected cars will definitely be the future of automobile industry. For more insight please click the link http://cloudtweaks.com/2015/07/connected-cars-the-challenges-and-benefits/

In the last few years, the PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) market has seen an explosion. Organizations are now looking forward to receiving, processing, storing and scaling data and PaaS is making all these possible. Here are five things one should know about PaaS:

(i) PaaS benefits not only start-ups but also other organizations. 

(ii) PaaS platforms differ widely with different architecture and languages. Applications can be developed in languages tailor-made to suit the needs of individual businesses.

(iii) PaaS and DevOps (software developed in response to an interdependence of software developers and other IT professionals) intersects at the point of delivery. Thus, both can work together.

(iv)  PaaS is a safe and secure option for storing and processing data. It also supports important security standards.

(v) PaaS serves as one of the critical components for building applications for IoT. Read more at: https://channels.theinnovationenterprise.com/articles/7964-paas-five-things-you-didn-t-know

The term Internet of Things was coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, cofounder of the Auto-ID Center, an RFID research project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. IoT is about intelligent devices talking to enterprise apps. Its important to focus on the basic building blocks as the success of an IOT initiative depends on them. However, you must overcome  challenges before the IoT can be fully realized. A lack of unified standards , Complexity are some of the challenges. If you're starting from scratch, it's important to ask, "What's the No. 1 business problem you want to solve?" Once that's answered, it's time to look at the systems you need to connect and the capabilities you must put in place. The most important point is to bring your structures and unstructured data together in a meaningful way. 

Read more here- http://www.cmswire.com/internet-of-things/get-ready-for-the-iot/

The internet of things is a name for the growing network of physical devices which have sensors to collect and exchange data with users or other devices. Such information is used for personal convenience. Collecting such information can help make lives easier. Companies are collecting the data not just for improving standard of living but also form themselves. This helps advertisers know every bit of information about the consumers regarding what they do, when they do and how they do it. The government is way behind in understanding what actually the internet of things is and companies take a more active role in putting security in place before they get ahead of themselves with data collection. The reality is that developers are thinking about what they could do rather than what they should do with it. The main focus should be on user’s privacy maintenance so that their information is never at risk while commercial efficiencies are also realized.
Read more at: http://www.smartdatacollective.com/semcasting-emory-paine/332361/internet-things-realities-interconnected-world?ref=popular_posts

Digital disruption, adopted by several agile institutions has serious impacts on their customers. They have been successful in creating winners and losers.

According to the author, six things to be kept in mind for disruption are:

1. Thing 1 and Thing 2 - The Internet of Things will get modified in the upcoming years thereby benefiting the customers.
2. You are what you wear - Nowadays, humans are becoming technological. Wearables benefit customers and brands with better products. 
3. Don't show me the money - Apple Pay helps the customers, banks and brands with better security and convenience.
4. Growing importance of phone - With the rising importance of mobile phones, brands are required to embrace a real-time mindset.
5. We're all publishers now - Social media directs the market forces.
6. Self -driving cars- Self-driving cars would reorganize roadway security.

Read more at: https://channels.theinnovationenterprise.com/articles/7830-let-s-get-disruptive-a-cmo-s-view-of-the-future

Data is the most crucial component of every organization but lately some businesses have started to deal in data. Therefore we need to focus on some basic steps before we begin to trade data and they are as follows:

1. Selling and Accumulating data - Companies that are engaged in selling data have suffered from serious adverse criticisms. If an organization has more data, then it has to bear higher risks and management costs.

2. Making Sense - Big data improves business efficiency and has assisted in the Internet of Things but management costs have to compensate against the money made.

3. Making Money - Organizations search for suitable techniques to create money from data.

4. Risks and Returns - Data helps to improve the quality despite of the risk aspects associated with it.

Read more at: http://www.business2community.com/big-data/can-businesses-profit-data-quality-01275752

Delivering added business value to existing product and services can be done through the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT can help organizations improve relation with customers without much physical interaction. Using IoT, personalized services can be delivered in a less personal way. The key to launching IoT is to think big. Organizations should be able to identify the limitations yet be able to offer integrated services including IoT and other services and applications. After creating an understanding of IoT, companies should communicate its values, potential, risks and ecosystem roadmap implications. An example of how IoT can be used to deliver personalized services can of the car insurer who, in the event of an accident of his customer, is informed immediately through the car's on-board systems. Read more at:https://channels.theinnovationenterprise.com/articles/7726-why-a-customer-is-never-a-thing

Uncontrolled urbanization is posing as a great threat as it puts immense pressure on the resources available. Some of the issues that will be faced in this scenario are clean water, clean air, power, waste management and living space.
Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) are some of the technological forces which are pushing towards smart cities. With the help of Big Data a range of applications are being made available with the help of which smart cities can be made more livable. Applications like smart street lights are already being used in smart cities like Birmingham. Street lights are attached with sensors which monitor footfall and noise levels and based on this data, the light turns on or off. Cities like Bristol, England are installing an infrastructural network that will support the data generated through Big Data and IoT.
These examples are minor steps in building of Smart cities which can sustain growing population without hampering the quality of life. Read more at: https://icrunchdatanews.com/big-data-building-smart-cities/

Make way, its drone landing on your terrace with your favorite pizza. That’s how your favorite pizza outlet might advertise in a few years down the line. IoT based drones for pizza delivery is going to be the buzz for both pizza vendors and consumers. You get your pizza faster, it’s not soggy and sizzling hot direct from oven to your home. Scott Andreson, Director of consulting Services at CGI, in a post on Cloud Tweaks give us fascinating insights about this new possibility, the challenges which are likely to occur and of course there will be a few solutions too.  All you pizza lovers and technology aficionados hit the link to know more http://cloudtweaks.com/2015/06/hot-emerging-trends-the-pizza-delivery-drone/