Criminals go where they can do the most damage with minimal effort. It's why, for years, hackers targeted Windows rather than Macs - it was where the users, and in turn the data, were. And now we're seeing a steady migration from one platform to the next as popularity grows. Hackers moved from Windows to Apple's OS to mobile. Now, unsurprisingly, they are targeting the cloud.
It may be a gradual evolution, but more and more companies are realizing the benefits of adapting cutting-edge wireless technology to enable supply-chain efficiency, visibility, compliance and predictive analytics.
The manufacturing CIO has long been associated with managing new technology implementation, strategic IT planning and keeping tabs on the latest solutions that could boost productivity. The job entails much more than that today.
Global revenues from smart home automation systems will grow at a 21-percent CAGR between 2015 and 2020, according to ABI Research. North America will account for the lion's share of the smart home automation system revenues in 2020, contributing close to 46 percent globally, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Ikea's recently announced wireless charging line of furniture is expected to jump-start a trend that will amount to 10 million sticks of high-tech furniture sold in just two years.
The worldwide consumer Wi-Fi equipment market increased 5 percent in 2014, surpassing 166 million unit shipments. "Shipments of devices which support the 802.11ac standard grew significantly last ear, representing more than 11 percent of total access point shipments," says Jake Saunders, vice president and practice director, ABI Research.
If the past 12 months saw a dramatic increase in data breach activity, then the year ahead promises to bring an entirely new set of concerns - and a shift in how companies are responding to the cyber threat.
Worldwide oil production is outpacing demand, and oil prices have fallen by more than 50 percent since June 2014. Many factors - including soft demand, increasing U.S. production and diminishing storage for crude oil - suggest that the days of $100-a-barrel oil may not return. This scenario presents potentially disastrous consequences for oil and gas (O&G) firms that are not prepared to accelerate their digital transformation. Innovative oil and gas firms, however, believe today's turbulent market landscape provides an opportunity to grab competitive advantage by harnessing new technologies, such as the Internet of Everything.
ABI Research expects IoT-connected wind and solar installations to grow at a CAGR of 21 percent between 2014 and 2020 with the total number of connections growing from the almost 2 million in 2014 to 6.3 million in 2020.
Analyst Insight: The double-digit growth of the ecommerce channel is indisputable; yet, it's still only 6 percent of total U.S. retail spend. Amazon may seem like it's the 600-lb. gorilla, but it may just be Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall. Omnichannel is certainly getting its share of hype. We believe connected consumer commerce will be a competitive mandate for bricks and mortar retailers. Are you ready for the disruptive changes to the rules of the game? – Rich Sherman, author and founder at Gold & Domas Research
