3 Reasons to Develop Government IoT Applications

There are many potential government IoT applications — and good reasons for your software company to expand your business into this market.

Government

When you hear “Internet of Things,” you may think of refrigerators that tell you when you need milk, self-driving cars, or automated, smart factories. Local government IoT applications aren’t usually the first examples that spring to mind. IoT, however, has the potential to provide systems that can benefit countless use cases in virtually every vertical market — including local government.

What IoT Can Do For Local Governments

IoT, a network of computing devices, machines, places, people, enables data to flow among all parts of the network. Data streams anywhere it’s needed, computing can take place in the cloud or at the edge, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology allows the system to learn and initiate action. IoT systems can:

  • Analyze normal conditions and react when an abnormal one occurs
  • Monitor and maintain equipment or assets to maximize uptime and usage
  • Enforce safety by automatically shutting down equipment or taking other measures when people’s well-being is at stake
  • Enforce compliance with environmental or other regulations
  • Detect and send alerts before a natural disaster
  • Control energy consumption
  • Provide intelligent surveillance, access control, and security
  • Monitor and order inventory
  • Enable automatic payment systems
  • Locate assets or fleet vehicles
Local Government IoT Success Stories

The totally connected, smart city, operating on AI-powered transportation, M2M processes, and optimized communications and energy usage, may be a vision of the future, but IoT technology is very much in use today. A city or county’s IoT doesn’t have to begin with a fully connected and automated network. Local governments can begin leveraging IoT by solving one problem at a time. There are a number of government IoT success stories, including:

3 Reasons to Focus on Local Government IoT Applications

There is a myriad of possibilities for IoT applications that you can develop for operations managed by local government — and there are three good reasons to consider expanding your development business into this area now.

  1. ROI. In every example above, the ROI is swift and sure. IoT applications deliver cost savings, enhanced safety, and a better quality of life. Price your application right, and it would be hard to say no.
  2. A Chance to Innovate. IoT technology is still in its early phases. You have the opportunity to develop innovative applications. Moreover, existing applications may build a connected network, but fail to save time by automating the next steps or making recommendations. Focus on prescriptive solutions.
  3. Local Governments Need Help. The city, township, or county government you work will likely need help making new systems work with legacy solutions that keep them running. Solving this problem can help you create a solid, long-term relationship with local government customers.

Whether you have the ability to develop a new application or integrate an existing application with a smart system, you may hold the key to greater efficiency, safety, and cost savings for local government clients. How can your application be a part of a smart, connected ecosystem? 


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The former owner of a software development company and having more than a decade of experience writing for B2B IT solution providers, Mike is co-founder of DevPro Journal.