DEV Community: Intuz

NFTs and Virtual Real Estate: Owning a Piece of the Metaverse

Intuz — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 18:01:54 +0000

Individuals can buy and sell virtual parcels of land within the metaverse, and the prices are at par with the physical world. In the wave of merging the physical and virtual, metaverse platforms and their capabilities can play an instrumental role in this merger. Individuals can own a piece of land in the metaverse through popular platforms such as Sandbox, Decentraland, etc..

NFTs represent digital assets that an individual can buy. In the real estate industry, anyone can buy a land NFT, which is equal to owning a piece of land or an establishment in the metaverse. This creates a new market segment in the real estate industry, which has boomed in recent months. In addition to changing how we interact with virtual real estate, NFTs have the potential to change how we interact with physical real estate as well. Let’s learn more about NFTs - Metaverse and their association with real estate.

How NFT and Metaverse are Changing Real Estate?

A piece of land in the metaverse game Decetranland sold for a whopping $913,000. This clearly shows the potential of the virtual real estate market. As more and more people will start investing in this industry, it’s possible to see more such or even higher investments in real estate.

The shift to metaverse comes when physical land is already scarce. We understand that comparing the value of land in our world to land in the virtual world isn’t right. But looking at it from a purely monetary perspective, there can be a time when investing in physical real estate is the same as investing in virtual real estate. This is the merger that we are hoping to achieve one day.

In the metaverse, we buy parcels of land. These parcels represent the dimension of the land, and there can be different-sized parcels on sale. Until 2022, there were 622,436 parcels of land in the 10 largest metaverse platforms.

The metaverse space is not just land buying and selling; instead, communities are built within the virtual world. People here can communicate, work together, enjoy, play games, and whatnot. For some, moving to the metaverse has become a way to escape from the physical world.

NFTs are responsible for bringing a higher level of security, transparency, and authentic ownership into this industry. The great thing about this is that we can have NFTs in the form of land. Each parcel of land can be converted into NFTs. With NFTs and metaverse involved, buyers and sellers can complete transactions easily without having to involve a broker.

In 2021, two brothers paid $4.3 million to buy virtual property in Sandbox, a metaverse platform.

How to Buy Land in the Metaverse?

Buying land in the metaverse through NFTs or virtual currencies is easy, but you need to take the right steps.

Deposit Funds

NFT or digital currency exchanges happen through crypto exchanges, which are of two types, centralized and decentralized. As the name suggests, the centralized ones have a central authority, and any single power does not govern the decentralized ones.

Some examples of exchanges are Binance, Coinbase, Gemini, etc. Here you can convert the fiat currency into cryptocurrency. The most popular choice is Bitcoin, but you can also buy ETH or any other compatible currency. However, you might have to swap the cryptocurrency you buy now with the one compatible with the Metaverse platform.

Creating a separate email account for all your crypto transactions is always better. On the exchange, transfer a small amount of funds first and let it sit.

Create Your Digital Wallet

A digital wallet is required to buy land in the metaverse. This digital wallet will be connected to the exchange from where you decide to buy the cryptocurrency. For your digital wallet, choose MetaMask, as it's the most popular and is compatible with all Metaverse platforms.

Visit MetaMask’s website and create an account there. Make sure to keep the secret key and password to the wallet safe and private. Once the wallet is up and running, send the funds from the crypto exchange to the wallet.

Look for Land

In 2023, the position is such that land in almost all the metaverse platforms is already sold. So now, what you can get is land from secondary sellers who have listed the land they would like to sell. Even from secondary sellers, it’s a safe bet to buy land in the popular metaverse.

However, the volatility and unpredictability of the crypto market do force everyone to give it a second thought. However, given the past performance of the metaverse industry, it’s safe to buy land in the metaverse. Make sure that the platforms are encrypted and have smart contracts for executing the operations.

Some of the best metaverse platforms are Sandbox, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels, Worldwide Webb, and Somnium Space.

Create an Account on Marketplace

Assuming that you choose Sandbox to buy metaverse land, begin by creating an account or signing in to an existing one. Connect the MetaMask wallet and then click on buy land.

After clicking on Buy Land, you will be redirected to the OpenSea.io marketplace. There you can filter land according to prices and select the one you wish to buy. By clicking on a piece of land, in the thumbnail form, you can view the location on the Sandbox map.

If the location of the land suits your requirements, check your wallet balance. Remember that to buy a piece of land, you also need to pay the gas fees. The amount of gas fees depends on the platform and the cryptocurrency you are using to buy the same.

You can make an offer on the land or buy it immediately, depending on the configuration set by the seller. Once you make this choice, the wallet will show you the final amount to be paid, including the gas fees.

Once the payment is complete, the bought piece of land will appear on your Sandbox and OpenSea accounts. On Sandbox, you can also build on your land or give the buildings on rent.

Make sure to buy from a credible and authentic platform. On trusted platforms, everything is executed with smart contracts and blockchain technology. Don’t let the fear of not buying land in the metaverse motivate you to make hasty decisions. Always use caution and plan every step.

Future Scope of Real Estate in Metaverse

The future of Metaverse is incredible, with one market study estimating the market size to cross $825 billion by 2028. The CEO of Portion, who bought $1.2 million worth of land in the metaverse, believes that the property value in the physical world will transfer to the virtual world. Having said that, there is nothing we can say or show to prove that the metaverse and NFT industry is flawless.

Even with everything happening now, these markers may not be as stable as we want them to be. So, even if the market value of the metaverse has tremendous value and potential, the best bet is to move ahead with caution. Do your research before buying land or other assets.

Given the trust and speed with which big companies like Facebook and Microsoft are investing in this industry, we can surely hope for them to be correct.

If the metaverse and NFT industry become instrumental in the next 20 years, just as the internet has become for us today, it’s a good time to start investing right now. Such investments and confidence from big IT companies is likely to depict a healthy future for the virtual world in the coming years.

Conclusion

The metaverse and NFT industry is gradually growing to become a large-scale operation. With zero territorial boundaries and definitive centralized control, the metaverse and NFT platforms are helping people earn a substantial income from the sale and purchase of digital assets. However, buying land in the metaverse with cryptocurrency or in the form of NFT requires prior research and planning. Always take an expert’s opinion before investing.

At Intuz, we help organizations build their virtual assets and products powered by blockchain technology. We help companies build blockchain applications for their business growth. Contact us to know more about how we can help you build your next application for the virtual world.

Low-Code Platforms for Manufacturing: Simplifying Workflows and Driving Growth

Intuz — Wed, 24 May 2023 17:05:49 +0000

Every industry today is working its way to integrate the best of technology has to offer for their operational efficiency. The same movement of continuous improvement is also seen in the manufacturing industry. Businesses in this industry have to face several complex challenges and need amicable solutions for their resolution.

Modern applications do provide a competitive advantage as it helps manufacturers improve their productivity. But building applications for specific manufacturing operations can be a costly affair. This is where the Low-Code platforms come in and provide game-changing benefits. Let’s find out how these platforms can help manufacturers in achieving higher growth.

What is Low-Code and Why Use It?

A low-code application development platform (LCDP) is a ready-to-use software or online solution. It provides users with an application development environment. These solutions give users freedom from writing endless lines of code and give them pre-configured, ready-to-use functionality in the form of blocks.

The users will engage with an interface filled with drag-and-drop elements for building an application. These functionality blocks are joined together according to the requirements leading to the creation of a running application.

In the LCDP approach, the users utilize event-based triggers and if-this-then-that logic systems according to the business requirements. In addition to the functionality blocks, the same software also provides UI elements in the form of blocks that users can utilize to build applications.

There is a rule engine that can be used to combine different classes and configurations of function blocks to form a single application. Most importantly, the built application also has a built-in data pipeline for data collection. Using this data, the users can build better and bespoke applications.

Why Use Low-Code Development Platforms?

Using LCDP has manifold benefits for the users, especially those who don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on hiring developers and wait another five to six months for their digital solution. Not only are these platforms cost-efficient, but they also help build the final application quickly.

The low code market value is expected to increase to $187 billion by the end of 2030. This growth comes from the fact that businesses do need the best resources for their digital maturity. Manufacturing, being one of the most complex business sectors, organizations have to complete a myriad of processes.

These include sales, marketing, production management, backend operations, human resources, procurement, research, and development, among others. Completing all these functions with the right digital solution is pivotal to obtaining the best results.

Moreover, as other businesses are implementing their digital transformation strategies, they gain a competitive advantage over you. The new technologies and systems are helping organizations improve their work efficiency and productivity. When manufacturing units are troubled with low productivity and high costs, they need the right digital solution to catch up.

Low-Code platforms provide answers to a lot of challenges faced by manufacturing units.

When manufacturing units are faced with the complexities of the modern world, they need effective solutions for digital transformation. In response to this, LCDP helps them build applications focussing on improving user experience and delivering consistent experiences across different platforms and devices.
With a multitude of functions and requirements that a manufacturing unit has to complete, LCDP provides an easy-to-use app development system. Using these solutions,
manufacturers can drive products with faster time-to-market.
Without a digital-ready system, manufacturers have to rely on many different systems' execution and management of their operations. But with access to an LCDP, they can build a single platform for execution and management.
Lastly, adapting to changing ways of doing things is not an easy task. Managing these changes and governing their execution is easier if businesses use a digital solution. So, applications built with an LCDP can help these businesses create bespoke solutions for better adaptability.

Even when it comes to building a prototype using low-code platforms, building these prototypes is quicker. Similarly, making changes to the prototype and creating the final product will also take less time. Ultimately, it will allow the manufacturers to increase their return on investment.

Benefits of Low-Code for Manufacturing

Faster Development Cycle: The software development life cycle, which includes all the steps from ideation to deployment, can run longer than six months. However, with a Low-code platform, users can substantially reduce this time as they don’t have to write the code scripts. However, in the LCDP system, one application can be built in less than three months.

According to a NASSCOM study, it takes 66% less time to build a prototype with a low-code platform. Faster development time is essential in a market where businesses face cutthroat competition.

From the time an application idea emerges to the time it hits the floor, the reduction in development time is substantial. Because these platforms have pre-verified and pre-tested code scripts, the final codebase doesn’t need a rigorous testing schedule.

Integration with Legacy Systems
Some manufacturing businesses still use legacy systems and solutions. These old solutions may not be as efficient as modern software. Bringing modern solutions and eliminating legacy systems is a time-consuming process for the business, not to mention the costs involved.

Hence, a viable solution is to build applications that integrate with these legacy systems. This is where Low-Code platforms come into play and help these manufacturers build bespoke solutions that empower their legacy systems.

This integration allows manufacturers to build low-cost applications quickly. As a result, they don’t have to spend costs on data transfer and still manage to use their old solutions with the same speed and efficiency as a modern application.

Low-Code ERP
All types of businesses have multiple workflows that help manage and complete operations on a large scale. This network of workflows has multiple steps, data entry, data storage, and transfer functions. Most of the time, all these functions are disparate from one another.

Given the cluster of workflows, it is essential to have a streamlined ERP that can manage all the workflows and help build a better system. Using low-code development platforms, manufacturers need not rely on spreadsheets and other methods to manage projects. They can easily build customized and automated workflows specific to their business requirements.

Some of the ERP systems buildable with low-code platforms include the procurement process, invoice approval, quality certification, performance forecasting, and capacity planning, among others.

Shorter Deployment Cycles
Another benefit of using LCDP is quick development. Where on average, an application is built within a time period of six or more months. Using a low-code platform, the same development cycle can come down to two or three months.

In a competitive world, the benefit of shorter development cycles is that manufacturers can quickly launch their applications. The end-users can then start using these applications earlier than they get a chance to check other businesses' applications.

Cost-Savings: Lastly, one of the most important and obvious benefits of a LCDP is cost-savings. Compared to traditional development, where every aspect is addressed from scratch, a low code platform has ready-to-use drag-and-drop elements.

So, the only time required here is to bring all the elements together to build a single application. In traditional development, the costs are charged based on the number of hours.

In low-code development, because the time required to build an application is less, the costs are also less.

Conclusion

Low-Code and No-Code are two development approaches that are gaining popularity in the business world. Primarily these approaches help save costs and reduce the development cycle. However, to utilize a LCDP to its full potential, manufacturers still need the help of expert designers and developers.

At Intuz, we have an amazing team of professionals blessed with a thorough understanding of traditional and low-code development approaches. Get in touch with us to understand how we can use LCDP to build your application.

IoT Analytics Trends To Look For In 2023

Intuz — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:53:39 +0000

Analytics allows businesses to execute efficient solutions with the help of connected insights into the workplace. Whether it is about a manufacturing process or to figure out the productivity levels of a development team, analytics can help realize an asset’s full potential. The merger of the Internet of Things and analytics has come a long way. Proponents of these technologies and systems want to embed IoT analytics in the manufacturing and processing industries.

A workplace fully embedded with sensors, who are constantly monitoring and communicating with each other, will help manufacturers run a smooth operation. Let’s find out such trends and insights to look for in 2023 in the IoT Analytics domain.

IoT Analytics Trends for 2023

1. Artificial Intelligence and IoT are coming together to form AIoT

The merger of Artificial Intelligence and IoT will form AIoT, which can provide unimaginable insights and trends. Until 2019, only 10% of IoT projects were capitalizing on AI to develop better insights and trends. But in the coming years, this trend will scale and gain importance. Gartner predicted that by the end of 2022, over 80% of enterprise IoT projects will integrate AI into their processes.

A report found that by 2025, the billions of connected IoT devices will generate more than 73 zettabytes of data. One ZB is equal to roughly 1 trillion GB.

Imagine the amount of data that will be created and exchanged. Now the human workforce can't analyze and make sense of this data, not at least in the required time span. This is where artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies will play an important role.

Companies like Walmart are already using AIoT to manage their workforce and work on a daily basis. Every day, Walmart manages more than 1.5 billion messages catched and transferred by IoT devices. They use AIoT to understand these messages and execute several tasks, including managing day-to-day tasks, predicting maintenance of the store, customer needs, etc.

AIoT has several use cases, including maintenance of the supply chain, reducing discrepancies in transport, reducing inefficiencies on the work floor, and much more. Until a couple of years ago, companies were not interested in AIoT, but as the trend is shifting in AIoT’s favor, almost every business is looking to integrate AIoT into their workings.

In a nutshell, even when IoT devices are collecting and extracting data, it is useless without AI and machine learning.

2. IoT-led Sustainability

Another IoT trend that includes analytics to a great extent is creating and distributing sustainable products and technologies. With the help of analytics and IoT’s connected devices, we are able to achieve consistent environmental monitoring, territorial management, and energy optimization. As a result, businesses are suggested to take the desired course of action that aligns with sustainable development and management.

But how can IoT and Analytics help with this activity?
The world’s governments are coming together to build a green economy, to live sustainably, and to promote sustainable energy utilization. The benefit of all these measures, which also include promoting energy production from renewable sources, will help build better cities and communities.

It can help us steer into a direction where more green energy is used, and we can implement precise measures to mitigate climate change. Moreover, we can follow this by reducing energy costs and monitoring the failure points along with predicting them, leading to timely maintenance and remote deployments.

All these elements will come together to help us build a global sustainable economy only if the IoT and analytics solutions are used in the right direction. For instance, if governments can learn and identify traffic patterns, they can implement solutions to reduce their impact on gas consumption. We can ensure sustainable agriculture, marine life, transportation, and air quality. All of these can help move forward to a healthier and sustainable future.

3. IoT Analytics in Manufacturing

IoT Analytics has the biggest advantage to the manufacturing industry as it covers the entire sphere of operations and activities in this area. IoT Analytics will allow companies to connect and integrate a diverse set of assets. As a result, they can benefit from increased efficiency in the manufacturing process.

Right from the perfect product design to customer support, IoT and analytics have advantages across the spectrum.

Pre-Manufacturing: In the pre-manufacturing stage, businesses can use the information to select the best suppliers, manage risk, optimize material costs, and manage fluctuations with prior information.

They can use this information and knowledge to fine-tune their design and production processes. The interconnectivity of different devices will give them better insights into product designing in the pre-manufacturing stage.

The potential is great as manufacturers can predict the product’s performance, find its flaws, and add specific features to plan products according to their market needs.

Manufacturing: In the manufacturing process, businesses can streamline the production process, reduce inefficiencies, and sudden breakdowns, optimize costs, and improve productivity. With the help of predictive tools and solutions, manufacturers can identify potential problems in a machine or process and take corrective action well in advance.

Post-Manufacturing: In the next level of manufacturing benefits provided by IoT and analytics, we have customer support, package tracking, distribution, and branding. Manufacturers can take advantage of the information supplied by IoT and analytics to deliver better customer services.

Especially auto manufacturers can leverage the information provided to deliver better services to their customers. Every manufacturer can deliver better post-purchase support, identify the customer’s preferences and build better products.

Manufacturing and other business processes are turning into insight-driven mechanisms. The higher visibility into the business processes, manufacturing processes, customers, and market trends enables a manufacturer to become clear about the market requirements.

4. Industry 4.0 and IoT

The fourth industrial revolution cannot get a full bloom without the help of IoT and analytics. This era of the industrial revolution will see a significant change in manufacturing, services, and other sectors. As a result, every company implementing the requisite industry 4.0 technologies and processes will benefit from increased efficiency and large-scale automation. With every type of technology implemented in industry 4.0, including automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality, big data, virtual reality, cloud infrastructure, etc., data will be generated and exchanged.

Without the pertinent data analysis structure, it will be virtually impossible to explore the full potential of other technologies. Moreover, according to a Deloitte survey, IoT, with a 72% share, is most important for organizations. This is followed by other technologies, including,

AI - 68%
Cloud infrastructure - 64%
Big Data/analytics - 54%
Nanotechnology - 44%
Advanced Robotics/RPA - 40%
Sensors - 40%
Blockchain - 17%

Other technologies in this category are 3D printing, AR, Quantum computing, and Edge computing. Every component and technology will generate data, and IoT analytics is at the forefront of interpreting this data.

5. Connecting with Customers

The last important IoT analytics trend for 2023 is using them to interact and integrate with customers. Firstly, IoT analytics will help gain visibility into how customers are using a product or service. The businesses can use this data to analyze customer behavior and make changes to the product or service accordingly. Knowing this information opens up new revenue streams. They can understand how to build brand loyalty, how to gain customer’s trust, and how to attract customers.

For instance, car manufacturers are now more aware than ever about how customers are using their cars. The IoT data generated helps them analyze a customer’s behavior and preferences toward a car. They understand how a customer interacts with the car and what proactive action they can take to build better relationships with customers. This model can be replicated with every type of manufacturer and service provider.

Conclusion

The amount of data we will generate won’t come down, so the only option here is to implement measures to understand and interpret this data. IoT Analytics is one of the best ways to make sense of every bit of data exchanged between devices and connections. Leveraging all the benefits of IoT Analytics, businesses need to implement requisite solutions into their workplace. Intuz helps your organization take the advantage of easy data management, interpretation, and execution with the help of IoT solutions.

Enabling autonomous vehicle revolution with IoT

Intuz — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 10:20:35 +0000

When IoT came into the application, most of us knew it through personal assistants like Alexa, Google, etc. However, today, the scope of IoT has widened so much that you just need to think of an industry, and IoT already has its presence there. Then, no matter if it is logistics, manufacturing, real estate, or automotive, you name it!

When it comes to automotive, driverless vehicles, or should we say autonomous vehicles come into the picture. Though today IoT has been integrated into standard vehicles too, autonomous vehicles are an entity where it is used tremendously.

As per MarketsandMarkets research, the market for autonomous vehicles is expected to grow up to 62.4 million units by 2030 from 20.3 in 2021. This enormous growth is heavily backed by numerous companies that are coming up with driverless vehicles like cars. And IoT has a key role to play! How? Let’s read this comprehensive piece and find out!

What are the Various Technologies Backing Autonomous Vehicles?
Though IoT has a pivotal role to play, autonomous vehicles are backed by various other technologies. Here is a brief elaboration on all of them.

We all know the power of AI. The technology has been used by tech giants in ways never expected. Today, tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc., use AI to derive valuable insights from piles of unorganized data. However, the use of AI in the case of autonomous vehicles is primarily in testing.

Once the vehicle is made, AI and deep learning are used to ensure that it performs appropriately. Deep learning is a part of AI that supports various crucial aspects involved in driverless cars, such as voice recognition, image recognition, voice search, motion detection, and robust data analysis.

The collaboration of all of them enables the vehicle to recognize traffic and pedestrians on the road. On top of this, they also help in identifying traffic signals and mapped routes.

Sensor Technology

Sensors are the elements that play a pivotal role in the working of a self-driving car. An autonomous vehicle has various kinds of sensors, primarily cameras, lidars, radars, ultrasonic sensors, etc.

These sensors capture data and continuously feed it to the onboard computer for analysis. There are primarily five levels on which an autonomous vehicle operates based on sensor data, such as

Level 5: Your vehicle operates in full automation mode, with no human intervention in any environment.
Level 4: The vehicle can operate without any human input.
Level 3: The vehicle can easily handle some safety-critical functions in various traffic conditions.
Level 2: Autonomous vehicles can respond to safety situations, but the driver has to be alert at all times.
Level 1: Your car can just perform some minor steering and acceleration tasks with total human control at the back of it.

Sensor technology is continuously evolving and directly connected to these levels. Sensor enhancement will make the transition from manual driving to fully autonomous mode easy.

Network Infrastructure (IoT)

This is where IoT can be highlighted better. When autonomous cars come into the picture, a high-speed network is supercritical. As sensors are required to transfer data at lightning-fast speed, an uninterrupted internet connection is essential.

Though 5G is not deployed completely across the world yet, the current 4G LTE network has some LPWAN device categories that can be used to transfer data quickly. Cat-4 is the LTE IoT standard that is used for high-speed data transfer.

In short, the presence of high-speed network infrastructure is necessary for IoT to show its magic.

Safety and Security

With numerous sensors connected to the internet at all times, there is a high chance that if the central computer is hacked, all the sensors can be compromised, leading to mishaps on the road. Hence, powerful security protocols need to be implemented to ensure security. The rising cybersecurity market is proof that things are going the right way.

On the other hand, it is also critical to ensure that the passenger and other people are safe on the road. RSS (Responsibility-Sensitive Safety) framework is the framework that provides the assurance that autonomous vehicles are safe. The framework is developed by Intel and promotes discussions about making driverless vehicles safe on the road.

How does IoT Play a Pivotal Role in Autonomous Vehicles?

Based on the discussion of all the necessary technologies, it is imperative to note that all of them are necessary. But what makes IoT so unique? Well, there are various benefits of IoT. Before we dive into the benefits of IoT, let’s take a look at the working of an autonomous car.

Working of Autonomous Vehicles

When an autonomous vehicle runs on the road, the sensors fitted to the car, such as radar lasers, lidars, ultrasonic sensors, and cameras, map the environment. The signals generated by these sensors are sent to the powerful software onboard the car’s computer. The software analyzes the signals and plots a path. Based on the plotted path, the car’s actuators are sent instructions to be followed regarding braking, acceleration, and steering.

Other algorithms like obstacle avoidance, predictive modeling, and object recognition help maintain a smooth path while following the rules of the road. These sensors and algorithms also ensure that all types of communications happen in an uninterrupted way, whether it is vehicle to infrastructure or vehicle to vehicle.

Benefits of IoT in Autonomous Vehicles

Here are some of the top benefits of IoT in autonomous vehicles!

Safety and convenience: If autonomous vehicles are fitted with premium quality and protection sensors, it can be said that they are secure. Well-connected and communicating sensors ensure safety, while a safe ride provides the convenience of traveling anywhere without hassle.

Over-the-air updates: Just like smartphones today, autonomous vehicles can also update their software with over-the-air updates. There is no special need to visit the dealer. Tesla Model S is the car that gets OTA updates.

Better connectivity: The inclusion of IoT in the autonomous vehicle infrastructure promises better connectivity. You can keep the car connected to the web via Wifi as well as a cellular network.

Application access: With the power of IoT and connected sensors, you can use the phone app to control various functions of the car. You can flash the light, lock the car, and even check the charging status.

Future Scope of IoT in Autonomous Vehicles

IoT is indispensable in the autonomous vehicles sector, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. As sensor technology matures, the swiftness and accuracy of the system will increase. Furthermore, it will make autonomous vehicles safer and more secure. Hence, giving birth to some future applications.

Car-sharing services
Just like Uber pool, the future may see autonomous cars like Tesla taking over the carpooling market. Increased safety will make people more comfortable going without a car driver. It will further save money, resources, and time.

Autonomous valet parking
This technology is just like the regular driving of an autonomous car but without a passenger. The car is left at the drop-off location of the parking, and the car maps the environment to go to the vacant parking spot. Bosch has made significant progress in this area. It uses cameras in the parking lot to find the spot and communicate with the car.

Companies that are Working on Autonomous Vehicles

Well, most of you must have heard of Tesla, but it is not the only player in the driverless car market. Automotive companies like Volvo, Uber, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen, GM, and Ford are also working on autonomous vehicles.

There have been incidents in the past recently that terrify the users to invest in driverless cars. As per CNBC, Tesla has the most car crashes.

Conclusion

In short, we can say that IoT has the power to revolutionize the autonomous vehicle market. The market is new now, and brands are still developing innovative and safe ways to make things work. Though the landscape is struggling with safety and security aspects, the rising market size is proof that it will surely improve in the near future.

The Applications of RFID Technology in the Internet of Things

Intuz — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 07:05:23 +0000

The market value of global RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology was estimated to be around $10.7 billion in 2021. This number is predicted to reach $17.4 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 10.2%.

The astronomical growth of RFID technology could be attributed to the adoption of IoT in various industries and sectors. From 8.74 billion IoT devices in 2020, it is forecast to triple to more than 25.4 billion devices by 2030.

IoT-based devices collect information and distribute it through a vast network of connected devices using RFID technology – essentially making RFID a core technology of IoT.

What is RFID Technology?

RFID – Radio Frequency Identification – uses electromagnetic signals to connect multiple electronic devices and develop a seamless communication between them.

RFID technology identifies devices or objects and gathers data about the object using the attached microchip tag. The RFID chip in the tag comes with an in-built antenna that passes real-time information about the object with the remote scanning device.

The Role of RFID in IoT Devices

RFID technology forms the basis for IoT solutions since any object can be connected, identified, and monitored using this technology. RFID technology connects objects into a network of intelligent devices and makes everyday objects communicate seamlessly with each other.

For example, smart devices, such as smartphones, television, and computers, are connected to a power source and an internet connection (mobile, Wi-Fi, or cables). With IoT assigning an IP address to these devices, it allows them to communicate with each other easily. However, you require RFID transmission technology to connect ordinary objects not connected to communication systems.

Benefits of RFID Technology

Being a versatile technology, RFID offers a range of benefits to businesses and industries and is at the heart of IoT.

Some of the benefits include:

Asset tracking and management
Enhanced automation of inventory management
Enhanced data accuracy
Improves efficiency and eliminates waste
Traceability of assets
Increase in revenue
In-depth understanding of real-time product lifecycle

How does an RFID Reader work?

RFID automatically identifies and collects data from objects using low-power radio signals. The RFID tags, antenna, reader, and transceiver allow data to be collected and transmitted. The transceiver reads the low-power radio frequencies using an RFID tag.

Components in an RFID System

An RFID system has three main components – application, tags, and reader.

RFID Tags

Also called transponders, RFID tags are attached to objects that need to be identified. There are two forms of tags – active and passive.

Active tags, such as sensor tags in products, are either fully or partly battery-powered and can communicate with tag readers and other tags.

Passive tags, such as product barcodes, do not come with internal power but get the power from the reader.

Reader
Also called a transmitter, the RFID reader has a radio frequency interface and a control unit. The main purpose of the reader is to activate and communicate with tags and transmit data between the tags and the application.

Application System:

Also known as a processing system, the application system is responsible for initiating tags and readers. The application system could be a standard package or a mobile app.

RFID Frequencies and Types

The operating frequency band is often used to characterize RFIDs. RFID systems worldwide operate using any of the three frequencies – low, high, and ultra-high. Frequency matters since the radio waves act differently at different frequencies, and each frequency comes with its advantages and disadvantages.

Low Frequency
Low frequency, typically, comes in 30 – 300 kHz, providing a short range of 10cms. Although it is not sensitive to radio wave interference, it comes with a slow read speed.

High Frequency
High frequency usually ranges from 3 – 30 MHz and experiences mild to moderate sensitivity to radio wave interference. The high-frequency RFID is typically used for payment, data transfer, and ticketing.

Ultra-High Frequency:
The ultra-high frequency ranges from 300 Mhz – to 3 GHz and is most sensitive to radio wave interference.

These cover a longer range and are used for quick data transfer. There are two forms of ultra-high frequencies.

Active Type
Usually, an active RFID system comes with a power source and a transmitter. With the transmitter, active tags transmit signals stored on the microchips. The active RFID uses ultra-high frequency and transmits signals in a continuous range.
Passive Type
In a passive RFID system, the antenna and reader transmit signals from the tag to the reader and back. Passive RFID can operate in all frequencies. They do not come with an internal power source. But, they have a tag and an antenna, making them easier and cheaper to manufacture.

Real-World Applications of RFID

There is a wide range of real-world IoT applications of RFID. Some of the applications are:

1. Inventory Tracking
RFID plays an important role in inventory tracking and management. RFID tags help businesses and supply chain management systems identify and track items through to the point of sale.

Moreover, with the help of a well-built RFID inventory system, information about the items can be shared between various business units. Additionally, a handheld RFID scanner makes it possible to read the inventory within a few minutes.

2. Supply Chain Visibility
RFID increases supply chain visibility, efficiency, quality, and distribution. With the help of RFID tags and readers, real-time data about the item can be quickly gathered, and insights derived from the status.

3. Eliminate the Risk of Theft
With RFID, businesses can keep track of inventory, assets, and items stored and distributed. When the movement of the assets or inventory is tracked properly – within and outside the property – the risk of theft, recalls, and incorrect delivery can be reduced greatly.

4. Real-time Updates and Insights
An RFID system provides businesses with real-time access to their assets, movement, and present condition. With RFID, looking for tools, analyzing asset/equipment usage or idleness, and counting stockpiles can be effectively reduced.

With real-time visibility of assets increasing, there is a reduced chance of errors and loss. Business owners can plan their manufacturing process, delivery, and inventory system more effectively with such information.

5. Labor Management
In addition to RFID in supply chain management, it also helps streamline and automate labor in the processes. As a result, this technology increases labor value and provides considerable financial savings.

For example, workers in a manufacturing unit can accurately know where the needed tools are and when they might be available. As a result, it eliminates unnecessary work, aids better planning, and better productivity.

6. Materials Management
Materials form a huge part of any industry, particularly the heavy construction or engineering industry. In such industries, finding the right assets and materials is a challenge. However, RFID tags can provide solutions to such issues.

7. IT Asset Tracking
Assets are a critical part of any business, a manufacturing unit, or an IT establishment. IT assets could include laptops, servers, desktops, and other physical assets.

Most of these assets are costly and critical to the business's work. Therefore, asset tags come in handy to businesses as they help keep count of IT inventory and ensure they don't fall into the wrong hands.

8. Product Authentication
Product authentication can be carried out easily by reading product RFID tags. It helps eliminate counterfeiting of products in real-time without comparing it with an online database.

Challenges and Limitations of RFID Technology

Regardless of the immense benefits of RFID tracking technology, it comes with a few challenges and limitations.

- Collision Issues
Reader and tag collision is common in RFID technology, as this reader collision causes radio interference. In addition, when tag collision happens, signals coming from multiple tags confuse the reader.

The solution could lie in placing anti-collision protocols in place that could help the reader identify multiple tags simultaneously without the issue of radio frequency interference.

- Cost of RFID
The cost of RFID technology is quite steep, and the companies implementing this technology have to bear the costs of readers, tags, software, and hardware and maintenance.

In addition to the equipment and implementation being costly, the tags are also expensive – be it passive or active. Although the rates of tags have reduced considerably over time, they are still expensive, which deters many companies from choosing RFID tech.

- Complex Technology
Although RFID solutions have been around a long time, it still is a complex technology to understand. The science behind radio frequencies, readers, and tags can get overwhelming for businesses. However, understanding these complexities is important for successfully implementing the technology.

Selecting the right frequency is critical to the performance of the RFID tags and readers. Each frequency comes with its own set of challenges and can be used for certain functionalities. Moreover, with the complexity of the technology comes the difficulty in training employees to use said technology.

- Security Concerns
Security is always a concern for businesses as it can affect the organization and the individual. Unprotected tags, unauthorized readers, spoofing, and denial of service are some of the major security concerns of businesses.

RFID technology offers innumerable benefits to organizations and individuals. However, it has its share of challenges and limitations. Although this technology is constantly updated, major concerns, such as privacy and security, need to be thoroughly overcome before more companies explore solutions.

Businesses are scrambling to get reliable IoT app development experts to build a product that caters to their specific needs and priorities. RFID has proven to be highly useful in increasing productivity, reducing errors, and improving efficiency. It is time to leverage this technology, and reap its many benefits.

IoT and Sustainability: The Needed Solution for a Greener Planet

Intuz — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 14:39:07 +0000

There is no doubt in admitting that technology has adversely impacted the environment in many ways. Issues such as global warming, climate change, carbon emissions, etc., are all caused because of the high carbon footprint due to the excessive and irresponsible use of technological inventions. Hence, creating a sustainable environment for our future generations is one of the most significant things that need to be looked upon in today’s time.

That is why advanced technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things) are gaining huge momentum in the modern world. IoT is a great technology that offers a technology-rich lifestyle with the least environmental impact. Leveraging the IoT solutions, whether for industries or homes, consumers can enjoy improved connectivity and efficient services while reducing energy waste and moving towards greater sustainability goals.

So through this blog, let us comprehend how IoT and sustainable environment correlates with each other.

How does IoT serve as an ideal solution to reduce the carbon footprint?

One of the biggest things leading to poor environmental conditions is increasing carbon emissions. From our cars to the air conditioners we use, everything generates carbon. To counter this challenge of increasing carbon footprint, one of the best solutions is the use of IoT devices.

Internet of Things facilitates automation, connectivity, enhances responsibility, and synchronizes various digital devices to ensure the technology works efficiently and does not brutally harm the environment. Buildings that are connected with IoT technology have optimized energy flows and generate the least carbon emission.

The use of IoT technology has become prevalent in many societies but needs more adoption from people worldwide. This can only be done by adopting lightweight IoT-platform solutions that come with their own toolchain and infrastructure. The global carbon footprint can be reduced by over 20% once IoT is fully operational and opted by a sizable amount of the population on the earth.

IoT Sustainable Solutions That Can Make A Difference

IoT is a powerful technology that is an optimal solution for a sustainable environment and to secure the future of the coming generations. Here are a few effective ways that can use IoT for sustainability:

Smart Energy Management

Improper usage and wastage of energy are among the biggest causes of the high generation of carbon that people do regularly. Therefore, having a smart energy management system can optimize system efficiency and lower the energy needs of buildings.

This can be done by installing granular IoT sensors in the building that provide on-demand equipment control to enhance energy efficiency. Furthermore, it monitors the data and generates insights on discrete building areas that consume the highest power so that the facility managers can take counteractive measures.

Fleet Management

Cars and vehicles are the highest carbon emitters in the world right now. However, if we integrate IoT-powered solutions into vehicles, energy consumption by them can be significantly lowered.

IoT sensors work by providing critical insights into fuel consumption, driver behavior, vehicle health, destinations, and many such factors that can be used to improve driving behavior, optimize routes, get timely vehicle maintenance and achieve emission of lower carbon content.

Air Pollution Monitoring

The quality of air in most of the cities on the planet is decreasing with each passing day. Whether it is inside or outside our homes, we operate devices that cause a lot of air pollution. Not to forget the biggest contributor to surging air pollution, our industries.

Hence, it is essential to opt for industrial IoT solutions that monitor the machines efficiently and produce actionable data that can be leveraged for predictive maintenance routines and ensure lesser emission of carbon.

Waste Management

Managing the waste in our homes and societies will be one of the most challenging situations in the coming future. This is so because most of the populations in the world will be moving to urban areas and leading to the accumulation of garbage that may cause serious consequences for the health of people.

But this disaster can be avoided if we take the right measures at the right time and establish a system of IoT sensors that can provide information on wastage and garbage in real-time.

Having accurate information on the fill level of a container, the amount of waste produced by a particular household, etc., can help facility managers manage the waste accordingly and work towards a sustainable future.

Water Management

Illegal solid waste disposal and discharging of industrial effluents into the water bodies are major causes of water pollution. The same water is recycled and gathered for distribution to the households.

However, if we establish IoT sensors and wirelessly connect them to the various levels of water supply, there can be a significant turn in water usage. IoT sensors can detect leaks, control the water quality and ensure the wastage is done to the minimum.

IoT Based Agriculture

IoT in agriculture can undoubtedly make things smoother and smarter for farmers. IoT sensors can be used to monitor soil quality and enhance crop production without severely impacting the environment.

With the use of IoT technology, crucial agriculture parameters such as food nutrition, solid condition, and hydration can be monitored in real-time, and optimized results can be achieved.

Top Use Cases of IoT in Sustainable Future

IoT and sustainability are the future of our planet and will gradually be adopted by every region of the world. However, people, businesses, and governments still need that inspiration to make that change happen.

That is why we provide you with top IoT platforms that make it happen for the people, households, and industries. Let us glance at a few of them:

Intuz

Intuz is one of the leading IoT platforms globally that offers numerous pragmatic IoT solutions for small to mid-sized organizations and helps them manage their operations with higher efficiency and lower energy needs. Intuz provides solutions for all energy management needs and is one of the fastest-growing IoT platforms worldwide.

Enlighted

Enlighted is an IoT-based company that helps buildings reduce their energy consumption and improve workplace comfort by installing IoT sensors. They establish an advanced Sensor Network in the office infrastructure that consistently checks various parameters like employee movement, lighting, etc., and enhances energy efficiency.

Nest Labs

Nest Labs are determined to provide an optimal solution for the thermostat needs of commercial spaces. They use IoT-based, Wi-Fi enabled, and programmable thermostats that identify user preferred temperature and accordingly create that setting for the user.

Maana

Maana is a prominent organization that provides various industrial IoT solutions to industries worldwide. They utilize a knowledge extraction process to determine the needs of the industry and accordingly customize IoT-based solutions for them.

Sensus

Sensus is a US-based company that offers IoT-based products for cities, utilities, and college campuses that significantly improve control, measurement, and analytics of energy usage and help build a higher sustainable routine.

What is the future of IoT in regard to sustainability?

Sustainable development goals and IoT technology have a long way to go together. The World Economic Forum suggests IoT is a great technology that can turn back the harm we all have done to the planet and create a sustainable future.

However, currently, most IoT projects are small to mid-sized. Therefore, private and public businesses and institutions must opt for this change and play their part in building a sustainable future for the next generations to come.

Technology is always blamed for the deteriorating environment and causing harm to the life around. However, IoT is a powerful technology that can turn it around and become an ally in developing a greener planet. So we all must understand it as our responsibility and opt for IoT technology in whatever way we can and work towards a sustainable future.

Is React a Good Choice for IoT Development?

Intuz — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 06:35:30 +0000

The advent of technology has led to some great advancements in almost all industrial sectors. One of the key technologies that is empowering sectors like healthcare, retail, and many more is IoT.

The Internet of Things is not a future technology anymore. It has already penetrated the market with its initial yet utilitarian applications. Furthermore, the IoT market size is expected to hit the $1,854.76 billion mark by 2028. This is a CAGR of 25.4% from now to 2028, which is massive.

IoT, as a whole, offers countless benefits like automation, improved efficiency, cost reduction, and whatnot. However, at the backend, IoT is also backed by some powerful frameworks and programming tools. React is one of those tools that can power IoT.

As some of you may be perplexed while choosing it, let’s take a look at whether React is a good choice or not?

Rise of React
First, let’s see what React is?

React is a stunning, open-source Javascript library. It is primarily used for frontend development, like for building interactive user interfaces for applications. It is developed and maintained by Meta.

Since its inception in 2013, it has captured the programming world like a wildfire. As per Statista, React is the most used framework by developers. Around 40.14% of developers use it across the globe. On top of this, around 8787 industry leaders leverage React.

These are not the only reasons that led to the popularity of React. It has some key features that rank above other frameworks. Here are some of its chief features!

Virtual DOM: The virtual DOM feature makes the rendering faster and saves a lot of memory. When any changes happen in the UI, the virtual DOM is updated first and is compared with the previous one. Once this is done, the real DOM gets updated.

Component-based: One of the best things about React is that it follows the component-based approach. It means that the entire application is made of multiple components that do not affect the whole code if any changes are made in them. These components can also be reused.

One-way data-binding: In a React application, the data flows in one direction. The benefit of one-way data binding is that it offers better control, flexibility, and increased efficiency.

These features are not the end of the line. There are many others that make React ideal for IoT applications.

Advantages of React for IoT

If you are still confused about choosing React for IoT development. Here are some advantages of using React!

Faster rendering
As React is meant for frontend development, it is crucial that the rendering of the view happens faster. However, the number of components and the DOM model leads to more wait time. This affects the rendering time and application performance.

But, in React, the virtual DOM features take care of all these issues. When any changes are made by the developer in the app, the changes made are not directly written on the real DOM. The virtual DOM takes all the changes, and then they are compared with the previous version of the DOM.

Once all the modifications are checked for risks, these are applied to the real DOM. On an overall basis, the final rendering process becomes much faster, and so does the app’s performance.

Efficient coding
As mentioned above, React has a component-based approach which means that the entire app is made of a number of components. This may overwhelm you a bit. However, for developers, this is a big plus.

There are various advantages of using components in React!
The components in React make sure that the whole code is independent. It means that if any changes occur in any of the components, it will not affect the entire code. For instance, if two components that compute sensor data have bugs in an IoT app, they can be corrected without disturbing the other components or code.

When a component is created, you can use the same component again in the code if required.

Both of these aspects make the coding process a lot more efficient.

Separation of Concerns
A key feature of React is props. These are used to pass data to the components. As React can have many components, it can confuse the developer with which component is doing what. Therefore, the component-based approach makes it easy.

Other than this, the IoT application may need different components for data fetching and processing. So, you can easily organize the data in respective components, whether it is a parent or child component.

You can create different components for an effective IoT application for fetching and processing data and sensor components. As they will be completely independent of each other, you won’t be worried about the amount of data they have access to as the permissions vary.

Component Life Cycle Method
IoT is never the same technology; it means that the sensor keeps on feeding data that may vary. And this is where the component life cycle methods come into play.

If, in an IoT environment, the changes in data occur, there will be a need to update the internal components of the app. This is necessary to ensure that the output expected from the system can be delivered.

So, whenever there is an update in the data from the external world, the app deploys a series of lifecycle methods that update the data in the respective components, if required.

Rich Library & Community Support
Finally, the React library is vast, which means you can do almost anything with it. It has React-360, React Motion, React Bootstrap, and many more that facilitate the development of IoT apps.

On top of that, React has a vast online community that is always ready to help you if you have any issues with the framework. Stackoverflow, GitHub, React.org, and many more communities have professionals of every level of expertise.

Challenges of React for IoT
It is highlighted at various places that React is ideal for small IoT projects but not for bigger ones. And the claims are right to some extent. Here are some key challenges that React developers face!

Open Source
One of the biggest walls for developers is that React is open-source. As there is no proper support backing up the framework, it is highly possible that you might face issues with it. When new libraries get integrated into React, there could be issues with your IoT applications. Therefore, if you are looking for reliability and stability in an app, go for some other framework.

UI Oriented
As it is defined as a framework for frontend development, React is not an all-in-one solution for you. An IoT application can have countless aspects to take care of. Therefore, you may need to add additional React libraries to get the required functionality.

More time and effort is required
Though IoT has penetrated the industrial landscape to a great extent, React would not be a standard choice, like Python is. You can try and use React if you want, but it will take more time and effort for your developers to develop the IoT application. The time and effort may not be worth it.

Conclusion: Future of IoT & React
For small projects, React is the perfect choice for IoT applications.

It already possesses features like component-based architecture, lifecycle methods, etc., that form the base of IoT. When equipped with the right tools in the future, it will surely outdo itself in big projects too. Moreover, these features also make it advantageous for all types of IoT applications.

How IoT Managed Services Impact Forward And Reverse Logistics

Intuz — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:51:18 +0000

Digital transformation is redefining operations and business management across industries and market segments. This is especially true with respect to the logistics industry that has been deploying conventional and obsolete technologies and operational procedures to execute its wide range of tasks.

Though the Internet Of Things (IoT) is on the rise today, a lot of companies are facing hurdles in terms of its implementation. On paper, IoT offers insane benefits to the logistics industry such as predictive equipment maintenance, forecasting supply-chain requirements, automated fleet management, returns management and more.

However, when it comes to implementing them, companies struggle in terms of tech stack, incorporating the right device at the right touch point, developing the most viable IoT infrastructure, choosing the right IoT architecture and more. Besides, the challenge also lies in educating the current talent pool and helping them upskill.

So, the trickle down effect of such colossal ambitions causes their implementations to be diluted to wasted efforts in most cases. With competitive edge, market dominance, profits and credibility on the cards, how can logistics companies and businesses ensure their IoT ambitions are highly efficient?

Well, this is exactly why we’re about to explore.

Start With One Device

Improper planning can cause your goals and investments to backfire. The implementation of IoT in market segments where stakes are high such as IoT in logistics, meticulous attention to details is required. That’s why experts and market leaders believe in the proven principle of starting with implementing just one device in an IoT ecosystem and then scaling up gradually.

Starting with one device also means that you will be working with dedicated IoT managed solutions providers who would take care of the scaling up process by carefully analyzing use cases, business specific needs, challenges and opportunities, budget, configuration and more and then help you achieve your IoT-related ambitions in your enterprise.

In an ecosystem like logistics, this is the most practical way to go about implementing IoT as this lets you confront the complexities and intricacies involved in forward and reverse logistics and helps you figure out seamless solutions to them almost instantaneously.

So, starting with one device is the preliminary step in IoT implementation with more weightage given to managed IoT solutions. Since, we are focusing on IoT in logistics now, what are the different aspects managed IoT solutions would take care of in this space?

Let’s find out.

Managed IoT Services And Forward Logistics

For the uninitiated, forward logistics refers to the management of the forward movement of raw materials and goods to ultimately reach consumers. It consists of all steps involved from procuring ingredients and raw materials to turning them into finished goods and transporting them to the market. When it comes to the implementation of IoT in forward logistics, a lot can be achieved by manufacturers and vendors.

Let’s look at how managed IoT services can impact forward logistics:

Forecasting And Estimation

Over and under-manufacturing can both lead to losses. At any given point of time, a company should have adequate knowledge and insights on market demands to precisely produce required volumes. While IoT can offer the required insights, it can also go a step ahead and tell stakeholders how much they need to manufacture for a specific time period in the future with predictive analytics.

For instance, if there’s a holiday or a festive season approaching and there has been a demand for your product the previous years, managed IoT solutions can tell you the exact volume of production you could approve this year.

Order Management

With multiple vendor collaborations, managing every single order could be a daunting task. That’s where IoT offers distinct modules to streamline all your orders and ensure all unique order requirements are met, delivery times are fulfilled and more.

Asset Management

IoT managed services is an end-to-end concept that provides holistic benefits. It not just focuses on manufacturing and delivering goods and services but ensures the health of your equipment is ideal for uninterrupted manufacturing as well. Asset management in this gives you insights on equipment wear and tear, humidity, temperature, waypoint deviation, maintenance scheduling and more.

IoT Fleet Management

When you have a massive fleet of logistics vehicles, managing them from a standpoint is tedious. When the entire ecosystem is IoT-backed, you can get real-time information on vehicle location, vehicle health, fuel consumption, estimated date and time of delivery and/or arrival and more.

Managed IoT Services And Reverse Logistics

Reverse logistics is the textbook opposite of forward logistics. In this, the transport or movement of goods and products is from the consumer side back to the manufacturer. The movement could stem from any reason such as recycling measures undertaken by the manufacturer as part of CSR protocols, return of damaged products, return of wrongly delivered products or specifications and more. If forward logistics is more based on demand, reverse logistics is based on supply. So, the cost incurred in this is significantly higher than the former unless the transportation of goods is in bulk.

With IoT stepping into reverse logistics, several aspects can be optimized. Let’s look at what they are.

Returns Management

When IoT managed services are deployed by manufacturers, consumers have a significant advantage of sending back items and products directly to them without the need to have a 3rd party vendor or service provider in the loop. This means faster collection and dispatch of assets and returns.

End Of Life Management

Equipment or products offered on lease or contracts can be automatically serviced, sanitized, collected and transported back to the manufacturer as and when the contract period ends. This systematic process ensures that the decommissioning process is as seamless as the installation process ensuring timely deletion of data as well.

Managing OEM Warranty

This includes compiling information and insights on malfunctioning endpoints from fields, validating active warranties against consumer records, processing claims, troubleshooting and servicing assistance directly from manufacturers, redeployment of equipment or devices when ready and more.

Automated Assessments Of Goods

With an airtight IoT managed system, manufacturers don’t have to spend extra time validating claims on the delivery of damaged products or goods. Through smart tags and sensors, they can verify the right details and initiate instant pick up and timely re-delivery of right products to consumers.

Advance Exchange

Unplanned operational downtime in organizations due to malfunctioning devices can be mitigated with the help of advanced exchange services. With this, same-day delivery of equipment can be ensured through IoT systems so businesses can seamlessly keep their productivity at optimum levels at all times.

Wrapping Up
IoT is creating a colossal impact on the warehousing and logistics sector with its contributions and innovations. As IoT development services continue to evolve, managed solutions will become more niche and purpose-driven with more specific use cases and offerings.

Considering the rate at which innovations are happening in this space, we can safely assume that IoT is arriving as a game changer in satisfying ever-volatile consumer dynamics and helping companies arrive as credible market players in their respective industries.

Symfony vs. CodeIgniter: Comparing the Two PHP Web Frameworks

Intuz — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 11:52:18 +0000

PHP is one of the most prominently used open-source languages. It's executed on the server and is free for all forms of usage, making it a cost-effective solution for any web development process.

PHP is generally used for its wide range of benefits. It can generate dynamic content, manipulate server files, aggregate data, manage cookies, execute several other functions and is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It can work with practically every essential server like Apache, IIS, and others.

Moreover, its prominence can be gauged from the fact that websites as vast and varied a WordPress and Facebook use PHP in their tech-stack. While PHP itself is a powerful scripting language, PHP web frameworks make it all the more powerful. Symfony and CodeIgniter are two of the most popular frameworks in this cohort.

Symfony

Symfony is one of the best web frameworks and is ideal for websites as well as web applications. It comes with a series of over 50 components that are decoupled and reusable. Put together, the Symfony PHP Framework and the components provide a powerful suite of tools that have been used to develop & deploy products like Drupal and phpBB.
The framework boasts a community of nearly 600,000 developers and 3,000 contributors spread across 120 countries.

Pros

Most professional developers who use Symfony recommend that it is a great framework for enterprise web development. This is because of its reusable components that exponentially expedite the development lifecycle.
Moreover, most observers of the Symfony community state that the size & scale of the contributors make it an actively engaging community. It is not difficult to find standard operating procedures, best practices, and answers to common queries on the Symfony community website.

The framework has been used to develop several open-source Content Management Platforms like Drupal, phpBB, and even OroCRM. This shows that it can be actively used as a stable and reliable framework. Symfony works seamlessly with autoloaders and composers. For larger development teams, this can lead to resource optimization.

Cons

With an open-source concept, an active community, and some stable products developed using the framework at the display – it would be hard to locate cons with the framework. If you are a beginner-level developer, there is a high chance that you will find it tough to work with Symfony. This also limits the accessibility of the framework for large companies that are frequently hiring new talent.

CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter is one of the oldest backend web frameworks. Right when PHP became mainstream, the framework started getting traction among developers. It is known for its lightweight application, straightforward documentation, and ease of use.

Pros

If you are looking for a lightweight PHP framework that does not compromise your desired configuration – CodeIgniter will fit the bill. You can get started by downloading CodeIgniter 4.0, which occupies just 1.2 MB of space.

The framework does not require a comprehensive configuration. You can use it from the get-go with minor changes as necessary. It does not force the MVC (Model, View, and Control) framework. But, the Control aspects are mandatory.
CodeIgniter is also known for its relatively faster database operations. It does not require parsers. Both these features put together result in smoothly running web applications that do not require PHP code conversions. Moreover, it does not make it mandatory for developers to stick to a template engine for backend code integration. This makes the backend web development process easier to execute.

Cons

CodeIgniter is a viable option as a lightweight framework. However, it has its drawbacks. First and foremost are the missing debugging tools.
Most popular PHP frameworks like Laravel and Symfony have native debugging capabilities or some inherent tools that make it easy to debug the codebase. Since these are not readily available, programmers have to debug the code manually.

Another drawback is the ORM tool integration method. Unlike other frameworks, ORM tools have to be installed as plug-ins. This can lead to more time spent on integration or an unstable tech stack if not done carefully.
Relative to Symfony, CodeIgniter does not have the capability of auto-generating modules & databases. This increases the need for writing code.

How to Choose Between Symfony and CodeIgniter?

Performance: The average response time for CodeIgniter is non-linear. A test shows an application with 100 users had an average response time of approximately 11.5 seconds, but an application with 1100 users had the same metric measured at 26 seconds.
On the other hand, Symfony is known to be slower than Laravel – which is a comparable framework for understanding performance at scale. This makes CodeIgniter a preferable framework if performance is the only metric.

Security:

CodeIgniter does not have several rudimentary features like controller security. Symfony, being a newer PHP framework, is a preferable alternative.
Besides that, it must be noted that both frameworks have open source licensing. Hence, there is not much available in native format for any of the two frameworks in terms of security. Symfony has the edge over CodeIgniter simply because the latter misses a few critical and essential features.

Learning Curve:

Learning Curve indicates the difficulty of learning the next most critical skill under the umbrella of a concept. This would mean that if your team does not have any of the two PHP frameworks included in its tech stack, how much time would it take for your team to understand each of the two alternatives?

CodeIgniter comes with easy-to-understand documentation, does not require complex configuration, and is known as a lightweight framework. Symfony, being a more complex framework, has a steeper learning curve.

Community:

Theoretically, CodeIgniter should have had a more extensive community since it is an older framework. However, Symfony has a community of over 3,000 active contributors and 600,000 members across the globe. The same trend is visible on the GitHub pages for both the frameworks – Symfony and CodeIgniter.

Debugging Abilities:

CodeIgniter has not native debugging capabilities. Symfony has a debugging toolbar that supports efficient debugging.

Which Brands Use Symfony?

Several leading brands like Spotify, Trivago, Dailymotion, and Course Hero use Symfony. Interestingly, even Laravel was developed using Symfony. Some other prominent users of Symfony are Vogue France, Nat Geo Play France, the Swiss Government's Open Data platform, and European Space Software Repository.

As visible, Symfony’s capabilities to support synchronization across several devices and interface-level translation make it the apt framework for platforms similar to those listed here.

Why Brands Use CodeIgniter?

Most active developer communities have already declared CodeIgniter to be an outdated tool. However, in the hands of professionals who can use plug-ins to cover the shortcomings of CodeIgniter, it can be a powerful contributor to the tech stack. Companies like Accenture, Ola, and Buffer use CodeIgniter. These are companies that often have an extensive suite of products used by millions of users at a time. Using CodeIgniter provides them with the needed agility and freedom of configuration as they see fit.

In Conclusion

In terms of backend web frameworks, both CodeIgniter and Symfony have their utility. Symfony comes loaded with features and is considered quite comprehensive. However, this also makes it marginally slower in its response time. It is also considered complex for beginner-level developers.
CodeIgniter, on the other side, is perceived to be one of the older PHP frameworks. That said, several leading technology companies are still using the framework.

So, how do you choose between the two? If you seek native features, have a team of experienced developers, and want a framework suited for enterprise-grade websites and web applications – Symfony is the alternative you should opt for.
If you are seeking a lightweight framework that gives your team ample freedom in terms of execution and integration and is easy to use even for the new members of your team – CodeIgniter will work well for you.