The IoT is basically the automated network that comes into being when devices and programs are connected to each other. Devices can share information for purposes of easy availability, instant analysis, and pure efficiency.

Let's look at a few ways in which you can use the IoT to boost your business.

Simplified Accounting

In an interesting article on the IoT’s impact on the accounting business, it was mentioned that cloud ecosystems were being developed to handle accounting, payroll, human resources, and inventory management. The idea is that these programs can simultaneously process information from any devices or systems connected to a business including point-of-sale tablets, cash registers, computers with payroll data, and more. This enables your programs to do most of the accounting for you. They can log sales and expenses, automatically process invoices for clients and/or payments for employees, and even set aside tax money. The point of the article in question was that people in the accounting business need to be equipped to deal with this IoT-related shift. But in reality, it may be that business owners are now equipped to bypass accounting professionals altogether and rely instead on advanced new programs.

Improved Delivery Processes

In the past year or two there’s been a great deal of news regarding advanced fleet management through IoT and WiFi integration in shipping vehicles. These days, a fleet manager can handle every aspect of the fleet management process from tracking inventory and monitoring vehicle diagnostics to keeping tabs on driver performance and even sending routing information that’s updated in real time. A lot of this can be done automatically. And while the idea of a full-fledged “fleet” doesn’t always apply to a small business, the same general benefits can be applied to even just one or two delivery vehicles. If your business happens to deliver products, you’ll know that this can account for a surprisingly expensive and tiresome aspect of the management process. And the IoT can make it simpler and cheaper. Better Office Security

Finally, in what may be a more conventional way to think about the impact of the IoT on small businesses, it should be mentioned that office spaces are being transformed. Offices can now include a variety of devices that fall under the IoT umbrella and exist largely to improve the security of the actual building. These devices include advanced light sensors, connected security cameras, smart locks, and even parking space sensors, all of which can work together to make sure that no unwanted visitors break in, and that employees can enter with ease. For instance, a smart lock might be able to recognize that a single employee’s parking space has been filled, and then read that employee’s ID upon entry. This effectively makes for a two-step verification process than the employee does in fact belong in the office. In a very straightforward and almost causal manner, offices are becoming far more secure.

There are many more ways in which the IoT can be integrated with a company, depending on that company’s nature. But these are a few broader concepts worth considering for any small business owner.