How to improve the Internet of things? 4 examples

IoT devices are already in 60% of US homes , and in Russia 65% of companies invest in the IoT sphere. At the same time, the problem of protecting IoT systems has not yet been solved.



The blockchain will help improve the security of the Internet of Things. We offer you to get acquainted with 4 cases from IBM , proving that the blockchain technology can change the IoT for the better .



Example 1: Real-Time Delivery Status Tracking







90% of world trade goods are transported on ships. International parties require both improved workflow and tracking the status of transportation of goods.



A large ship carries about a thousand cargoes at a time, and the documentation for them can be rejected, changed or completely lost. And this, in turn, will lead to the corresponding problems at customs.

IBM and Maersk solved this issue with the help of the blockchain, which allowed to track documentation, digitizing the delivery process and not putting the owners at risk.



Using the blockchain , companies have achieved transparency between the parties, reduced fraud, errors and reduced time costs. To improve the created system, IBM and Maersk have teamed up with a number of trading partners, government agencies and logistics companies. For example, with Hyperledger Fabric - the world leader in the field of logistics and transportation.



This decision contributed to the integration of delivery processes in the digital sphere, and helped users to track their goods. Given the scale, large companies can save billions of dollars on this.



Example 2: accurate knowledge of asset life cycles







Accurate information is very important in any industry with a long asset life cycle. For example, airplanes for many years have been serving their own companies and can be resold several times. However, some of their parts wear out and are replaced. But how to find out for sure how much the aircraft had the owners and replaced parts? Each part, up to the part number, can be recorded in the blockchain . So the buyer and passenger of the aircraft will be able to find out its origin and condition.



The automotive industry is another area where blockchain can make a huge difference. Keeping a register of details of a particular car will reduce the number of fakes. And although a manufacturer may be in good relations with its direct suppliers, fraud on their part cannot be ruled out. Blockchain solves this problem.



In the automotive industry, thousands of parts belong to a thousand suppliers, including smart car sensors . Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure the accuracy of the documentation and, accordingly, security for the user.



Example 3: Infrastructure Management



Infrastructure management is an area in which it is very difficult to track compliance with the service level agreement due to the large number of reports between systems and the huge amount of data.



In the telecommunications network, FCAPS recently started using blockchain to facilitate the distribution of information in several administrative domains. The blockchain is used as a way to track records in a distribution network in which several providers are involved. For example, you can create a network service level agreement and enforce it.



Blockchain will facilitate work in any business network that has a wide ecosystem of partners and suppliers. Knowledge of the key performance indicators of any infrastructure guarantees transparency in the network using the blockchain.



Example 4: Transparency of food supplies



Have you ever wondered where a product was brought to the store? How was it transported, through which countries, is it safe?



There are many difficulties in the food supply chain associated with intermediate steps. For example, a farmer can enter a food processing department at his enterprise, and then into a distribution center. Accordingly, the likelihood of contamination of healthy foods increases.







Organizations such as Walmart are very closely monitoring the origin of goods to prevent outbreaks of E. coli, because it can take several weeks to find the source of infection.



Therefore, Walmart uses blockchain. This helps the company keep track of food content and its origin. Walmart uses a combination of IoT sensors and blockchain technology - with their help, the retail giant dramatically increases the speed of analyzing the status of products.

Three key benefits of using blockchain technology for the Internet of Things are increasing trust in the organization’s products and services, reducing costs and increasing transaction speed.



Sharing the Internet of things and blockchain technologies will help to change and improve business, creating new ways of doing business and stimulating already existing business models.