The dreaded skills gap threatens to scupper many technological innovations with the Internet of Things (IoT) not alone – and according to a new report from Inmarsat, the energy sector could face problems down the line if it doesn’t shape up.
The research, commissioned by Inmarsat and conducted by Vanson Bourne, polled 100 large energy companies around the world and found that while almost nine in 10 (88%) organisations expect to deploy IoT technologies in the coming two years, more than a third (35%) say they lack the management skills to make the most of it. More than half (53%) of those polled said they would benefit from more skills at a strategic level to take proper advantage of IoT.
More than half (54%) of energy companies admit they have a shortage in cyber security personnel, while a similar number (49%) say they struggle with regards to technical support.
“Whether they work with fossil fuels or renewables, IoT offers energy companies the potential to streamline their processes and reduce costs in previously unimagined ways,” said Chuck Moseley, senior director for energy at Inmarsat Enterprise. “IoT is set to have a similarly transformative effect on a whole swathe of industries, so it’s likely that the pressure on skills will only increase.
“Energy companies who currently lack these capabilities in-house will find themselves in a heated recruitment battle for this talent, with Silicon Valley in particular offering an attractive alternative,” Moseley added.
As a recent TechTarget article defines, it, the Internet of Energy (IoE) can be broadly defined as ‘the upgrading and automating of electricity infrastructures, making energy production more clean and efficient, and putting more power in the hands of the consumer.’ Taking the data out of these traditional silos and making the most of it is key – and as Inmarsat argues, partnering with technology providers rather than going it alone could be the answer for energy providers.
Interested in hearing industry leaders discuss subjects like this and sharing their IoT use-cases? Attend the IoT Tech Expo World Series events with upcoming shows in Silicon Valley, London and Amsterdam to learn more.
The show is co-located with the AI & Big Data Expo, Cyber Security & Cloud Expo and Blockchain Expo so you can explore the entire ecosystem in one place.
