Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT plays a vital role in scaling your application to go beyond your current data sources. IoT is simply an interconnection of devices that are embedded to serve a single purpose in objects around us to send and receive data. IoT allows us to constantly gather data about "things" without manually encoding them into a database.

A smartwatch is a good example of an IoT device that constantly measures your body's vital signs. Instead of getting a measuring device and encoding it to a system, a smartwatch allows you to record your data automatically. Another good example is a device tracker for an asset that captures location, temperature, and humidity information. This allows logistics companies to monitor their items in transit, ensuring the quality and efficiency of their services.

At scale, these IoT devices generate anywhere from gigabytes to terabytes of data. This data is usually stored in a data lake in a raw, unstructured format, and is later analyzed to derive business insights. A data lake is a centralized repository of all structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. In the example of the logistic company mentioned previously, patterns (such as the best delivery routes) could be generated. The data could also be used to understand anomalies such as data leakage or suspected fraudulent activities.