International. Telefónica has presented its second study on the Internet of Things (IoT), Things Matter 2019: the IoT user experience in Spain, which in this edition includes as novelties both the reality of what the residential public thinks about the Internet of Things and the voice of those responsible for the digital transformation in companies from different sectors of industrial activity, commercial or institutional.
As highlighted by Vicente Muñoz, global head of IoT Telefónica, "the essence of the second edition of this report is to provide greater knowledge about the relationship between users and connected things; continue to contribute to the commitment of all of us who participate in the IoT revolution, whatever role we play in it. In short, to continue discovering the new possibilities that connected things open to us in this world in full transformation".
One of the main conclusions of Things Matter 2019 is that almost half of the population already knows what IoT means and the intention to acquire and use IoT devices or solutions is growing, especially if they respond to user expectations (price, compatibility between devices, ease of use ...). In fact, one in two Spaniards has some level of knowledge of what the Internet of Things (IoT) means and the increase in consumers using connected devices and their applications has grown by 66% compared to the previous report.
To this we must add that Spaniards are increasingly loyal to IoT since 87% of users who try and accept a solution or connected device, declare that they would no longer give up their benefits.
In line with this growing use there is a group of devices and applications that grows in use, knowledge and loyalty of users. These include connected car devices, smart watches, smart appliances and plugs, access control and energy efficiency applications in the home, car-sharing and urban parking applications or trackers.
On the other hand, the connected car is a device that has had a breakthrough since the publication of the previous Things Matter two years ago, becoming one of the great engines of IoT. Two of the essential benefits perceived by users in the connected car are the ability to create a Wi-Fi network inside and the increase in safety at the wheel by providing the driver with complete and real-time information about the vehicle and the environment as well as a continuous diagnosis to prevent risk situations or possible breakdowns or failures.
Another notable novelty in Things Matter 2019 is the incorporation of the terms "comfort", "security" and "control" to "connectivity" when searching for terms associated with IoT. In fact, the concept of "control" appears among the most mentioned among the respondents when the consumer begins to appreciate the benefits of the Internet of Things in energy savings at home or in the car or in a more efficient use of daily activity.
On the other hand, the 2019 report notes that the industrial use of IoT has matured while this sector remains the engine that drives the implementation of Internet of Things solutions to a greater extent. Spanish industries have passed the IoT test phase to enter a new phase in which they demand more and more developments and concrete applications of IoT projects and solutions. Precisely this maturity of IoT in industries is one of the main drivers of people, consumers and end users adopting IoT at a faster speed.
In this sense, one of the most dynamic areas in developing IoT projects and applications in the last period has been that of Smart Cities with sensorization devices and measurement of different variables (temperature, air quality, transport flow, etc.) or with IoT solutions in relation to the use that people make of public services.
Finally, it should be noted that the sensitivity for Sustainability and Security has increased in the IoT. With regard to sustainability, it has gone from a strictly functional vision to assume the commitment of both the industry and the final consumer to build a sustainable and safe technological ecosystem in which environmental factors are considered. In fact, 4 out of 5 users of electric cars in temporary rental mention as an argument for this use the lower environmental impact and 6 out of 10 Spanish Internet users would be willing to pay something more to their electricity, gas and water suppliers if they offered smart devices that contributed to sustainability.
In terms of security, the greater the knowledge with technological innovations, users show the greater ability to discern what is safe from what is not, to take measures and to prioritize benefits over risks. Thus, more than 50% of respondents show a confident attitude towards data security.
