Cape Town, July 22, 2014: New research has shown that Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technologies were gaining prominence in a growing number of enterprises across different sectors in South Africa.
The report by growth partnership firm Frost & Sullivan said enterprises across a growing number of verticals in South Africa were increasingly turning to M2M solutions to improve operational efficiency, optimise resources, and enhance customer experience. The ability of M2M solutions to automate processes, as well as boost visibility and control assets, also enabled mobile operators to improve profit margins by generating revenues from this segment.
The analysis titled, M2M Market Opportunities in South Africa—Vertical Focus, further found that automotive, retail and finance, utilities and vehicle fleet companies were currently among the most extensive users of M2M solutions in South Africa.
“Agriculture, healthcare, security, and process-intensive sectors, like mining and manufacturing are expected to be some of the main adopters of M2M solutions in their operations,” said Frost & Sullivan Information & Communication Technologies Research Analyst Lehlohonolo Mokenela. “Globally, operators have set-up spin-off companies to focus on providing M2M support, a trend that some of the larger local operators, Vodacom and MTN, are looking to follow.”
Device manufacturers in South Africa, encouraged by the sturdy adoption rates and the proliferation of connected devices, have developed new M2M applications for the automotive, retail and finance verticals. Mobile operators were also now in a position to support data requirements from the growing number of connected broadband M2M devices.
While the infrastructure was coming together, the lack of standardisation in devices and protocols was limiting the implementation of smart M2M solutions, particularly in the healthcare sector, the report concluded, but not for very long.
M2M Market Opportunities in South Africa—Vertical Focus is part of the Mobile & Wireless Communications Growth Partnership Service program.
Image Credit: Frost & Sullivan
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