IoT Devices are Transforming Lives and Creating Jobs in India

The truth is out there and it is getting established fast. Our surroundings are going to turn smarter in the years to come. Internet of Things is set to change our lifestyle to a great extent. Major innovations are taking place in the IoT sector and tech companies are quickly catching the train of this new technology to reap its benefits to the full-extent. The career opportunities in this growing sector is immense. There is a need for creating a qualified talent pool to work for this innovative concept which is growing rapidly.  The industry and the academia are coming together to develop programs that can train aspirants in IoT domain. In this write-up, we will try and understand how IoT is penetrating the Indian market and how vital it is for students to know about this new technology for better career prospects.

IoT Devices in Indian Consumer Space

The year 2020 is crucial for the IoT sector since few bigwigs in the field of consumer electronics are all set to launch a new range of products in India in the home appliances space and the products will be powered by the new technology. Though there are bulbs, water purifiers, refrigerators, washing machines and chimneys that work on the Internet of Things technology, the Indian consumer market is way behind China and other countries as far as the availability of innovative products is concerned.

Here are few IoT devices that are currently available or can be expected in the years to come in the consumer space.

Refrigerator

Samsung launched its connected refrigerator Family Hub 3.0 about a year ago. Among the many features, this refrigerator allows consumers to peek into the fridge from anywhere through the mobile. It has inbuilt cameras doing the job. Apart from that, it also reminds users about the expiry date of various food stuff left in the fridge. The refrigerator has a touchscreen which serves as an interface.

Samsung launched its IoT enabled washing machine in 2017. This washing machine can be controlled using a mobile application called the Smart Control app at anytime and from anywhere.

Water Heater

Many brands including Hindware, V Guard and Somany Home Innovations have already launched IoT enabled water heaters. These heaters allow users to control them through mobile applications. Users can set the time and temperature at which the water heater has to operate through an app. Some of these heaters can sense problems and send alert messages to the users’ mobile.

Switches

Schneider Electric launched its IoT enabled switches Avatar ON, Unica Pure and Clipsal X in 2019. These switches like other IoT devices can be controlled from anywhere with the help of a mobile application. Big names of the consumer electronics space Schneider Electric, SHIL, Xiaomi and Realme are preparing to launch more products in the home appliances and consumer electronics space in the years to come.

Growing Career Opportunities in IoT

According to one estimate by the Indian Staffing Federation, there may be as many as 3 million new jobs in IoT and AI by 2023. There are about 1500 start-ups working in the IoT space in India. The start-up companies are mainly working in agriculture sector, healthcare, Smart Homes and industrial IoT domains. In 2018, Hero Electronix – a company of the Hero Group, took over Zenatix – an IoT based company. Many such acquisitions are expected to happen in the near future. While the large companies are investing on innovation and acquisition, the career prospects for aspirants in this sector is bright.

Learning Programs in IoT

With new technology gaining greater grounds in the industry, it becomes essential for students to be exposed to new concepts. In an attempt to bridge the knowledge gap Wipro is joining hands with Nasscom through its TalentNExt initiative to educate engineering students in new technologies such as the AI and IoT. iNurture Education Solutions, one of the pioneering EdTech companies in India, has been offering BCA courses and B.Tech courses specialising in Internet of Things through various universities in India. The company, which has a motive of preparing students for next-gen jobs, believes that a full-time program with both theoretical and practical sessions related to IoT offered through top BCA colleges or some of the best engineering institutionsmay help students to develop better understanding of new technology and makes them ready to employ.