Last week, as I reflected on the increasing trust in the cloud, I also pondered on other drivers that promise a digitized future. Perhaps, one of the most accurate illustrations of the phrase “the future is already here” lies in hyperconnectivity. Unsurprisingly, the prefix ‘smart’ is added to almost every model connected on higher levels – smart production, smart homes, and smart cities, for instance. Today, the value of the network is high since everything is inevitably about talking; person to person, machine to machine, person to machine.

Hyperconnectivity occurs across devices, locations, and media for various purposes. It is expected that by 2025, nearly 27 billion devices will be connected to the IoT. Machines, devices, applications, and sensors now populate the network alongside humans. However, what sets industry 4.0 apart is the pivotal role of the machine and its autonomy. I remember dreaming about my washing machine working with my home’s power grid to find the most optimal time for its cycle; now, this is reality!

Industry 4.0 is equipped with the combined dual powerhouse of mechanization and hyperconnectivity. Never before has more valuable data been collected, exchanged, and analyzed. Plants and assembly lines globally function with machines and facilities connected to a network, creating a single, more efficient virtual plant. Moreover, a hyperconnected product value chain also increases customer trust by involving them at every stage. Businesses can also optimize production, make informed decisions, and detect changes in the value chain using process data.

What are some industrial implications of new levels of connectivity? The energy sector is more sustainable and reliable in detecting power outages and maximizing consumption. Healthcare has moved on to real-time monitoring. The future of the automotive industry lies in vehicles that are increasingly connected to their surroundings. Retail and logistics also are evolving to produce real-time updates to customers.

There is no end to describing how hyperconnectivity is changing the landscape of every industry. However, increased risks also accompany increased reliance on a network for communication. We definitely need to think about some of the threats that we need to mitigate, and about how can businesses facilitate safer connectivity. More about that later…