Top technologies being impacted by the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things is impacting the job of a software engineer on a global scale. We spoke to Jordan Brown, Senior Recruitment Consultant at Real Staffing, to find out how innovation within IOT protocols is affecting the demand for software engineers across the world.
What is IOT?
Put simply, the Internet of Things is the network of physical devices which has been embedded with software that allows things to connect and exchange data. It’s estimated that by 2020, there’ll be over 20 billion IOT devices across the world.
How is IOT impacting recruitment?
The Internet of Things is driving innovation within a range of technologies, which is leading to a demand for more varied skills from software engineers. Thanks to the rise of IOT, we’ve seen numerous technologies significantly adapting in functionality and therefore increasing in demand. We’re also seeing numerous new technologies emerging within the market place. According to Jordan, “This is leading to a shift in skills requirements for candidates; it’s a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd, as experience of working with the most disruptive IOT protocols is extremely attractive to employers.” We decided to take a look at some of the technologies that are having a significant impact on the IOT space.
Bluetooth Low Energy
Established in the early 90’s, when you hear someone talking about Bluetooth, most people would think of the connection between a handset and a mobile speaker. However, there’s no doubt that Bluetooth technology has kept up to date with technological evolution; it’s an adaptable and reliable stream of technology. Take Bluetooth Low Energy; it’s essentially an eco-friendly form of Bluetooth that uses less energy, and it’s becoming extremely popular. According to Jordan, “It could be because of BLE’s energy efficiency offering that so many companies are using this technology. This is leading to a lot of businesses eager to find engineers with Bluetooth knowledge.” Another factor in BLE’s popularity could be the compatibility with a range of applications; fitness trackers, medical devices and smart watches are all accessible through BLE.
Zigbee
Zigbee is a technology that allows every day devices to talk to each other; this particular IOT protocol is creating waves in the smart home device market. Like BLE, it’s a low powered technology that allows devices to function for a long period of time on one battery. Many leading businesses are using Zigbee because it’s a LAN. This means it connects devices that require a wider range than Bluetooth. It’s a mesh network protocol that’s ideal for things like home automation and smart lighting. As smart home devices continue to expand, Zigbee is leading the charge within this market. Jordan expands on this, “For many organisations, the attraction of Zigbee is the reliability, security and convenience for consumers, and that’s why engineers with experience of this protocol are in such high demand.”
LoRa
LoRa is mostly used for outdoor environments and has an extremely wide range, making it particularly popular in rural, remote and offshore industries. With technology that promises to deliver up to 15km within a standard gateway, it’s becoming a game changer within the Internet of Things space. According to Jordan, “We’re seeing an increasing amount of companies looking for software engineers with knowledge of LoRa – this can really help you to stand out from the crowd.”
According to a survey, 33% of organisations would benefit from more resources for IOT, and 47% say their business lacks any IOT skills whatsoever. Across all industries, there’s a large demand for engineers with strong IOT skills. If you’re a software engineer looking for a new opportunity within the IOT space, then take a look at the latest jobs we have available today. Or alternatively, speak to one of our dedicated consultants, to find out more.
