M2M Solution for Digital Signage in Boston Metro
M2M and digital signage…not often thought as a M2M deployment, signage is changing. Of course, there are thousands of signage deployments, from video walls at the shopping malls to corporate communications. But, signage has evolved – just think about the billboards on the side of the highway or the video wall in Times Square. And, using a M2M platform means it’s manageable and profitable.
Take, for example, the Titan Outdoor displays deployed installed in the subway platforms by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. With an average of 1.3 million riders per day, Titan can drive revenue with advertising while providing riders with and important real-time transit content. The ruggedized high-brightness display enclosures, made by Vertigo Digital Displays, contain an array of internal sensors measuring everything from fan speed to ambient light temperature to vandalism. All of this is for naught without the Esprida M2M platform. To ensure 24/7/365 operation in a harsh environment, Titan relies on Esprida to manage the entire system, covering everything from 4g connectivity to temperature to the content management system playing ads.
Using the Esprida self-healing features, Titan now automates technical fixes that it would normally have done with an on-site technician, resulting in significant cost-savings, increased uptime, and more ad impressions…the bottom line is that Titan can provide virtually uninterrupted advertising content, increasing its topline revenue, and by using the Esprida cloud, at a nominal annual fee.
With signage installations proliferating, a proven M2M platform to manage connected endpoints will help drive greater profitability and operational uptime.
Boston Metro Displays Powered by Esprida LiveControl
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Michigan leverages M2M to expand
Esprida pioneered the M2M revolution. Once again, one of its long-time clients is using Esprida LiveControl to expand its offering. The State of Michigan announced it is adding its DMV self-service terminals to Meijer stores across Michigan for vehicle license registration and renewal services. Leveraging the device management capabilities brought by Esprida, the State is using retail outlets to reduce waiting times at branches for vehicle license plate services.
Traditionally these kiosks were available at only Secretary of State Offices. Under the new program kiosks at Meijers will provide everyday easy access and convenience to the public. The machines will accept major credit cards so the public can renew their license plate tabs while grocery shopping!. And the State can confidently deploy knowing Esprida LiveControl is managing the devices.
To read the article, please click here
Esprida LiveControl powered kiosk for vehicle registration services at Meijer, Michigan
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Anila Jobanputra, President & Founder Esprida; Featured in Connected World Magazine ‘Salutes the Women of M2M’
In the latest Apr/ May 2013 issue of Connected World Magazine’s ‘Women of M2M’, it has featured Anila Jobanputra; President & Founder of Esprida Corporation as one of the most successful female leaders involved in technology. Connected World magazine announced its inaugural list of females involved in technology, in order to be recognized for its annual list for Women of M2M. A ceremony was held to honour these women at Joe’s Seafood and Prime Steak in Chicago, Ill.
Connected World is the business and technology publication that provides the intelligence industry titans need and the guidance consumers crave. The article talks about the critical role women are playing in driving the global economy with technology innovations. Out of actual 47% of the women in workplace today, only 25% represent technology industry. These females represent their true spirit, vision and determination towards the growth of M2M technology. All these women have shown tremendous success in driving innovation forward.
To read the profiles of the 2013 Women of M2M, please click here for the March/April issue.
To read the article, Women of M2M, please click here.
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Reasons your Business should be considering M2M technologies
We’ve all heard the term M2M by now, and often referred to interchangeably with the term “Internet of Things” which refers to connecting everything – people, objects, machines – to the Internet and is only the tipping point for what’s to come, as we are just starting to get a glimpse of the potential of today’s M2M applications.
So you may be asking yourself – is all this hype surrounding M2M really all its cracked up to be? Well let’s break down some of the reasons why your business should be considering M2M technologies:
1: Simplify and Enhance user Interaction
With M2M technology businesses can bridge the information gap between their clients and customers. Just imagine how quickly and easily it would be to interact with patients in a waiting room. Information about a company, promotions, or even news events could be filtered through a digital display or device. Patients could check in using their device and receive real-time updates on wait times, facilitating staff communication etc.
2: Improved Efficiencies and Transactions
M2M provides businesses with the opportunity to transfer all of their data via M2M. Wouldn’t it be great if data such as credit card, personal data, and company information could be exchanged and approved through a simple connection? This will inevitably become reality with M2M technologies, by making transactions more efficient than ever!
3: Increase Productivity
Efficiency and productivity is important in any organization. M2M enables employees to work faster and more efficiently. By reducing manual user intervention, managers can focus on more important aspects of their business. The increase in productivity also extends beyond an organization’s employees. Networks and devices that operate the business will also become more and more efficient as well.
4: Automation, Automation, and did I mention Automation?
Automation plays an integral role in improving efficiency in many industries. Many small businesses can utilize M2M technologies to enhance the level of automation that include embedded systems and software which have the ability to track, diagnose, and manage such things as inventory levels, device statuses, and even generate detail reports. Just image now much easier life would be for business if they never had to manually order inventory again.
5: Better data collection
M2M improves the task of data collection like no other system. With technologies such as NFC (Near Field Technology), Bluetooth, and other communication protocols, businesses will be able to easily collect client/customer information on site, on the go, or remotely. In the retail industry, with inventory or device tracking, businesses are able to automate the collection and analysis of sales, and delivering precise information pertaining to which products sell best and when they sell.
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What’s on the Horizon for M2M in 2013?
M2M is poised to continue its growth in the immediate future as predicted by many analysts. The growth of M2M is projected to equal, if not surpass the record numbers in 2012, and the trend is expected to carry over into 2013. Among the many vertical M2M applications, both healthcare and payment processing segments will continue to carry the momentum from 2012.
The adoption of these 2 segments is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace over the next year. The Healthcare industry is starting to understand the true value of potential of connected devices and the profound impact that it has on improving both the economics and quality of care for patient monitoring; some of which include areas related to: diabetes, blood pressure, heart function and other vital signs.
On the other hand, payment processing has seen a spike in the number of users, and has now reached a level of acceptance. Consumers are finally beginning to see the value in adopting electronic processing tools which extends beyond the traditional channels such as restaurants, taxis, and parking meters etc. and has now branched out into wireless cash registers.
As a result it is highly probable that hardware and connectivity costs will continue to decrease, which will have a trickling impact on the number of new entrants entering the market, ranging from small business-focused applications to high level M2M solutions.
Another trend to keep an eye out for this year is global connectivity. This has been something that has flown under the radar in the past few years, and up until last year, was just a talking point. However, that will no longer be the case, as enterprise M2M begins to emerge, the demand for global connectivity will become increasing essential for businesses looking to benefit from the M2M revolution on a global scale.
There are of course several barriers that may derail the possibility of a single security information management (SIM) solution for global connectivity to become attainable, with the main setbacks being the complexity of roaming relationships amongst various international carriers.
Whether or not these predictions do indeed come to fruition or not, one thing is for certain, the foreseeable future of M2M looks promising and is poised to evolve and shape the way we do business. There is no denying the fact that the M2M sector will continue to rapidly grow, however it still remains to be seen as to whether or not operators will have the capacity to manage all of these connected devices. Nevertheless, 2013 looks to be a promising year for the M2M industry.
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M2M & the Impact on Service Delivery
Over the last few years, M2M (Machine-to Machine) technology has flown slightly under the radar. However that’s all about to change very soon as M2M is poised to breakout over the upcoming year. It’s become evident by the increasing number of businesses adopting M2M for connecting and tracking their endpoint devices.
In most cases, it’s often more cost-effective to remotely monitor the mobile workforce and its machines in contrast to dispatching a technician or service worker out to locate equipment or diagnose problems. With the current state of the economy, coupled with the increasing cost of fuel, service companies are faced with declining profit margins, which inevitably force them to evaluate whether it is feasible to send people out into the field.
Perhaps the greatest impact felt is through the service industries, where the problem has resonated with many in the industry, due in large part to the fact that they are aware of the implications that this kind of Intel could potentially have on the industry and how dramatic an effect can be to service delivery.
M2M Ushering in Smarter Service Management
Remote monitoring technology results in less down time for the customer, shorter service calls for the technician, and fewer trips, which saves fuel costs not to mention reduces the wear and tear on vehicles.
Whether you’re operating a small or large business, every company operates a supply chain. Deploying smarter service chain management provides businesses with the flexibility to deliver goods and services more efficiently to minimize and control operating costs while increasing customer service.
As M2M continues to gain popularity, it is abundantly clear that businesses are beginning to integrate M2M data from “smart devices” – a concept which revolves around the idea of supplying companies with information that they can use to schedule and prioritize service delivery to enhance operational efficiency, productivity, and profitability while maximizing customer service levels.
Companies such as Esprida Corporation have been able to address the unique technical challenges by providing affordable, remote management solutions that continually integrate the latest M2M technologies.
Regardless of the industry, efficiency and profitability of service delivery will always be reliant on effective organizational management models, people, and machines. Most of us would agree that customers value services that exceed their expectations and goes a long way in establishing customer loyalty.
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M2M – Paving the Way for OEM Success
Within the next few years, it will become inevitable that more machines will be connected via the internet than humans. This evolution will present great significant value to businesses and consumers. The OEM market has always been highly saturated with competition, while profit margins remains at a scarce premium. However, that is all about to change with the emergence of M2M technology. By ushering in this new wave of technology, OEM’s now have a competitive grip on the market.
Today, most forms of communication can still be classified as human oriented – information which allows people and businesses to connect and interact with one another. With the exponential increase in connected M2M devices, and approximately 6 billion in human population, it will only be a matter of time before this type of internet connection is surpassed by the M2M revolution.
The next big development in internet usage is machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, which is projected to exceed human communications in both value, and sheer numbers. Many experts have already predicted that over the next few years, more machines will be connected through the internet than humans (a terrifying notion indeed!). The numbers estimated range in the tens of billions of connected machines will be able to communicate with each other; as well will also be linked to devices such as data mining and processing systems that are able to aggregate data, ultimately yielding a greater value for both businesses and consumers.
Connected Devices Presents a Competitive Advantage for OEMs
It’s no surprise that today; most computers are connected to the Internet, which allows operating errors to be automatically reported to PC manufacturers or software suppliers. Software and operating system upgrades are easily accessible through automatic downloads.
In the same vein, M2M communications on OEM equipment can produce similar benefits to both the supplier as well as the end-user. This in turn can result in lower operating costs and can spur greater customer service initiatives.
Ever heard of the term “embedded intelligence”? If you have not, get acclimated, it’s become a prominent component of M2M devices. Sometimes the information coming from a device can be deemed more valuable than the actual device itself: for example, information pertaining to aspects of a device such as part number, physical and purchase location, diagnostics, replacement alternatives, repair instructions etc. All of these intangible device characteristics make the information about assets, costs and liabilities more quantifiable to managers in their decision making process.
There has been a shift in OEM business strategy over the last few years. In this information-driven age, instant knowledge is imperative. It is important for OEM’s to take advantage of equipment operating information that is inaccessible by end-users. This creates an informational channel that puts the OEMs knowledge of the equipment into the direct service of the end-user, collecting operating statistics that both can utilize.
M2M will surely have a profound impact on how OEM equipment is deployed. In most cases, the characteristics and components to a device’s operating information are availably accessible to be collected and used. Through the use of M2M, end-users and OEMs can eliminate the barriers of distance, time, and location. When manufactured objects are continually sending field intelligence back, OEMs will be able to minimize operating costs, explore new revenue opportunities, and solve customer problems as never before.
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M-Health a Catalyst in M2M Emergence
Over the last several years, The M2M segment has seen its share of exponential growth in the number of mobile connected, Machine-to-Machine (M2M), and embedded devices. The growing trend is expected to carry over into 2014, where analysts anticipate the number of deployed M2M devices is expected to reach an estimated 412 million globally (Juniper Research).
With the recent widespread influx in mobile and M2M connected devices, there are many vertical markets that have attributed to the global emergence of M2M solutions. As the market continues to grow, more and more enterprise markets are exploring M2M verticals such as utility metering, mobile-connected buildings, consumer and commercial telemetric, and retail banking. All of these verticals will experience growth in both numbers and services revenues.
However, perhaps the most intriguing vertical to keep an eye on is the healthcare market which has gained traction and is poised for significant growth in service revenue. Many experts predict that the Healthcare market will receive the most attention. There has already been a breakthrough in the healthcare sector with the development of health, wellness, and medical apps for smart phones.
The potential of these iPhone and smart device apps are astonishing, as they harness the power and capability of replacing custom, built-units. M2M devices such as heart monitors will soon be designed specifically for M2M, while apps will be developed to link to the equipment. For instance, a ct scanner can be attached to an iPhone as an ancillary device connecting to the iPhone and an accompanying healthcare App contained on the iPhone.
To date, the device market has been saturated by hundreds of small players and competing standards. Moving forward however, the market is expected to be large, by necessity. In the next 20 years, the number of people between the age of 60 and 80 will require an enormous amount of health care. One way that they are addressing costs is through monitoring patients at home. M2M is one way to do this, starting with the Wifi networks, followed by short-range networks and eventually cellular networks.
As the number of connected devices continues to grow, the healthcare sector will see its fair share of growth in M-Health deployments, however the adoption will not happen as quickly as many predict. M-Health technology is still in its infancy stage and there is still a lot of preliminary requirements testing and evaluation that needs to be conducted before health organizations integrate M-Health applications into their regular practice, given the important nature of healthcare.
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Redefining Service and Support with Remote Management
As a great man once said, “The times they are a changin” This statement could not be more accurate in depicting the world we live in today. We live in a communication age where information is easily accessible and can be transmitted instantly through connected devices. Gone are the days where news feeds and reports are broadcasted over regular television. Other forms of media have staked their claim in defining how information is displayed and communicated. Nowadays, breaking news feeds are available in full video on YouTube rather than the morning news.
People expect businesses to be connected to the internet, to the cloud, to your suppliers, across all divisions etc. When IT uptime of 99.999% is average, device downtime is no longer tolerated. Customers demand fast, effective, even proactive service and support. In many industries, customers expect everyone else to take on more responsibility for the routine operation and performance of the systems that they have sold or leased to them—the same applies to third-party systems.
Within many companies, service and support organizations need to deploy costly global service personnel to support a global customer base. They are charged with delivering improved productivity to support continually increasing numbers of products and locations with the same sized staff. They are under pressure to reduce costs, while meeting higher expectations. Many companies in various industries are successfully achieving these goals through a new generation of high-value, on-demand remote management software solutions.
Remote Network Management enables:
-Product manufacturers to provide a new generation of high-value remote services
-Service companies’ tools to become proactive and increase efficiency and provides operators and location owners’ ways to reduce costs and measure performance in real time.
Businesses can maximize the value of the products they sell through services that increase uptime, streamline operations, and reduce cost of ownership. Companies benefit from increased revenue through product differentiation and higher value service contracts—all delivered at lower cost through remote management.
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Avoiding Analysis Paralysis: How M2M Solutions Can Bridge the Information Gap
The data that is handled by most business organizations these days can be classified into two major categories. There is structured data, which is organized around a common trait and is often neatly stored in databases. This data can be accessed, updated and manipulated by different means, all the while leaving the structure intact. Unstructured data, on the other hand, can be found in email messages, hard-copy documents, voice messages, handwritten notes and other sources.
For all the efforts that modern enterprises have undertaken towards paperless offices and cloud computing solutions which centralize data, such as Software as a Service (SaaS) and centralized document repositories, efficient data management is still a complex matter to handle. Businesses are producing more information than ever. The different methods of capturing data often do not add up to a silver bullet solution that lets employees know exactly where all the information is contained.
The Value of Information Management
Internet search engines like Google grew out of clear necessities to organize and retrieve the growing amounts of electronic data the Internet brought along. For the business enterprise, it’s not only a matter of finding information, but also being able to know exactly what happens to that information after an action has been completed. For example, when it comes to deleting sensitive information from a database, a business wants to ensure that no other version of the deleted data, structured or otherwise, resides or exists elsewhere.
If the record resides in a hard-copy document that a customer presented, then the record still exists in an unstructured data format. The concern that lingers over this failure to delete all data instances can lead to analysis paralysis, whereby a business can never make sure they’re getting the entire story, based on incomplete or unorganized data.
Avoiding Analysis Paralysis with Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Protocols
An M2M solution based approach to information management can lessen analysis paralysis considerably. Unstructured data can be converted to structured data by machines and software applications, which communicate with each other in a common data format determined by the enterprise. Through endpoint management, remote machines can handle the process of extracting data from unstructured sources and sending it to a single structured database where it can then be indexed for future retrieval. This method of collecting data is much simpler and effective in defeating analysis paralysis by ensuring all sources are accounted for, and properly or effectively reporting data to the right sources, in a pre-determined format. When employees retrieve this information, it is now organized, consistent and thoroughly collected.