10 Cutting-Edge IoT Use Cases for 2023

From just a buzzword to a practical solution, the Internet of Things has revolutionized how we approach technology. Are you interested in leveraging this innovation for your projects? Explore our comprehensive guide on the top ten IoT use cases across various industries.

As a leading IoT development company in agriculture, smart homes, industrial sectors, and beyond, WebbyLab can provide insights into the most relevant Internet of Things uses for 2023. Let us show you how interconnected devices transform different aspects of our lives.

A cloud access control and management app developed by WebbyLab.

Why Is IoT Rapidly Gaining Popularity?

The Internet of Things has seemingly left no industry untouched. The driving factors behind its rapid adoption are the growing population and urbanization. Yet, the uses of IoT extend to more than just smart cities. Healthcare and manufacturing are the sectors where this technology makes the most difference, as they are projected to have the largest share of the global IoT market.

On top of that, the IoT market has been experiencing exponential growth, and 2023 is no exception. It is forecasted to surpass $662 billion by the end of the year, reaching a $3.4 trillion mark in 2030.

There’s also an impressive number of devices that IoT connects. It bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds with over 15 billion gadgets. Following Statista, their number will increase even more, approaching 30 billion in 2030.

Owing to its transformative impact on different industries and connectivity potential, the Internet of Things is cementing its position as a ubiquitous phenomenon.

Top 10 IoT Use Cases in 2023

Let’s now discuss the top IoT use cases in 2023. We’ve selected the most prominent ones based on our experience in the Internet of Things projects.

1. Industrial IoT

Industrial IoT, also known as IIoT, is a widespread application of connected devices. Its market value will surpass $473 billion in 2023, skyrocketing to over $1.7 trillion in 2030. This technology enhances manufacturing and operational processes with smart meters, sensors, and devices integrated into industrial facilities.

The most common industrial IoT use cases include:

• Predictive maintenance of industrial equipment
• Remote monitoring of assets like machinery, vehicles, and inventory
• Remote management of the supply chain operations
• Energy usage monitoring and control
• Safety and security measures improvement in industrial environments

IoT use cases in manufacturing extend to equipment monitoring, product quality control, and the automation of production processes.

2. Agriculture

IoT plays a pivotal role in the agriculture industry. With the Internet of Things, farmers can leverage real-time data for better-informed decisions, increased crop yield, and efficient resource usage.

IoT use cases in this sector include the following:

• Precision farming that leverages IoT to monitor and manage crops with accuracy
• Livestock monitoring that employs wearables and sensors attached to animals, allowing farmers to observe their health and behavior in real time
• Smart irrigation and fertilization that leverages real-time data for efficient usage of water and fertilizers
• Smart grain elevator solutions that automate grain transportation and storage
• Weather and environmental monitoring that uses IoT weather stations and smart sensors to maintain optimal conditions in agricultural lands
• Smart greenhouses that employ IoT for efficient management of environmental conditions

Here’s the amount of investment in each application of IoT in agriculture, as per Statista:

The investment in various IoT applications in agriculture.

3. Access Control

Access control is another prominent application of IoT. Businesses or individuals can enhance their properties’ safety with smart devices and sensors in place.

Here’s how access control systems improve with IoT:

• Using advanced authentication methods, like biometrics or two-factor authentication
• Monitoring entry and exit points remotely and in real time
• Granting or revoking access permissions from anywhere
• Integrating with smart devices like smartphones and wearables, allowing users to access secured areas without physical keys or cards
• Gathering data on user access patterns
• Allowing for centralized management of multiple locations from a single platform
• Automating parking systems, enabling real-time parking space availability tracking and traffic flow management

The above is what WebbyLab’s access control and management system, Propuskator, can do. It lets users set different access scenarios and manage access points remotely.

The Propuskator access control and management system developed by WebbyLab.

4. Smart Home

The IoT enhances houses with unparalleled comfort and control. Owing to that, the smart home market is rapidly expanding, jumping from $94 billion in 2023 to $338 billion by 2030.

Some of the smart home automation ideas and uses of IoT include:

• Smart lighting systems that are controlled remotely and automated following natural lighting conditions
• Smart HVAC systems that learn user preferences and adjust heating, ventilation, and air conditioning settings automatically
• Smart water systems that monitor water usage and detect leaks
• IoT home automation that involves using IoT-enabled controlling appliances, blinds, locks, and other devices
• Energy management that offers real-time insights into energy consumption

You may also want to learn how to automate smart homes with KNX systems, as we describe the entire process in our recent article.

5. Consumer Electronics

Consumer electronics is another application of IoT. It can add smart features to ordinary devices, making them more efficient. Following Precedence Research, consumer IoT will surpass $616 billion by 2032, highlighting the prevalence of this use case.

Here are just a few IoT use case examples in consumer electronics:

• IoT home devices solution like smart speakers, plugs, and vacuum cleaners allow users to control their home environment remotely
• IoT wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers that monitor health metrics
• Entertainment devices like smart TVs that offer personalized content recommendations and remote control
• IoT-powered security cameras that provide real-time surveillance

6. Smart Energy Management

The global call for sustainable practices has driven the application of IoT technology in energy management. Here are several areas where the Internet of Things is transforming how energy is generated, distributed, and consumed:

• Smart metering solutions that provide real-time energy usage data for sustainable consumption and accurate billing
• Smart water management that involves monitoring and adjusting water usage in various settings
• Smart HVAC systems that modify heating, ventilation, and air conditioning following specific scenarios or weather conditions
• Smart lighting solutions that adjust brightness and color temperature based on natural light conditions or specific scenarios set by users
• Energy analytics solutions that track energy consumption patterns and provide insights into more efficient energy usage

7. Education

Future applications of IoT include transforming traditional classrooms into dynamic and interactive learning environments. Explore the following possible IoT use cases in education:

• Smart classrooms equipped with interactive displays, smart boards, and connected devices
• IoT devices and learning platforms that adapt to individual student needs
• Remote learning through virtual classrooms and online collaboration tools
• Smart infrastructure of educational facilities with IoT-enabled HVAC, water, and lighting management systems

8. Retail Optimization

IoT use cases in retail redefine the shopping experience for consumers and retailers alike. Here’s how:

• IoT-enabled smart shelves monitor product inventory levels in real time and send restocking notifications automatically
• IoT sensors can track customer movement within the store, providing insights into consumer preferences
• IoT systems monitor checkout lines and wait times, allowing retailers to improve customer service
• Smart devices can track product movement across the entire supply chain

9. Smart Cities

Smart cities are one of the most well-known Internet of Things use cases, and the trend for those isn’t slowing down. As per Precedence Research, the smart cities market size is expanding by over 24% yearly.

The smart cities market size from 2021 to 2030.

Some of the common smart city IoT use cases include the following:

• Smart traffic management with IoT sensors that control traffic lights and provide insights into road traffic improvements
• Waste management with IoT-enabled bins that monitor waste levels
• Environmental monitoring with IoT sensors that observe air quality, noise levels, and other environmental factors
• Smart streetlights that turn on/off and adjust brightness following natural lighting conditions
• Parking solutions with IoT sensors that guide drivers to available parking slots

10. Connected Vehicles

Connected vehicles are one more viable application of IoT in business. The market size of these solutions expands at about 17% each year and will reach $141 billion by 2028. Such vehicles stand out with the following features:

• Vehicle-to-vehicle communication that allows for sharing real-time information on traffic conditions and potential threats between vehicles
• Driver assistance, where IoT sensors and cameras help with adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance
• Predictive maintenance owing to IoT sensors integrated into vehicles
• OTA updates, where manufacturers can remotely update the vehicles’ software

WebbyLab Experience in Various IoT Use Cases

Our team at WebbyLab has been delivering comprehensive IoT solutions for over four years. During this time, we have completed more than ten projects in different industries.

Our experts contributed to the energy sector by developing SmartHeat — an enhancement for industrial heat pumps. As part of this project, we updated the heat pump firmware, created a mobile app and web interface for remote control, and streamlined the telemetry data collection. We also increased energy efficiency by 4.35%.

A SmartHeat web interface for monitoring heat pump status.

Another Internet of Things case study that WebbyLab has to offer is our 2Smart Standalone automation platform. This solution suits both smart home and industrial environments, supporting various automation scenarios and connectivity protocols. With this platform, users can automate and manage almost any process in their facility through a convenient interface.

 A web interface of a 2Smart Standalone automation platform.

If you want to learn more about our background in IoT standards and projects, feel free to review our portfolio or opt for our IoT consulting services directly.

Embrace a Connected Future with IoT

Having explored the various applications of IoT, you should not doubt this technology’s versatility. It transforms agriculture, manufacturing, cities, industrial environments, and beyond with robust automation and connectivity potential.

If you want to leverage the Internet of Things in your business revolution, trust WebbyLab as your reliable partner. With our extensive expertise in smart homes, industrial, agricultural, and other numerous IoT projects, we can implement your initiatives in life. Connect with our team to create an unbeatable IoT system to help you succeed.