Expecting your IoT implementation to start paying you back after more than five years could be a big mistake, and so would be expecting IoT payback overnight. If your IoT project is not paying off within around a year of deployment, then as a CIO or a technology leader you should be worried. This is because:
- A longer payback period will lead to continued expenditure on your IoT network without returns, pushing the break-even point even further
- You will not be able to justifiably upgrade your existing IoT technology to newer versions that will keep on emerging
- IoT implementation will lose credibility, making it less likely for you to secure funding for future projects
Preventing these issues, and others, due to a prolonged payback period will require you, as a CIO, to focus on early financial payback while planning and executing IoT projects.
Start small
As a CIO, you know how great an impact successful application of IoT can have on your organization. Although your ultimate goal for IoT implementation can be as ambitious as you need, your initial focus should be to successfully implement IoT projects that are small in scope. As series of such successful executions will give you the momentum to undertake larger projects, before the total incorporation of IoT in your organization. A Cisco survey discovered that long completion time was a major reason for unsuccessful IoT implementation, emphasizing the need for shorter project timelines. For instance, a hotel, in its initial IoT project, can Implement IoT sensors and circuitry to switch electrical systems, such as lights and air conditioners, on or off automatically, to save power.
Assess risks early
Assessing risks early in the planning and implementation of IoT will help in preventing major losses during the advanced stages. Every potential step should be evaluated for the risks involved, and only the alternatives having an optimal risk to payoff ratio should be considered. Assessing uncertainties early on in the process makes the risks manageable. This also ensures that you apply IoT by limiting the scope of your initial projects by aiming for the low-risk opportunities.
Plan based on financial IoT payback
The payback period for your IoT investment should be a major guiding factor in your projects. As the CIO, you should evaluate every project by giving enough consideration to the estimated payback period and other risky elements. Choose an appropriate method to calculate the payback, and make sure to account for all costs, including expenditures that are not obvious.
Set shorter payback period targets
Shorter payback periods are alway desirable, especially for IoT implementation, which becomes riskier with longer payback periods. CIOs should advocate projects and plans that have shorter estimated payback periods to start off with. Targeting payback periods shorter than a year will ensure profitable returns before the ideal window of twelve months, keeping the organization on track towards a complete IoT integration.
Proceed in steps
Carrying out IoT projects with short life-cycles in sequential steps or phases will help assess every step against expectations. This allows project leaders to assess the performance of the project as compared to initial plans. Set goals and milestones for every phase and do not proceed to the next phase until the goals for the previous phase are achieved. This will lead to steady progress towards overall growth and early payback by minimizing risks.
The CIO plays a key role in the absorption of IoT at the enterprise level, along with the other C-suite executives. Ensuring that the process of IoT adoption follows the above guidelines will deliver optimal results, including timely IoT payback for the organization.