Filling the IoT Skills Gap in 2021
By: Shannon Flynn
Tags: Internet of Things, IoT, Technology News, Iot Market, Workforce Development

Though IT teams are common across industries, especially those with private data to protect, the Internet of Things (IoT) is too often left out of that department. IoT combines countless smaller fields into one, like coding, computing, smart technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and wireless networks. Though it’s a progressive field, this requirement to know each of these subcategories creates an IoT skills gap.

It’s difficult for one employee to have this range of skills under their belt. It’s also unrealistic for companies, especially smaller ones, to hire an entire team for IoT alone. To add to this dilemma, the COVID-19 pandemic caused record-breaking unemployment levels, leaving businesses and individuals in crisis.

However, since technology is progressing so rapidly, IoT adds a competitive advantage to all industries. Now, the skills gap needs solutions.

Focus on Internal Resources

Internal resources are the best place to start when getting into IoT. The existing pool of employees may not have a full understanding of IoT skills, but they still have their own expertise. Collaboration is essential during a skills gap — if each employee contributes to a new IoT movement, they can patch that gap with what they each bring to the table.

Managers and owners can divide new IoT projects up into stages. In each step, employees with the closest skillset start the work. For instance, anyone with coding skills can work on the functionality of the project whereas anyone with cybersecurity skills can focus on privacy and encryption.

In the planning stages, marketing teams or anyone who understands the latest trends can unpack what the general public wants to see next. What would help the people? Accessibility, health tech or something new? Piece by piece, each member of the team can patch the IoT skills gap.

Of course, it’s entirely possible that a company doesn’t specialize in tech at all. In that case, companies should get creative.

Encourage Growth

Labor shortages are difficult to work with. On one hand, the business may not have the budget or time to take on new employees. On the other hand, the skills gap remains. In fact, 77% of recruitment specialists stated that a skills gap is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome when hiring.

One solution is to encourage current employees to learn more about IoT-related fields. Employees could make it part of their daily responsibilities to research smart gadgets, coding languages or and industry-specific systems. Agriculture, for instance, can use IoT sensors and software to track weather conditions and soil moisture, helping workers know exactly what crops need.

Apart from everyday learning, managers can offer employees incentives to get certifications in IoT topics. For instance, an employee can take online courses that deal with smart technology or learning Python and just about anything else in the tech world. If the company encourages employees to learn more, it can cover the costs of the classes and certifications.

That way, the company has fewer crises around hiring and IoT skills gaps, and can instead focus on encouraging growth.

Cover the Security Bases

When an organization lacks IoT skills, it’s easy to miss the essentials while working on new projects. Collaboration amongst existing employees may only go so far, which is why it’s important to branch out — especially when it comes to compliance.

In the tech world, privacy and security are the two pillars that inform the general public about their rights and how companies handle their data. IoT, as such a data-heavy field, requires compliance that the average company may not know how to achieve.

Third-party auditors or cybersecurity experts should be an essential part of each IoT project. They know the ins and outs of secure data and will help any company adhere to local and national regulations.

Then, over time, the enterprise should focus on expanding its IT resources. Whether it’s a few staff members or an entire department, these employees are essential. Now that data is a massive focus in the United States, and throughout the world, any company that works in tech or IoT needs a team to support said focus.

Getting Around the Mountain

The gap may seem like a mountain without the right tools. However, these three fields present unique solutions for businesses in every industry. The hyper-innovation of today, alongside the pandemic, created this gap, but businesses now have the power to get around it. Now, the goal is to participate in the race to sell the next best IoT device.

Disclaimer: Being a follower of ‘The IoT Magazine’ offers lots of perks :) A consultation session with experts from across the industries is a major one. Submit your query here and we will connect you with the right IoT experts. He might be sitting next door, you never know.