How IoT Connectivity Drives Business Disruption in a Post‑COVID Economy

Adversity has always been a catalyst for innovation, and the economic shockwaves triggered by the pandemic are no exception. As the world continues to grapple with Covid‑19, companies face mounting pressure to slash costs while simultaneously bolstering competitiveness.

In this climate, disruptive business models are exploding as organisations overhauls supply and value chains across every industry. A key trend is the disintermediation of traditional value chains, shifting focus directly to the end consumer and transforming products into pay‑as‑you‑use services, notes Nick Earle, CEO of Eseye.

IoT – the enabler

Defining a clear role in this new landscape and delivering measurable value is urgent. That’s where IoT steps in. Data will be the cornerstone of this revolution, and ubiquitous IoT connectivity is essential for capturing real‑time insights from customers’ interactions with products or services. These insights enable a differentiated consumer experience and unlock profitable, streamlined business processes.

Although IoT has been discussed for years, its adoption remains in early stages. However, we’re on the brink of rapid acceleration, reminiscent of the internet’s emergence in the mid‑1990s. Initially, discussions focused on IP, HTML, and the browser wars. Within a few years, the conversation shifted to tangible business value. Companies like Amazon announced their disruptive ambitions, collapsing traditional book retail, followed by Netflix dismantling the video‑rental model that once dominated Blockbuster.

Disruption creates a snowball effect: if a player in a sector is disrupted, others must either innovate or face being eclipsed. The trend is already visible in practice. For instance, Costa Express has reimagined the coffee vending experience, delivering a personalized brew without a coffee shop visit. Their machines, placed in partner premises such as convenience stores, generate revenue for both the host and Costa Express.

Ubiquitous connectivity

To unlock IoT’s full potential, devices require continuous, global cellular coverage. This means robust, blanket connectivity that enables seamless device connection wherever they operate.

Many assume ubiquitous coverage is guaranteed, mirroring the consumer mobile phone experience, which focuses on population coverage percentages. However, IoT devices often reside outside major population centers, making coverage by territory crucial. Data shows average 4G coverage per operator hovers around 60%. While roaming can extend reach, achieving coverage above 80% remains challenging. IoT, however, demands near‑complete coverage to succeed.

Consequently, enterprises must stitch together regional operators to attain 100% coverage, a task that should remain behind the scenes, not front of business strategy.

Connectivity is the linchpin for business process disruption and full IoT value extraction. What solution can bridge this gap?

Intelligent connectivity

Intelligent connectivity delivers a single application platform that orchestrates embedded eUICC (eSIM) across multiple mobile network operators (MNOs). It offers granular control—localisation or roaming—country by country, eliminating MNO lock‑in.

This near‑global connectivity is achieved through an eUICC‑compliant eSIM that can switch between embedded international subscriber identity (IMSI) numbers and multiple bootstraps, with OTA provisioning of new IMSIs. Platform‑level rules dictate which MNO is selected under specific conditions, giving enterprises full governance rather than relying on individual operators.

Enabling out‑of‑the‑box global connectivity via one platform dramatically improves device connectivity rates compared to single‑MNO solutions, opening a vast opportunity for enterprises.

By allowing multiple MNOs to connect through a single eSIM, organisations can deploy vast numbers of devices worldwide using a single SKU. This streamlines manufacturing, supply chain, and deployment, delivering substantial cost savings.

With IoT, the focus is shifting from technology hype to tangible business process disruption, sparking a surge of innovative models. Once connectivity becomes ubiquitous, pervasive, and invisible, previously unimaginable business opportunities will surface, giving rise to new market entrants that we can only anticipate today.

For companies still undecided, the moment to act is now. We stand on the brink of a technological revolution; those who ignore this shift risk strategic loss once the wave has passed.