Pretoria-based Internet of things (IOT) company IoT.nxt has announced it will open its first international office in London, in the UK, early next year.
In a statement, company CEO Nico Steyn says businesses will be the top adopters of IOT solutions, which is what IoT.nxt has experienced in SA.
The company has identified associates in the UK, but two members from IoT.nxt SA will be based there during the launch phase of the office.
"We have experienced strong growth in the local market in the past year, and we are ready to use the London office as a base to make inroads in the fast-growing global IOT market," Steyn says.
"We have devised and implemented strategies and solutions for several companies in diverse industries. These include a large coalmine, one of the biggest car dealership networks in the country, and the largest meat processing operation for retail in SA.
"Using an IOT solution is about business strategy, not about technology. There are many efficiencies to be unlocked through IOT," Steyn notes.
According to Frost & Sullivan's assessment of the key trends that will emerge over the course of 2017, Africa will take the lead in IOT.
Although the African IOT market is currently in its early growth stage, SA has the most developed IOT market on the continent, says the research firm.
Fleet management, retail, energy, security and surveillance, and manufacturing verticals will see an upward growth trend in respect to the use of IOT services next year.
Deepti Dhinakaran, research analyst for ICT in Africa at Frost & Sullivan, says IOT will not only disrupt but also serve as a key driver to the growth and development of the African ICT market: "Strategic partnerships and acquisitions will be key to accelerate growth in the IOT market. This will assist providers to expand the partner ecosystem, while emerging as end-to-end IOT solution providers."
Steyn adds his company chose the UK as its first expansion outside of SA because of the established strong business and trade ties between the countries and ease of communication between the two offices.
"It offers an excellent foundation for expansion into Europe at a later stage."
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