The Job Future of M2M
Machine to Machine (M2M) which is associated with the Internet of Things is arguably the fastest growing area of technology over the past five years. What is still a relatively new concept in a number of fields has grown remarkably in that time and is estimated to reach upwards of $90 billion by 2017.
The concept of M2M is fairly simple, connecting millions of devices together through a network that ranges from heart monitors, vending machines, appliances, building environmental systems and so on. Pretty much everything with software or sensors that can report information to other devices is all part of the M2M technology.
To be fair, M2M and the Internet of Things (IoT) are inter-related, but not necessarily the same. Actually, M2M goes back several decades to the telecommunication industry where machines were networked with machines as the phone company expanded its services to businesses and the general public. IoT is an outgrowth of M2M.
Thanks to the development of the internet and the foresight of many who saw M2M expanding into many different industries beyond telecommunications, we now live in a world that is being primed for machine to machine technology to expand to far higher levels than what was thought possible two decades ago. However, before this revolution can fully take place the infrastructure must be fully set up and functioning which is where a great deal of M2M job opportunities can be found.
The M2M Job Markets
The relatively simple concept of M2M does require advanced technology to connect. Today, the field of M2M includes industries that monitor devices, activities or changes in status from a distance. In addition, they also include areas where inventory needs to be monitored and can even detect levels of radiation on the increase. The data is sent through an IP network to other applications or devices which can then take the information and analyze it so the appropriate action can be taken.
Currently, M2M does not dominate in a few industries, but rather it can be found in many different applications across a breadth of industries which include those that use the following;
- Industrial Automation
- Smart Grid & Smart Cities
- Heathcare
- Defense
- Logistics and More
The technology is mostly used for monitoring and subsequently controlling from a distance depending on the use of M2M. Today, the industries that use this technology for the most part are as follows;
- Oil & Gas
- Communications
- Military
- Manufacturing
- Precision Agriculture
- Public Utilities and more
Currently, these are the major growth industries for M2M technology which has created a myriad of small businesses that supply these areas. For the person who is looking to jump in on machine to machine tech, then these are the places to concentrate, particularly the supporting companies that are providing this to the major industries.
In addition, the same technology is found in data networking, transmission and mobile mesh networking that uses 3G and 4G cellular features. The communications field is focused on developing the networks that allow M2M to exist and branch out so that it can be involved in many other industries where it is currently available in a more limited fashion. So, the job market for this particular technology is also focused on the infrastructure that will allow it to reach out and grow exponentially in the near future.
By Brent Anderson
