IoT (Internet of Things) technology that’s used in Formula One racing has the power to transform farming in New Zealand, says Tony Guerion, Global Head of Sales at IoT Vodafone Group Enterprise.

IoT is connected online devices that use software and sensors, such as on gates and fences, to collect and exchange data.

And as Tony says, IoT is changing the way we work, live and play.

“We’re working with a few insurance companies that are actually transforming entirely their industry.

“They are using IoT to deliver what we call usage based insurance where basically you pay a premium based on how good a driver you are.”

“This could also be the case for the health industry, but also for the agriculture industry where precision farming is actually helping not only with the productivity of the farming industry, but also with the go to market.”

Tony says the opportunities in New Zealand for IoT technology are huge.

“(there are) huge opportunities to help farming and the farmers to actually improve productivity and what they get out of day to day work. But also helping them to actually bring new business models and to understand how we can actually deliver that product directly into the market.”

Tony says IoT is already being used in sport.

“Formula one has been using telematic services for quite some time so IoT has been there.”

He says there’s been more and more demand for Iot, including in the consumer world, and in health and wearable technology, which it could be used to collect and send information on a person’s heartbeat and blood pressure.

“I think IoT will play a great role into the digitalisation strategy of our customers, and so IoT will become a huge enabler and that will help them not only deliver a better customer experience but also actually create new business, meet increasing regulation and basically try to compete in a better way into the market.”