Navigating APAC's fragmentation challenges

Over the past few years, Asia Pacific (APAC) organisations have adopted the Internet of Things (IoT) to intensify their digitalisation efforts and increase productivity. With a myriad of business applications, IoT brings APAC-based businesses noteworthy levels of growth and sustainability. However, fragmentation challenges abound in the region, and APAC businesses must successfully traverse these problems to integrate IoT technologies into their processes and systems. 

IoT adoption in APAC is anticipated to grow in the coming years. An Omdia report states that by 2023, there will be about 38.9 billion IoT devices in APAC alone.¹

The APAC region, which has a projected economic growth of 4.8% in 2023 and 2024,², is bolstered by IoT technologies. Frost & Sullivan forecasts that the Asia Pacific region will have more than 40% of the global IoT market by 2027.³

IoT, a network of internet-connected devices, can help organisations reduce costs, improve business agility, and deliver enhanced customer experiences.

Today, there are many strides in IoT within the region:

● IoT's impact on critical APAC industries

IoT and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) combine information and operational technologies to drive increased automation and excellent customer services in the manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and oil and gas industries. With IoT swiftly becoming an integral part of crucial operations and functions, it's no wonder why IoT is expected to reach a projected market value of US$46.18 million in APAC by 2030.⁴

With its advanced sensors and data analytics, IoT and IIoT technologies enable organisations to proactively monitor their equipment and environments for safety, productivity, tracking, compliance, and inventory management purposes. Because of these technologies' interconnected nature, smart infrastructures become autonomous, self-aware, and automatically adapt to changes as they happen.

● IoT is driving the connected car market forward

IoT has accelerated the pace at which connected cars have grown in the past several years. With IoT technologies, smart cars can connect to other smart vehicles and IoT devices for enhanced information, entertainment, and security. Real-time IoT data from smart cars enables car manufacturers to provide better service, including advanced navigation and safety features, resulting in improved driving experiences.

● IoT data can be used to improve business processes

As IoT becomes increasingly ubiquitous for businesses, the amount of data being generated by connected devices is also becoming expansive. Organisations can use vast data to refine their processes, create unique and customised offerings, and improve their services.

Organisations would first need to face the region's many fragmentation issues to fully take advantage of IoT's immense potential.

APAC is a highly fragmented region. Organisations in APAC will encounter the following difficulties when it comes to implementing their IoT deployments:

● Global development:
APAC countries have varying levels of global development. Some countries are at the fore of economic and technological growth, while others are beginning their global development journeys.

● Linguistic and cultural diversity:
Most APAC countries speak various languages and dialects. Organisations would need to navigate multilingual and cultural nuances when expanding into APAC.

● Internet connectivity:
Different APAC countries have varying internet speeds. In the region, South Korea and China are among the top 10 countries with the fastest mobile internet speeds in 2022.⁵  

● Interoperability:
No single telecommunications company can cover all the countries in the region. Aside from this, connected devices have different SIM management and billing systems depending on the countries they're in.

● Regulations:
The region is complex because its different countries have different privacy and security policies, including Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines. Network operators also have different certifications and must follow different sets of requirements.

Despite many challenges, organisations must take advantage of IoT to accelerate fundamental change and business growth. This is especially true in the APAC region, where IoT has many use cases and holds great potential. Companies that wish to deploy IoT devices across APAC need a reliable, seamless, and comprehensive cellular IoT solution.

While traditional roaming technology exists and works for certain use cases, it is not necessarily the best choice for specific services. For example, connected car manufacturers would need large amounts of data to transmit and receive data for over-the-air (OTA) updates. Meanwhile, for an enhanced entertainment experience, smart cars also need a higher data pool than the fair user policy can provide.

Organisations in APAC can benefit from a multi-domestic approach, allowing them to contract with a single mobile network operator (MNO) with a multi-domestic connectivity solution.

Singtel's Multi-Domestic Connectivity solution is a unique model that can empower companies to expand their businesses across different countries, reduce cost and complexity, and streamline their operations. In partnership with Bridge Alliance — comprised of 34 tiers of MNOs in over 100 markets in APAC, the Middle East, and Africa — this comprehensive cellular IoT solution enables rapid local connectivity deployments.

Companies will experience the following benefits with the Multi-Domestic Connectivity solution:

● Simplified communication and coordination with its "one team, one process,
and one platform" approach:

One team:
Our team, powered by local expertise and multi-domestic knowledge, provides comprehensive consultation and advisory support

One process:
We integrate services, solutions, and contacts and centralise contract and billing procedures to enable OEMs to scale quickly and deploy across APAC

One platform:
Our all-inclusive portal connects and manages multiple markets to ensure real-time data transfer, insights, and control of IoT devices

● Easy navigation of compliance and regulatory complexities

Organisations will be able to handle complex regulations, ensure compliance with global partners, and benefit from managed compliance solutions

● Proven and award-winning expertise in automotive IoT deployments

Singtel, Bridge Alliance, and Ericsson received multiple recognitions for their extensive experience in automotive IoT initiatives, including the "M2M Vehicle Telematics Solution of the Year" award from IoT Breakthrough Awards, the "IoT Innovation for Automotive" award from the World Communication Awards 2023, and the "Best IoT Initiative" award from the Global Carrier Award 2022.   

Despite fragmentation challenges in APAC, companies can still take advantage of the seemingly boundless opportunities for IoT adoption in the region by adopting a comprehensive IoT solution with integrated services, solutions, and contracts.

For deeper insights, listen to our podcast, "Cracking the Code: Navigating the Fragmented IoT Ecosystem in the Asia Pacific with Singtel and Bridge Alliance."