Internet of Things Operating System Market

Market Overview

The Global Internet of Things Operating System Market Size Will significantly Grow At a CAGR of 43.65% By the Forecast Period.

An operating system manages computer hardware and software resources and delivers shared services for computer programs. IoT defines an operating system as the edge gateway, which offers connectivity to devices through multiple protocols, and also provides limited edge computing various capabilities. It integrates various functions of the connected devices and servers for improving network communications. It also enables programmers to develop applications on typical IoT devices.

The IoT operating systems can deal with the diverse requirements of heterogeneous hardware platforms and application scenarios and provide an adaptive Internet Protocol (IP) network stack and a standard developer-friendly application programming interface (API).

Market Dynamics

Rising Demand for Cloud Computing and Mobility

The growing popularity of cloud computing is creating substantial opportunities for the IoT operating system market. Cloud computing provides significant storage volume applications and data, further improving server processing capability. IoT generates an enormous volume of data, and cloud computing paves the way for data processing and helps in lowering infrastructural complexity, and enables enterprises to lower operational costs. The debouching bring your own device (BYOD) trend is garnering attention, with smartphones, tablets, wearables, and other portable devices leveraging cloud computing platforms, such as Android and iOS. Manufacturing and retail sectors are also opting for cloud computing to save costs in terms of the cloud environment.

Increasing Adoption of IoT in SMEs

As per Nordic Semiconductor, the deployment of operational IoT solutions in large companies is around 20%, and in some industries, it is as high as 80%. But in small to medium enterprises (SMEs), the adoption is close to 10%, with low levels of general awareness reported. As per a report by NASSCOM, start-ups offering innovative solutions play a key role in driving the growth of IoT in India. Those start-ups offering innovative IoT solutions have attracted over USD 60 million in investments since 2014. It is estimated that the decreasing cost of sensors will fuel the adoption of IoT in small and medium-sized companies in the future.

The incorporation of IoT is essential for the growth of SMEs as data plays a critical role in decision making. Retrieving and analyzing big data analytics allows SMEs to better interact with customers, and they can further improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and identify trends. Moreover, IoT incorporation provides SMEs with tools that help them ensure that they are operating with the latest technologies. By doing so, these companies can innovate ideas into reality. Therefore, SMEs are expected to adopt IoT devices in the coming years.

Security and Privacy Concerns Hampers the Market Growth

The colossal adoption of IoT has raised security concerns as the technology is susceptible to data breaches and security errors. As per an HP study, about 70% of commonly used IoT devices pose vulnerabilities, which result in security theft and ultimately hinder the market growth. Various governments are implementing laws to minimize data breaches and promote the adoption of IoT. For instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of Europe aims to protect European citizens from privacy and data breaches. Under the GDPR, any company or individual that processes data is also responsible for its protection. The Internet Security Law 2017 in China imposes data localization, and personal data is not allowed to leave China. Thus, security laws will help to overcome users' privacy concerns and offset the impact of this restraint to some extent in the coming years.

Regional Analysis

Strong IoT Presence and Technical Expertise Drives North America's Market Growth

The strong IoT presence, technical expertise, internet connectivity, and infrastructural developments make North America a lucrative region for the IoT operating system market. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are based in North America, and their presence further bolsters market growth. Additionally, key players are relying on partnerships, collaborations, and acquisitions for business growth. For instance, Qualcomm has partnered with Microsoft to develop mobile hardware for Microsoft's Azure Sphere Internet of Things (IoT). Further, the U.S. has been continuously working toward technological advancements. To ultimately realize the economic, societal, and innovative benefits of IoT, the U.S has implemented a national strategy to promote investment, development, and widespread utilization. Similarly, the government is investing in healthcare and other sectors as well.  

South Korea and Singapore to Be among the Top Five Global Markets for IoT Adoption

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the IoT operating system market, driven by some of the largest manufacturing economies and massive IoT spending in telematics and supply chain visibility applications. South Korea and Singapore are expected to be among the top five global markets for IoT adoption. South Korea's government plans to invest USD 5 billion through 2020 in IoT systems, ranging from wearables to smart cars. The plan also targets the commercialization of 5G mobile communications by 2020.

Increasing IoT initiatives and spending are expected to provide more opportunities for South Korea's IoT operating system market. Further, other countries also have formulated effective plans and strategies for the growth of the IoT. China is a key player in digital technology and IoT in particular. Chinese companies, such as Huawei, are a part of IoT consortia and provide robust infrastructure. Moreover, the Chinese government also implements industrial strategies for smart manufacturing in its internet strategy.   

Segmental Analysis

Large Enterprises: Largest User IoT Operating System

The large enterprise segment dominates the market. These enterprises use IoT operating systems to make more informed decisions on the size, speed, and cost of IoT devices. Also, they are the early adopters of IoT operating systems as they have a vast portfolio of vendors and service providers. Large enterprises also have substantial IT assets compared to SMEs, which necessitates advanced technologies, such as IoT, for the management of these assets.

The large enterprises across various industry verticals are at the forefront in adopting application performance management solutions to attain a competitive advantage. Various industry verticals, such as manufacturing, strive to integrate information into unified operating systems to collect and process a growing amount of data. Besides, large enterprises make significant investments in modernizing traditional IT infrastructure to meet changing application delivery and management trends.

The Proliferation of Various Technologies Such as Industrial IoT to Pave the Way for the Growth of IoT in Manufacturing and Automation Sectors

The industrial manufacturing and automation segment caters to the maximum share, owing to the growth of the predictive maintenance, development of IoT operating systems for digital manufacturing, and industrial IoT. The proliferation of various technologies such as industrial IoT, industrial 4.0, and smart robots paves the way for the growth of IoT in manufacturing. Industrial IoT has become a priority for manufacturing companies as technology delivers customer satisfaction and improves cost-efficiency.

Companies are adopting various strategies to sustain in the market competition. The manufacturing companies are leveraging IoT devices and sensors for predictive maintenance, which reduces maintenance and operating costs. Nowadays, manufacturers use more devices and software solutions to collect and process the growing volume of data, which creates the need for integrating information into a unified operating system. Innovative technology companies are working on the development of IoT operating systems to bring compatibility to digital manufacturing.

Impact of covid-19

The pandemic brought forth a lockdown in many countries. Social distancing and quarantine have led the companies to provide a complete work-from-home facility. Thus, a larger dependence on daily activities on the internet has led to an upsurge in digitalization. A surge in the adoption of connected devices has been observed mainly in the healthcare sector due to the proliferation of differential instruments and the limited availability of doctors and hospitals. Thus, the development and utilization of differential technologies and methods to provide effective service during the pandemic have bolstered the growth of the market.

Recent Developments

• In February 2020, ARM introduced microNPU for CortexM, combined with the newest Cortex-M processor to deliver up to a480x uplift in ML performance
• In June 2019, Huawei acquired Vocord's face recognition technology to expand its product portfolio