Every few years, a new information technology arrives on the scene, prompting pundits and industry analysts to proclaim yet another IT revolution that will amaze consumers and change the way we all work and live. It’s gotten difficult to keep up with all this change. The latest revolution to be so hailed is the Internet of Things, in which physical items themselves are connected to the Internet. But this particular technology revolution is a real one — the Internet of Things will indeed change the way we all work and live and business organizations, especially manufacturers, are looking at ways to ride this wave into the future. ALSO SEE: How Food Manufacturers can Reduce Waste and Save Money with ERP Fortunately, for manufacturing firms, software companies are already offering cloud-based ERP solutions that serve as the perfect launching pad for integrating the Internet of Things into their business. The Internet of Things Products that used to comprise only mechanical and electrical parts have now transformed into complex, interconnected systems combining hardware, software, microprocessors, sensors and data storage. These so-called “smart” products are the result of a series of rapid improvements in device miniaturization, processing power and wireless connectivity. All of these things are connected to the Internet; hence, the name “Internet of Things.” While this is being hailed as another information technology revolution, we’ve actually been living with the Internet of Things (IoT) for some time. The most obvious example is the smartphone, whose operating system and apps can automatically update themselves. Our automobiles not only have many subsystems controlled by computers and sensors, but they also have the now familiar in-dash GPS systems that can download the latest maps from the Internet. Everything from baby monitors and home heating and lighting to exercise activity tracking and medical devices […]