Growing your business with IoT

In today’s connected world, it’s not just people going online, devices are too.
From sensors in fields to trackers in vans, more and more "things” are becoming connected, often using the internet. This coined the phrase the “Internet of Things” or IoT for short. Put simply, IoT means connecting everyday devices to the internet so they can collect and share data.
At its simplest, IoT is about connecting physical devices — anything from sensors to smart meters, machinery to vehicles — to the internet. Once connected, these devices can share data, provide insights, trigger alerts, and even automate processes without human intervention. This opens the door to smarter decisions, real-time monitoring, and new ways to work more efficiently.

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Real world examples of IoT in action:
- Businesses use “multi-network” SIM cards that can switch between the mobile networks, keeping you connected
- Utilities using sensors to detect leaks and monitor water usage in real time
- Farms tracking soil moisture and livestock movement to boost yields and reduce waste
- Property sectors helping landlords stay compliant with regulations like Awaab’s Law
- Healthcare providers monitoring patient vitals remotely for safer, faster care

Retail sector streamlining POS systems, digital signage, inventory tracking, and real-time product availability 

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Tom Blumsom, head of IoT at Lister, said: "IoT can be applied to virtually any business in any sector. What has become clear is that IoT isn’t just for tech companies. It’s for any business looking to be smarter, leaner, and ready for the future."

Why does this matter for growing your business?

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What IoT delivers is insight, efficiency, and control. By harnessing real-time data, businesses can make smarter decisions, cut down on waste, improve service levels, and even open new revenue streams. Whether it’s reducing downtime through predictive maintenance, resilience through multi-network connectivity, or offering new subscription models based on connected devices, IoT turns traditional processes into intelligent ones.
Tom added: "At Lister, we’ve seen IoT move from niche to necessary in just a few short years. Multi-network SIM cards initially increased resilience and reliability for remote sites. Now we’re helping businesses across sectors implement IoT for everything from air quality monitoring to smart vending.
"In the past two years alone, our IoT division has experienced exponentialgrowth, with more and more companies coming to us not just for SIMs andconnectivity, but also for consultancy through our free 'Lister IoT Lab'.

"What’s driving that growth? A mix of rising customerexpectations, growing awareness, and affordable technology that worksout-of-the-box."

Lister IoT LAB is a free-to-use service designed to helpbusinesses explore the potential of IoT — without upfront costs or commitments.
Lister's goal is to engage, educate, and empower businesses by providing hands-on access to IoT solutions, expert consultancy, and real-world testing environments.
Lister offers a zero-cost service to remove barriers and make IoT adoption more accessible. Whether you're new to IoT or refining an existing solution, they provide the resources and expertise to help you every step of the way.

Tom said: "Put simply, the businesses embracing IoT are discovering smarter, faster, and more competitive ways to work. At Lister, we’re ideally positioned to help you explore what’s possible — whether you're just starting your digital transformation or looking to scale existing solutions.
"No matter your level of technical knowledge, the Lister IoT team is hereto guide you with clear advice, practical solutions and ongoing support to help you get real value from connected technology."
Rob Lister, managing director of Lister, said: "IoT is a huge growing part of the marketplace today. In the UK we have 65 million people and about 65 million mobile phone connections. In the world we've got about 15billion machines connected to each other and that's looking to double by about 2030.

"It's a way of bringing huge efficiencies into your business once you start adapting to it. More and more businesses are finding ways to use this technology to bring efficiencies. Our part is providing mobile data connectivity to it. 

"It's a phenomenal growth part of our business at the moment. It's a really interesting time and we're watching where it's going."

So, the question is not if your business will need IoT – it’s when.