IoT Forecast: 2018 The document predicts that the majority of IoT growth has yet to occur, and will take place in key industries like healthcare, retail, and supply chains through a focus on customer connections, engagement, and branding. SaaS technology is also anticipated to see continued growth exceeding $50 billion annually, with IoT opening more doors for distribution and connectivity. Cryptocurrency became widely known in 2017, and major investments in blockchain companies this year could establish cryptocurrency as a new financial norm, with IoT devices serving as the main vehicle.

1. IoT Forecast: 2018
Vish Nandlall

2. More Growth
The majority of IoT's growth may have yet to even take place. This specific prediction, while arguably
obvious to some commentators, raises an important question: where will this growth occur?
There are many major industries are just now becoming poised to see significant IoT-based innovations,
including healthcare, retail, and industry/supply. In these cases, changes will likely be rooted in a
prevailing focus on customer and patient connection, audience engagement and feedback, and more
expansive branding.

3. SaaS
Software-as-a-Service technology (SaaS) has already risen as one of 2018’s most anticipated markets,
with annual revenue projections exceeding $50 billion. The technology is essentially “a software
distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to
customers over the internet,” and its enterprises currently enjoy a low cost of entry, opening new doors to
companies “hoping to up their IT game without having to break the bank.”
IoT sits at the heart of this movement, as it will open even more doors in terms of distribution and overall
connectivity.

4. Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency became a household concept in 2017 thanks to the rise of Bitcoin,
Etherium, and other systems leveraging the advent of digital transaction.
This year, many have predicted a series of major investments in cryptocurrency-
and blockchain-based companies, giving these services potential to become a
“new norm” in digital financial markets worldwide. Should these predictions
become realized, IoT-enabled devices will serve as their main vehicle, adding
another cog to their own increasing motion.