The Real Value of Technology: Why IoT Deserves a Second Look

In the evolving landscape of modern business, few topics have captured the collective attention of boardrooms and conferences quite like artificial intelligence (AI). For the last couple of years, AI has dominated headlines and PowerPoint decks. It’s become a buzzword so ubiquitous that it now risks becoming more style than substance.

Leaders across industries have found themselves compelled to mention AI—if not use it—simply to remain relevant in the eyes of investors, clients, and even employees.

But while AI continues to hog the spotlight, there’s another equally transformative technology that’s quietly reshaping the way businesses and communities operate: the Internet of Things (IoT).

A few years ago, IoT was the darling of the tech conversation. It promised smarter supply chains, connected cities, and real-time insight into everything from energy use to livestock movement. While some of that hype has cooled, the value has not. In fact, IoT is arguably more grounded in tangible application than much of what’s being promoted under the AI banner.

At SHEILEX, we’ve spent the past several years helping organisations—many of them far removed from Silicon Valley—understand and implement IoT solutions. We’ve worked with businesses and public bodies across north-west Europe and even in the Arctic to deploy IoT in practical, valuable ways. From environmental monitoring and energy management to transportation logistics and infrastructure resilience, IoT has demonstrated a clear and direct benefit.

What is beyond question is that global satellite networks are making it possible to deploy connected solutions, even in the most remote and underserved regions, opening new frontiers for economic and social development.

Beyond the Buzzwords

So why has AI eclipsed IoT in mainstream attention? The answer may lie in its allure. AI sounds futuristic, even magical. It promises sweeping automation, predictive intelligence, and, at times, near-human thinking.

But these promises often lack immediate clarity or application for organisations not rooted in the tech sector. It’s become a favourite marketing term—attached to products and services to lend an air of innovation, whether justified or not.

IoT, by contrast, is hands-on. It involves physical devices, sensors, connectivity, and data—less glamorous perhaps, but deeply practical.
A farming cooperative in northern Europe doesn’t need machine learning models to make progress; it needs soil sensors that tell farmers when to irrigate or fertilise. A municipality in the Arctic isn’t racing toward artificial general intelligence—it’s installing IoT-enabled systems to track energy use and reduce waste in community buildings.

The Real Challenges – and Progress

That said, IoT is not without its hurdles. Deploying sensor networks and connected devices raises issues around data processing, standardisation, connectivity, and cybersecurity. And perhaps most importantly, there’s a gap in education and awareness. Many businesses still don’t understand what’s possible with IoT—or assume it’s only relevant for tech-heavy industries.

But these barriers are being addressed. Connectivity—one of the most significant historical challenges for IoT—is improving dramatically, thanks in part to the rapid expansion of satellite infrastructure and falling logistical costs in the space sector. Global satellite networks are making it possible to deploy connected solutions even in the most remote and underserved regions, opening new frontiers for economic and social development.

In addition, IoT is power saving and CO2 saving, unlike AI. The two technologies may both be new buzzwords but in reality AI is not good for the environment or for optimizing resources.

The Skills Squeeze

Yet a more pressing concern is beginning to emerge: the shortage of skills.
“The real pinch point will become skills,” says Sheila Christiansen, co-founder of SHEILEX. “Already the technology is getting ahead, and we need more people coming into this sector through education programmes and a sharper focus on STEM from the public and private sector.”

This is not just a technology issue—it’s an economic one. If organisations can’t find or develop the talent needed to implement and maintain IoT systems, the pace of adoption will slow, and the benefits will remain out of reach for many.

We need to rethink how we’re preparing the next generation of workers and leaders. This means integrating real-world technology applications into education earlier and investing in professional development for those already in the workforce. Public bodies and NGOs, in particular, can play a critical role here by facilitating access to training and partnering with tech providers to pilot new solutions.

A Call to Action for Leaders

For business leaders, public officials, and NGOs, the message is clear: Don’t let the buzz around AI drown out the quieter, but equally powerful, progress being made in IoT.

Ask yourself not just what the latest technology trend is, but how your organisation could benefit from better visibility, control, and insight into your operations. Could a connected solution reduce waste in your supply chain? Improve your energy efficiency? Help you manage infrastructure in challenging environments?

IoT may not always make headlines—but it’s delivering real value, right now.

At SHEILEX, we’re committed to helping organisations of all sizes and sectors understand and adopt IoT in meaningful ways. The technology is here, the opportunities are real—and with the right skills and strategic approach, the potential is immense.

Let’s move beyond the buzzwords and start building the future, one connected step at a time.

Authors: Sheila Christiansen & Alex Csete, Joint Founders at SHEILEX
May 2025