Today, we’ll examine how the Internet of Things (IoT) played a critical role in combating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The diagram clearly shows the impacts, technologies, and solutions IoT provided during this global crisis.

1. The Serious Impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 affected every corner of our lives, especially in two major areas:

Economy

• Social distancing disrupted manual jobs and heavily impacted daily income earners (“kais pagi makan pagi” — hand-to-mouth living).
• Businesses relying on outside dependency suffered due to travel and supply chain restrictions.
• Cost-cutting became essential across all sectors.
• The lack of a cohesive ecosystem made economic recovery slower.

Health

• Health became a top priority.
• Awareness and consciousness about hygiene, social distancing, and health monitoring increased.
• Technology began to take centre stage in health-related solutions.

2. IoT Technologies Used

IoT, combined with IR 4.0 technologies (Industry 4.0), came into action to address these challenges. Let’s explore the tools and methods:

Robots

• Used for tasks like disinfection and delivery, especially in hospitals and public spaces, reducing human contact.

IoT

• Enabled real-time data collection and monitoring for health checks and remote patient management applications.

Drones

• Delivered essential items to maintain social distancing were used to monitor lockdown areas.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Enhanced contact tracing, temperature scanning, and predictive analytics to track the virus’s spread.

3. Practical Applications of IoT

IoT was at the heart of the pandemic response, enabling innovative applications:

Contact Tracing

• Mobile apps and wearable devices tracked individuals’ interactions, helping to identify and isolate potential cases.

Health Monitoring

• Remote patient monitoring systems allowed hospitals to track patients’ vital signs without physical visits.
• Temperature scanning systems were widely deployed in public places.

Environmental Monitoring

• IoT sensors monitor air quality and other environmental factors to maintain healthy surroundings.

Remote Operations

• IoT enabled it to manage utilities like remote meter reading and asset tracking.

Delivery Drones

• Delivered medicines, food, and other essentials, reducing human-to-human interaction.

4. The Role of Digitalisation

With physical interactions limited, digitalisation became a key enabler:

Online Presence

• Businesses and retail shifted online to continue operations.
• Education moved to online platforms, and virtual meetings became the norm.

Robots and Automation

• Robots handled repetitive tasks, like disinfection, to maintain hygiene standards.

Conclusion

IoT proved to be a game-changer during COVID-19. It connected people, devices, and systems, enabling effective solutions for healthcare, economic recovery, and safety.

The pandemic highlighted the importance of leveraging IoT for crisis management and showed us how technology can adapt to save lives and sustain economies.

[Full IoT Notes can be downloaded HERE]

Let’s discuss an essential concept in IoT — its key components. The diagram breaks IoT into four main building blocks, which we’ll explore step by step.

1. Sensors: The Eyes and Ears of IoT

The first layer is the sensors. These devices are at the heart of IoT; their job is to sense the environment.

• They generate data by measuring things like temperature, humidity, or motion.
• Think of them as the “end-nodes” in IoT — they are where the process begins.

Examples include:

• A digital thermometer sensing room temperature.
• A motion detector in a security system.

Without sensors, IoT wouldn’t have any information to work with!

2. Connectivity: The Communication Bridge

Once sensors collect data, it needs to be transferred somewhere for processing. That’s where connectivity comes in.

• IoT uses different communication technologies:
• Wireless options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LPWAN (LoRa or Sigfox).
• Fixed methods like Ethernet.
• Connectivity ensures the data travels from the sensors to the next stage over the internet or private networks.

Imagine this as a digital highway connecting the physical world to the virtual one.

3. IoT Platform and Middleware: The Brain

The third component is the IoT platform or middleware. This is where all the raw data comes together and is processed.

• It acts as a central hub to aggregate data from multiple sensors.
• Middleware handles:
• Device management.
• Data storage and formatting using standard protocols.
• Providing APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) so apps can access the data.

Think of this as the “brain” that processes everything and makes sense of the data.

4. Applications and Analytics: Deriving Insights

Finally, all the processed data is used in applications and analytics to deliver value. This is where IoT makes an impact.

Applications:

• Use the data to create useful solutions, like apps that track fitness or control smart homes.
• Analytics and AI:
• Analyse the data using Artificial Intelligence or Big Data techniques.
• Generate insights to help make decisions or automate processes.

For example:

• A smart farming app could use soil moisture data to trigger irrigation.
• An AI system could predict machine failure in a factory.

Bringing It All Together

So, to summarise:

1. Sensors collect the data.
2. Connectivity transmits the data.
3. IoT Platform processes and stores the data.
4. Applications and Analytics use the data to create actionable insights.

IoT is a powerful combination of hardware, communication, and software working together to solve real-world problems.

[Note: Based on the eBook – IoT Notes by Mazlan Abbas] <– FREE Download

(UPDATE – 23 January 2025): FAVORIOT Announces Rebranding of Global Partner Program to “Favoriot Partner Network”)

The FAVORIOT Global Partner (FGP) Program is a carefully designed framework for organisations aiming to work closely with FAVORIOT in leveraging its IoT ecosystem.

These structured paths provide businesses the tools, resources, and programs to align their offerings with FAVORIOT’s platform and achieve mutual growth.

By tailoring each path to specific business needs and objectives, FAVORIOT ensures its partners can access the most relevant benefits, maximise their contributions, and thrive in the IoT industry.

What Is The FAVORIOT Global Partner (FGP) Program?

FAVORIOT Global Partner (FGP) Program is tailored engagement models that cater to diverse industries and business focuses.

Each path guides partners in integrating their products, services, or expertise with FAVORIOT’s IoT platform to unlock new opportunities and deliver enhanced customer value.

These paths simplify the collaboration process while ensuring that every partner receives targeted support based on their needs.

How FAVORIOT Global Partner (FGP) Program Work

The paths are divided into five key categories, each addressing a unique type of partnership or business focus. This categorisation allows partners to select the most suitable path to meet their operational goals, whether they are developing software, manufacturing hardware, offering services, providing training, or expanding the platform’s reach through distribution.

1. Software Partner

Purpose: For organisations creating software that operates on or integrates with the FAVORIOT platform.

Examples:

• SaaS providers
• Application developers
• Businesses building IoT applications using FAVORIOT APIs

Key Benefits:

• Technical resources and integration tools
• Co-marketing opportunities to showcase software solutions
• Support for scaling applications within the FAVORIOT ecosystem

2. Hardware Partner

Purpose: For businesses producing hardware devices compatible with the FAVORIOT platform.

Examples:

• IoT sensors
• Edge devices
• Gateways

Key Benefits:

• Resources for validating hardware compatibility
• Tools for seamless device integration with FAVORIOT solutions
• Device management support through the FAVORIOT platform

3. Services Partner

Purpose: For companies delivering consulting, managed services, or reselling FAVORIOT solutions to end users.

Examples:

• System integrators
• IoT solution providers
• Managed service companies helping clients adopt FAVORIOT technology

Key Benefits:

• Comprehensive support for IoT project implementation
• Tools for optimising client solutions
• Opportunities for joint marketing and co-branded initiatives

4. Training Partner

Purpose: For organisations offering training programs related to FAVORIOT’s IoT platform and solutions.

Examples:

• Training academies
• Universities and educational institutions
• Professional development organisations

Key Benefits:

• Access to exclusive training materials and certification programs
• Collaboration with FAVORIOT Academy to deliver IoT expertise
• Opportunities to build recognition as a certified Favoriot IoT training provider

5. Distribution Partner

Purpose: For partners focusing on recruiting, onboarding, and supporting organisations adopting FAVORIOT’s IoT solutions.

Examples:

• Country/Regional distributors
• Partners creating a local ecosystem of FAVORIOT adopters

Key Benefits:

• Partner enablement tools and onboarding resources
• Programs to expand FAVORIOT’s market reach

Core Elements of the FAVORIOT Global Partner Program

The success of the FAVORIOT Global Partner Paths is anchored on several critical components:

• Specialised Programs: Focused initiatives to enable partners, certify their expertise, and support market expansion.
• Extensive Resources: Technical documentation, partner-exclusive tools, and detailed use-case templates to accelerate IoT adoption.
• Value-Driven Benefits: Co-branding opportunities and joint marketing campaigns to drive adoption and growth.

Key Advantages of FAVORIOT Global Partner (FGP Program

1. Customised Support: Each path is tailored to address specific business requirements, ensuring partners receive the most relevant resources and benefits.
2. Growth Opportunities: By working with FAVORIOT, partners can scale their IoT solutions effectively, expanding their offerings and market presence.
3. Efficient Collaboration: Structured paths simplify the onboarding and integration process, enabling faster time-to-market for IoT innovations.
4. Ecosystem Strengthening: FAVORIOT and its partners jointly contribute to building a robust global IoT ecosystem through these collaborations.

Driving Mutual Growth Through Collaboration

The FAVORIOT Global Partner (FGP) Program is more than just engagement models – they represent a strategic approach to building successful partnerships.

By offering a clear and structured framework, these paths empower organisations to align with FAVORIOT’s vision, extend their market reach, and enhance their IoT capabilities.

This collaborative approach fosters innovation and strengthens the global IoT landscape, enabling businesses and customers to unlock the true potential of connected technologies.

Contact info@favoriot.com for further details on how to join the FGP.