By now, you’ve no doubt heard of the Internet of Things—the network of physical objects embedded with electronics, software, and sensors that enable collection and sharing of connected data. By 2020, industry experts estimate that more than 50 billion physical objects will be connected to the internet, consuming, generating, and communicating data.

The hype around the Internet of Things (IoT) has reached a fever pitch. Examples of the IoT in action are all around us—from fitness trackers and mobile phones, to smart appliances and thermostats—but what are its practical applications? How can the IoT transform the way we work and live?

Welcome to “The Internet of Things That Matter”

For nearly a decade, Hitachi has been working to answer these questions. It is building a robust portfolio of IoT data-driven solutions, such as business analytics and connected healthcare, in fields like public safety, energy, and telecommunications. Through these solutions, Hitachi is leading a global campaign to drive innovation where it is needed most.

Many of the physical objects that generate IoT data have an isolated impact. To realize the promise of the Internet of Things That Matter, Hitachi has focused on integrating information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) and applying data from infrastructure and operational equipment, such as power stations, medical scanners, and telecommunication networks, to develop truly innovative solutions. Solutions that will help make our world safer, smarter, healthier and more efficient.

Integrating the physical and digital worlds

Billions of IoT sensors, mobile devices and connected machines are generating unfathomable amounts of data, prompting the convergence of the physical and the digital worlds. Data analytics, storage, and information management solutions are key to processing this continuous, ever-increasing stream of contextual data in real-time and turning it into usable information that can support innovation and discovery. Data that is appropriately stored and managed can be rapidly acted upon to optimize operations, enable informed decision-making, and deliver better business and social outcomes, giving organizations that have successfully integrated analytics a competitive advantage.

This advantage stems from the fact that big data is shifting the process of analysis from historical analytics (what happened and why?) to predictive and prescriptive analytics (what will happen and what is the best course of action?). With predictive analytics, companies can proactively shape and identify what could and will happen, and respond in real-time. They can also target precursors to problems, deriving actionable insights that enhance their ability to improve all aspects of both back-end performance and community engagement.

In focus: The real value of The Internet of Things That Matter

Hitachi is working on Social Innovation initiatives with a wide variety of multinational partners to make the world a better place. As a result, the Internet of Things That Matter is already making a transformative impact on a global scale.

In the telecommunications sector, unpredictable workloads and siloed technologies have made it difficult for carriers and network providers to deliver high-quality service while controlling network costs. Through the synthesis of real-time network monitoring, machine learning, and advanced analytics, Hitachi is now helping major global telecom providers significantly improve network stability and deliver consistently high quality data streaming. As a result, user experiences have been improved and optimized, operational costs and customer churn have been reduced, and new revenue opportunities have been created.

Other applications for the Internet of Things That Matter abound in almost every industry. From preventative healthcare, predictive policing, and intelligent transportation to sustainable industrial operations, smart buildings and microgrids, Hitachi is building IoT solutions that will yield smarter businesses, cities, and societies of the future.

To learn more about Hitachi Social Innovation, visit http://social-innovation.hitachi.com/.

This article was written by Hitachi and not by the Quartz editorial staff.