Gricd Bemoans Slow Uptake of IOT Solutions in Nigeria

While IOT is generally considered to be an exciting market segment in Africa, more active as a result of the increased roll out of 4G and 5G network infrastructure, the continent still lags behind when it comes to the adoption of IOT solutions.

This is according to Oghenetega “Tega” Iortim, CEO of Nigeria-based IOT company Gricd, who believes that many businesses – especially start-ups – lean towards software services rather than the option to engage with hardware.

lortim said a lack of funding to empower business leaders to invest in solutions is one challenge, but so too is power consumption. “The biggest problem we have in IOT is power consumption and that is one issue with GSM.

He added that Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) like Sigfox offer solutions, but these networks are “not found everywhere.”

“You want the device (IOT devices) to last a long …. so you simply deploy it in a facility without having to install gateways.”

To help address the problem, Gricd is working on a solution based on USSD on the GMS network to help users reduce power consumption.

To date, the company has tracked over 12 million temperature-sensitive products, including farm products and vaccines. The company’s IOT service gives data to handlers about the rising temperature in cold storage rooms and cold boxes enabling them to save and avoid as much as US$193-million in costs.

Gricd recently partnered with Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to deliver 4.2 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to all 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory.