Most businesses are eyeing the internet of things warily, prepping research projects or implementing pilots. At a minimum, they are reading about how other businesses are implementing connected systems. But according to Michael Simon, the CEO of LogMeIn, which owns the Xively cloud platform that supports many businesses’ internet of things efforts, the best way to get started in this journey is to start.

Simon, who is speaking with me at our Structure Connect event on Oct. 21 and 22, explained that many of the companies coming to his firm are entering entirely unknown territory when it comes to bringing connectivity and the data it can provide into their businesses. For example, many of the old-line companies don’t think of things that are fairly typical in the web world, such as capturing a customer’s email address.

“Relationships are the heart of business value, and so to bypass that relationship with…