The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly growing and evolving technical niche. Driven by the convenience and transparency gains associated with linking a physical object to a digital presence, more businesses are exploring IoT integration as part of their systems. Choosing a platform for an IoT solution is an important part of the process, with many options and tradeoffs to consider. Here, we will be discussing when a custom IoT solution is a good choice.
IoT Solutions Overview
IoT solutions are typically comprised of a fleet of field devices, a cloud-hosted hub to which the devices communicate, and a user portal providing visualization and control.
The field devices could be a wide variety of “things”, including single-purpose sensors, consumer electronics, manufacturing equipment, vehicles, or many more. Each device is provided with a way to identify itself as unique compared to the rest of the fleet and a protocol for communicating with the hub.
The hub system works to send and receive messages to the devices, and to process and save data for the portal to consume.
The portal provides an interface for a user to view, handle, and react to the data provided by the field devices and may take the form of a web interface, a mobile application, or both.
These solutions provide value for their end users through increased data availability and transparency, as well as convenient device management and control. On the reporting side, messaging from the devices can relay status, utilization, and data for aggregate reporting across the system. On the management side, the portal provides an easy way to view information about the devices, download updates to the devices, or control the configuration in the field.
Custom VS. Of-the-Shelf
There are existing solutions available for purchase for a number of use cases that benefit from IoT integration; the most familiar of these might be consumer systems like thermostats or security systems. Other places you might see an off-the-shelf IoT solution could be inventory tracking for retail, or “smart building” solutions that monitor energy use and HVAC conditions.
The alternative to an off the shelf is a custom-built solution, where the user application, cloud infrastructure, devices, or all three are self-managed. These solutions might provide a way to add additional visibility to an existing process or define a new system with unique reporting and management requirements, and can be applicable across any industry, with examples ranging from agriculture to logistics to consumer products.
As such, a necessary choice when deciding to incorporate IoT is whether to go with an off-the-shelf solution or to build a custom setup.
When to Build a Custom IoT Solution
Custom IoT Solutions provide advantages in flexibility and control over their off-the-shelf counterparts. Here are some cases where those advantages might make building a custom IoT solution the right choice:
Creating or Integrating a Custom Device
When working with a custom device, the ability to control the messaging capabilities, formatting, and frequency that a custom solution provides can be very useful. Additionally, setting up the cloud side of the system to work directly with the device allows for extended remote capabilities, such as Over the Air (OTA) updates to the devices and direct control of the device or device configuration.
Specific Management or Reporting Requirements
Making specific workflows or reports work with vendor systems can be a challenge. Therefore, custom solutions deliver value in this area by reducing or removing the dependency on external systems; if the solution is built custom, it can be built to match the desired workflows and provide the desired data from the end device without excessive configuration.
Maintaining Future Flexibility
Custom solutions can change as the system does; if components change or new requirements come up, the solution can be updated to match. In addition to uncoupling the solution from a vendor’s roadmap, this can also facilitate the agile development of new systems by allowing solution components to evolve together.
Infrastructure and Cost Control
Custom solutions provide direct access to and control over the associated cloud resources. This provides complete control over how data is routed, stored, and secured relative to other business data, rather than depending on a third-party cloud tenant. If a business already maintains a cloud tenant, the infrastructure required for an IoT solution can frequently be added in a straightforward way. Direct access to these resources can also provide better visibility and control over recurring hosting costs, rather than this information being obscured by a license.
Advantages of Working with a Software Engineering Firm for Custom IoT Solutions
If building a custom IoT solution looks like the right option for your business, a software engineering firm can help your implementation project run smoothly and be completed successfully. Working with a team of engineers experienced in custom specifications and implementing the necessary components brings a breadth of experience to building the solution that you may not otherwise achieve.
Technology Expertise
The first advantage a firm like DMC can bring to your project is expertise in the technologies underlying IoT solutions. This includes experience designing and writing firmware for custom devices, implementing cloud architectures, and developing custom web or mobile applications. This expertise enables the team to build system components efficiently and cost-effectively and implement the communication interfaces between them. Additionally, experience in the platforms used means implementation can avoid common pitfalls.
Thorough Design Process
Another advantage of working with a software firm to build out a custom IoT solution is the thorough design process. Since the team frequently works to customer specifications, there is an established process to make sure the solution is designed to best match all of your requirements.
First, engineers will work with you to refine your requirements into specifications for user workflows and device communication. Then, the UI/UX team can develop mock-ups of the project interfaces. After review, the team can begin building the components and regularly review them with the client team to ensure alignment.
Project Management
Finally, working with a software firm also brings the advantage of a dedicated project manager and an established project management process for your implementation. The project manager is familiar with the tasks required to deliver the solution successfully and is equipped with tools to track the schedule, budget, and requirements. A standard cadence of meetings and status updates keeps you involved in the development effort, able to provide feedback, ask questions, and guide the solution over the course of building the solution. Additionally, as the project evolves, the dedicated project manager can quickly reprioritize tasks and generate new specifications as needed.
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