IoT systems are widely used in areas as different as the automotive, healthcare, and manufacturing industries, as well as even our everyday lives in today’s world. Perhaps you want to accelerate your business, take it to the next level and hence why you are considering investing in an IoT implementation. If that’s the case, then you should carefully read this article.
How do you choose the right technology partner? What can you expect when cooperating with a company that specializes in creating IoT solutions? Finally – how do you create cyber-secure and tailor-made products equipped with IoT technology? In this article, we’ll cover the answers to these questions and so much more.
According to McKinsey Digital, 127 devices connect to the Internet for the first time every second, on average. It is predicted that by 2030, the total number of connected devices will reach about 50 billion (Statista). Such forecasts prove that IoT (Internet of Things) technology will develop rapidly. This trend is not to be missed in the approach of companies, which are more and more willing to invest in the Internet of Things and transform their products into smart ones. They are also highly driven by all the benefits that come with it – reduced costs, increased innovation, the ability to obtain valuable data and detailed reports, among others.
However, in order to achieve this, it is necessary to find the right technology partner. One that not only delivers a high-quality product but can meet your customers’ needs superbly.
The market is abundant with offers of cooperation in the field of equipping products with IoT solutions, hence making the choice may be extremely difficult. Especially since the criteria to be taken into account are also numerous. So, what should you keep in mind when deciding on such cooperation?
The first and relatively obvious reasons – are knowledge and experience. A good partner should ensure a team of knowledgeable specialists with hands-on experience in this area.
In addition to this, the partner should also be able to recommend the best dedicated IoT solution based on a prior needs analysis. Guidance and a flexible approach are crucial, too – they will ensure the investment will not be out of context, but will instead fit seamlessly into the existing systems and infrastructure.
A good technology partner should provide a comprehensive and professional service. What does this really mean in practice, though? It is essential for the company to first develop the software, provide appropriate hardware, and then test both the software and the device in terms of communication (whether with an application, or a database on a server or in the cloud). An additional requirement for software may be the need to certify it. Choose a partner who can get it done.
If a prospective partner offers to provide an end-to-end service, then you may require them to ensure suitable IoT hardware and components. In that case, the partner most often provides advanced and IoT platform-integrated sensors that will work with the developed software. These are what make it feasible to remotely control the device and capture valuable data, which can then be used for advanced business analytics.
Tests are absolutely essential. You absolutely should not omit them in the IoT implementation process. It is definitely worth finding a technology partner who will provide experts to conduct software tests. This involves testing for both functionality and resistance to hacker attacks. Bear in mind that your product must be cyber secure!
If you want to fully exploit the potential of IoT, you cannot do without infrastructure. The ideal technology partner will ensure integration with the existing systems and applications in your company, connect to IoT devices, and configure cloud access.
If you are investing in IoT, the cloud is an essential requirement. Your technology partner should support you in setting up your cloud services infrastructure and its maintenance. The ideal case scenario would also involve them choosing the most suitable cloud services provider for your organisation’s processes. A good partner should also guide you through the migration to the cloud, as well as show you how to capture valuable data and utilize it best for your business.
Speaking of data, your prospective partner should be able to demonstrate how to get the maximum results out of it. It would be useful if they created reports for you in the form of clear dashboards that present data in real-time. These will not only allow you to monitor data from IoT devices, but they will also help you make forecasts as well. Based on high-quality transparent data, one can make better business decisions.
For everyday IoT devices, it’s good that the system created is also integrated with apps such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or IFTTT. This allows the user to remotely control the device (for instance via a mobile app or by voice).
As you can clearly see, there are many factors to take into account when choosing an IoT partner. What is especially worth bearing in mind is the comprehensive approach. Ensure that a given software house delivers software development, the necessary hardware, including IoT devices, and whether it can test not only the software but the entire device, as well. An approach and offer with all these points covered would be just about right. In addition, you may need to certify your product or software. The right partner should not find this task overly complicated.
Here, at Solwit, we create and develop dedicated IoT solutions for an extensive range of industries – automotive, healthcare and medical equipment, manufacturing, and everyday life. We deliver a comprehensive service and adapt it to the needs of a given project. Our solutions are scalable, cyber-secure, and tailored exactly to the needs of your business.
We have had the opportunity to cooperate in projects entailing:
At Solwit, we operate in Java, Python, Node React, and C# technologies. The cloud platform recommended by us in most instances is Google Cloud Platform, although we also work on MS Azure and AWS.
