Internet of Things is a system of interrelated devices, all connected to the internet, which allows for the collection and transmission of data via a number of connectivity methods. The physical devices, applications and solutions that can be a part of IoT are limitless. 

While pursuing digital transformation with IoT technology is a worldwide market projected to hit $1.1 trillion by 2026, building a smarter business through connected systems can be complex and challenging for many organizations. 

What You Should Consider While Developing an IOT Program

Connecting devices via IoT programs gives teams the ability to exchange, gather and transmit consumer data across a network. Having a strong IoT program, and in essence a better understanding of customers, is necessary for innovating customer experiences, conducting digital transformation, and optimizing product or service performance at your organization. But, how do you get started?

Step One: Determine Your IoT Application

How do you plan to launch your IoT initiative? There are several options for applications like:

• Embedded IoT solutions: Created within IT infrastructure like firmware, middleware, or device drivers. 
• IoT cloud platforms: If your IT infrastructure doesn’t allow for local storage of IoT data, you’ll also need to consider an IoT cloud provider. The IoT cloud provider you opt for (like AWS or Azure) should also include the services and standards necessary for connecting, managing, and securing different IoT devices and applications.
• Mobile app technology: Will you deploy a mobile app for your IoT program? If so, what software do you need to leverage to enable your technology to pair other connected devices?

Step Two: Assess Hard and Software Requirements

Depending on what type of IoT program you’re leveraging, you may need to optimize the technology within your stack. 

To start participating in the exchange of IoT data, do you have a device to connect? You will need to consider any digital or physical components required for your IoT program. Let’s say you want to create smart medical sensors, will your IoT device be physically large enough to encompass the integrated circuits necessary for your device to work?

You’ll also need to consider the device software. Let’s say you plan to create an enterprise app to make better use of the data you’re collecting. Will your application require a real-time operating system? How will your application actually acquire, transmit, and analyze data?

Step Three: Select Your Connectivity

To establish a proper flow of data and glean insights, you’ll also need to assess network communication platforms to ensure your hardware and software can stream data into a cloud, or application. Connectivity types may include:

• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• LPWANs
• Cellular
• Mesh protocols
• Radio frequency identification 

Step Four: Focus on Security

A core component of reaping rewards from an IoT program is ensuring customer’s trust your solution. The only way to build trust is to double down on the IoT security measures of your initiative. For that reason, while developing your program consider:

• How will passwords be protected? 
• Will you offer MFA or biometrics for identity authentication?
• Can you automate patches and updates to prevent backdoors?
• Are your data collection methods GDPR compliant? 
• Do you have security protocols in place to earn badges from widely recognized security organizations like SOC II
• Do you have the IoT skills in-house to stay up-to-date with device management and interface optimization?
• Is your data encryption when transmitted into the cloud leveraging either TLS or https?

Outcomes From An Effective IoT Program

By constructing your IoT program with business outcome in mind, you’ll have the ability to improve operational efficiency, transform customer service, and monetize data. For example:

• Stitching together IoT data with historic behavioral data can give you a better understanding of how your customers use your product, allowing you to better tailor your product and services for your customers, and leading to longer customer lifetime value.
• Pairing IoT insights with predictive analytics allows you to identify risks or opportunities. For instance, a manufacturing organization can learn how its supply chain can be optimized, or a healthcare clinic can learn what it takes to create better treatment plans for individual patients. 
• Utilizing IoT programs can help monitor errors or bugs happening within your systems to minimize downtime your consumers may experience on your application.
• Leveraging IoT to improve insights beyond basic reporting, can also help you make more informed business decisions. One of Aditi’s telemetric clients was able to capitalize on the enriched data from customized reports to better understand average driving speeds on freeways, driving speeds in school zones, and idle times at gas stations. They were also able to leverage predictive reporting to understand when vehicles would most likely need to be repaired.

For extra credit, embracing the power of blockchain in an IoT program can also help ensure the data being sent to and from networks is tamper-resistant, creating greater brand trust for customers.

Are You Equipped to Deliver?

While ideating an IoT program is one thing, carrying out the solutions is another. Ask yourself, do you have the skills internally to carry out each of the development needs for an IoT program? 

• Designing and engineering your program
• Development for hardware or firmware to run your program
• Prototyping your design if you have a physical device
• Sensor management for ongoing needs of your program
• Security processes for end-to-end protection of your data

If you’re considering an IoT program, but don’t know where to start, or have gaps in the skills required to drive your digital transformation, you’re not alone. Many organizations feel stifled by the process, and in turn work with Aditi Consulting to bring concepts across the finish line. 

Aditi Consulting has the knowledge and experience to ideate, manage, and deploy the IoT program you need. Ready to learn more? Contact us today.