Embedding sensors, connectivity and compute capabilities into assets that have never before been connected to the internet is difficult. Enterprise IoT Insights spoke with analysts, chip developers, wireless carriers and module makers to learn about some of the best practices identified by these companies. A summary of key findings is below and the full report is available on-demand.
Embedded IoT design: six best practices
- Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Companies that develop solutions based on existing modules usually get to market faster than those that attempt chip-down designs. According to research from Gemalto, a successful module-based solution can be ready to deploy in about a third of the time it takes to develop and deploy a bespoke solution.
- Invest in intelligence at the edge. Storing and processing data at the edge means response times can be shorter and it means that IoT devices are not completely dependent on remote servers in the cloud. In addition, edge computing is usually more scalable than cloud computing because processing power can be added to a solution without increasing the network bandwidth to move more and more data to and from the cloud.
- Secure your endpoints. Security is not the place to try to cut costs. “The decisions made in the earliest stages – – like what kind of application processor you use – – matter,” said Joe Cozzarelli, senior manager of IoT embedded solutions at Verizon. “Those elements are where security starts. Security touches every fundamental element of the solution from the device through the network, to the cloud and back again.”
- Define your deliverables. Decide what data you want to collect and try to estimate how much network traffic the solution will generate. These decisions will inform your choices about connectivity, data compression, and processing.
- Choose the right connectivity. Think about how your solution will be used today and in the future. For example, if you need to monitor endpoints now, but might ultimately want to control them, you should consider bi-directional connectivity, even if you don’t need it right away.
- Don’t give up. 60% of IoT projects fail at the proof of concept stage, according to Cisco, but that’s just half the story. 64% of the decision makers surveyed by Cisco said stalled or failed IoT initiatives have helped accelerate their organization’s investment in IoT.