IoT Solutions

Leverage the network of objects to drive your business

Our End-to-end IoT Solutions

At MOKOSmart, we understand that our customers need a well-rounded offering when looking for IoT solutions. That is why we are committed to offering the best services possible. You are guaranteed to enjoy the following as long as we are by your side:

IoT Devices & Sensors

Full-Cycle IoT Development to Drive Business Growth

Modern business enterprises can utilize internet of things services and technology to streamline business concern operations and improve efficiency in several ways.
IoT faculty is T-shaped which adds access to each level of IoT development to drive business growth:

IoT solutions by Applications

IoT solutions have a lot in store for any business or individual who wants to use them. They could give businesses a competitive advantage. They can be used for:

Personnel tracking

IoT solutions can locate the positions of patients and medical staff to assure the instant first-aid support.

Asset tracking

Locating the products during manufacturing process might be a time-consuming task, but with our IoT solutions,the location can be tracked quickly for optimizing the production process and shipment.

Cold chain monitoring

Some products need to be kept in specific environments. IoT sensors can be used to monitor the temperature and humidity in real time,and when the condition is changed then the alarming setting will be triggered.

Supply chain management

IoT solutions can be installed in corporate vehicles to help track their maintenance needs, location and movement. The information provided is crucial for fleet management.

Security & energy control

IoT solutions are the backbone of smart homes. They allow people to control specific aspects of their homes from their phones, including security systems, thermostats, lighting and energy monitoring.

Inventory management

With IoT solutions, it becomes easy to track your specific inventory levels, as well as their location, to avoid stock outs. IoT sensors that are infused with telematics systems can also improve the efficiency of moving inventory around warehouses as well as space utilization.

Environment conservation

IoT solutions for manufacturing can help contribute to the dream of green manufacturing. When implemented the right way, the sensors on IoT devices help track the levels of specific contaminants in factory waste. This can help manufacturers and governments track and manage waste better.

Telemedicine

Patients living in remote areas might struggle to find quality medical services. Some might also struggle to make it to the hospital due to their medical conditions. With IoT devices like smart watches and embedded medical IoT devices, IoT solutions can come in handy in delivering medical services remotely.

IoT solutions by application

Internet of Things solutions have become so prevalent that they are being used across multiple industries. They not only enable inter-device communication but also streamline previously complex processes. Here are a few industries enjoying IoT innovation:

Benefits of IoT solutions

Device connectivity and data collection

Among the biggest benefits of IoT solutions is device connectivity and data collection. The collected data can come in handy in a variety of instances, from preventative maintenance to improving customer experiences. The data can also be assessed to improve operational efficiency to yield better results.

Automation improvement

Since custom IoT solutions can drive automation, they can reduce the overreliance on human labor, errors, and operational downtimes. This also means that companies that rely on IoT devices can easily scale when the need arises – all at a fraction of the cost required if they weren’t using IoT devices.

New revenue streams

The data collected through the IoT solutions could also drive new revenue streams. For instance, a company might identify data showcasing a specific demographic of customers that they have been ignoring. It could also result in new product tweaks that level up customer experience. Most importantly, IoT devices could help with asset tracking, increasing uptime and accountability in a business.

Understanding IoT Solutions: an In-depth Guide

It’s hard to imagine a world without the current IoT ecosystem we have today. New systems are coming up daily, thanks to technological advancements. If you are looking to take advantage of these new innovations, implementing IoT end-to-end solutions for your business is essential. Here all you need to know about IoT solutions:

What is an IoT solution?

IoT solutions are integrated technology bundles that rely on IoT devices sensors to fulfill specific tasks or deliver value to the user. Depending on where the solutions are used, they can help reduce the complexity of a task while increasing a device’s efficiency.

The solutions are a combination of everything that’s needed to turn IoT ideas into reality, from software platforms to hardware IP. When implemented the right way, global IoT solutions can drive innovation across industries that crave operational efficiencies and growth opportunities.

The five phases of an IoT solution

For IoT solutions to work perfectly, they need to follow these five phases:

· Data collection

Most devices and machines are built around legacy systems, and some might struggle to communicate with the internet. The first phase is to look for ways to tweak these machines and systems for data collection. The data ought to be converted into IP-capable information. This can be done by installing sensors around the equipment.

· Data transport

Devices need to have a standard communication protocol for IoT solutions to work. You can choose from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LAN, to name a few communication options. Keep in mind that the communication protocol you choose will affect the battery life and communication range of your IoT sensor or device.

· Data storage

You need to pick a solution that helps to securely store the data. Cloud storage solutions are great options since they are quite scalable and flexible.

· Data analysis

Picking the right analytics solution can make or break your IoT goals. The right software should analyze the data within your pre-determined parameters. Some businesses prefer having the analysis sent straight into their ERP system, meaning that a great solution should easily integrate with pre-existing systems.

· Data archiving

You should build your data archive around the legal requirements for data retention. The archive system can automatically delete expired data and tier the rest.

Layers of an end to end IoT solution

On the surface, IoT solutions might appear complex. They start appearing simpler once you divide them into the five major layers. When creating your solution, ensure that your account for each layer:

The hardware:these are the physical components that help the device collect data.
Software:this layer works as a link between the physical and virtual world. The software can be used for real-time data analytics, data acquisition, and even controlling the device. A device will function according to the software installed.
Communication: this layer controls how data is transmitted between devices. It will impact the battery life, range and efficiency of your system. Some examples of communication options include 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth BLE.
Cloud platform:this layer is essential for data collection and analysis. It can help turn draw valuable insights from raw data.
Cloud application:this represents the interface that the user uses to interact with the devices and the data.

Components of an IoT device communication

IoT devices use a variety of ways to communicate with each other – there is no single protocol that trumps all when it comes to communication. The protocol to be used will depend on what the device is, where it is, and the systems and devices it will need to communicate with. The best option for communication will be determined by the components of IoT communication, such as:

Type of IoT device
The communication protocol implemented
The location of nearby devices
The presence of a gateway
Cloud applications
The type of user interface

The steps to take when creating an IoT product

IoT devices are as complex as they are beneficial. Turning your IoT concepts into real-life functioning products takes time and investment in the right resources. Here’s how to do it right:

· Understand the bigger picture

Start by determining everything you want the IoT product to help you achieve. It can be to solve broken business processes, collect data on customers and employees, or address different failure points. Once you have a strong grasp of what you are aiming at, consider phasing the project into small achievable parts. Each phase needs to include a testing window to reduce inefficiencies and errors.

· Be intentional with your team choices

Start by picking a strong project lead. This should be someone who understands the intricate details of your project and who has enough knowledge to oversee the entire project. They will be instrumental in breaking down the different complexities to make it easier for the rest of the team.

Next, pick the right team members. This should consist of diverse talents, including software and hardware engineers, storage and integration pros, wireless whizzes, and embedded devices experts. Since there may be talent gaps within your internal team, don’t be afraid to outsource to third-party contributors. Most importantly, ensure that the team is in constant communication about their progress, frustration, and ideas.

· Pick project infrastructure and build competencies

You have a lot of infrastructural choices to make, including server, communication, sensors, storage, and even analytics software. Collaborate with the team to pick options that will serve the project best. You should also work on building the team’s competencies. Address any knowledge gaps by taking them through training. The chances are that you will need the same team in future projects, making this training ideal.

The IoT solution services market

The IoT device market is predicted to grow to $1.5 trillion annual revenue by 2030, and this is to no surprise. The benefits that IoT solutions present to business are the main driver of this growth. Other drivers include the need to digitally analyze and control processes, the fast development of wireless technologies, and the increasing adoption of IoT solutions for smart cities.

On the flip side, the security status of the IoT market is still holding down its growth. Since there are limited industry regulations, some customers are wary about the security of their devices.

This fear keeps them from buying into smart IoT solutions.

IoT solution challenges

Among the biggest challenges to IoT adoption is cyber security. With some manufacturers offering ill-secured devices to the market, it can lead to huge security loopholes. Remember, a business is only as secure as its weakest points. Security issues could also arise from the user front.

Customers who don’t update their devices or use the default device passwords leave their devices vulnerable. On top of that, government regulations have been slow to standardize these industries, meaning that the customer might lack enough information when making a decision.

There have also been compatibility issues in the IoT world, leading to interoperability issues. This has slowed down customer adoption rates. More interoperability means an easier time for customers when it comes to using devices from multiple manufacturers.

Lastly, insufficient bandwidth is an ever-looming threat to the IoT threat. While the servers used to authenticate and direct traffic might work well right now, there is the threat that they may struggle once more IoT solutions connect to them.

Why IoT needs 5G

Both IoT and 5G promise tremendous benefits to enterprises. While 4G and other wireless networks might work just fine at the moment, there are limits to what they can do. In the future, IoT devices are predicted to get so integrated into everyday life that some of their uses will need a stronger communication network.

5G can be the perfect communication network for IoT solutions. While 5G is as dependable and fast as fiber optic cable, it can offer the same output at a fraction of the cost and with more flexibility. It promises better data speeds, efficiency, reliability, latency, security, and capacity than 4G.

IoT’s adoption, on the other hand, is occurring at such a rapid pace. They offer diverse perks like more informed decision making, less machine downtime, preventative maintenance, and high product quality, to name a few benefits.

The optimized telecommunication platform that 5G offers could help realize most of these benefits of IoT. Sure, there are technologies that drive IoT solutions presently, but these are deeply limited by low throughput and performance. For instance, heat, sound, and vibration might limit some of today’s wireless technologies. 5G looks to eliminate these problems and improve efficiency.

Characteristics of IoT

For a device to be considered as IoT, it has to be:

Uniquely identifiable: IoT devices have IP addresses that help identify and communicate with them over the internet.
Integrated into an information system: these systems help IoT devices communicate and connect with each other. It can also use the data in the information system to conduct specific actions. For instance, a weather instrument can use the data submitted by its nodes and sensors to predict the weather.
Able to communicate interoperably: there should be seamless communication between the device and others.

Dynamic and self-adapting: IoT systems should be dynamic enough to use the information it gathers about its environment to perform specific actions.

IoT communication model

For communication to exist for IoT devices, a couple of communication models need to take place. These include:

Request-response communication model: communication begins with the server receiving a request from the client, after which it decides on the perfect response. It will fetch relevant data, retrieve resource representations and craft the response before sending it to the client. While requests are unidirectional, data transfers are bidirectional for this model.
Publish-subscribe communication model:this model relies on a publisher, client, and broker. The publishers are the source of data, i.e. the devices. The broker takes care of the data from the server. They also receive data from both the client and server while sending the client topics they are subscribed to. The client simply subscribes to various server topics that are offered to them through the broker.
Push-pull communication model: in this model, the broker pushes data into a queue while the consumer pulls data from the same queue. The broker doesn’t have to be aware of the existence of a consumer. The presence of a queue is simply used to hold data when output from the broker exceeds the pull cycles.

Exclusive pair communication model: this model is bidirectional and full-duplex. It uses state-full protocols and a single HTTP connection. The server is aware of each open connection in this model.

IoT communication API

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are a collection of communication subroutines and protocols that can be used by programs and apps to communicate with each other. With the help of API tools, programmers can have an easier time programming functional applications. In the case of IoT, APIs act as function-targeted data interfaces, allowing your applications to control 0programming interfaces. IoT devices depend on two APIs:

REST based communication APIs: this API, known as Representational State Transfer in full, is a bundle of architectural principles that allows you to design web APIs and web services that focus on a system’s resources and the intricate details of how resource states are transferred and addressed. It is built around the request-response communication model. This API’s constraints apply to connectors, components, and data elements all based around a distributed hypermedia system.
Web Socket Based Communication APIs: this API allows full-duplex, bi-directional communication between the servers and clients while working under an exclusive pair communication model. The positive thing about this API is that it doesn’t require setting up a new connection for each message to be shared between the server and clients. A single setup of the connection allows the continuous sending and receiving of messages without interruption. This API is the best option for IoT applications with high throughput requirements and low latency.

IoT enabling technologies

IoT devices work thanks to supporting technologies efficiently. These are technologies that help improve the functionality of IoT devices. Some of these technologies include:

· Cloud computing

Without cloud environments, it could be taught to store and analyze data. Cloud environments ensure that there is a scalable medium in which the data collected by IoT devices can be forwarded to the internet and translated.

· Sensors

Sensors are central to IoT device functionality. They help data collection, sending the data to the cloud, and receiving data from the cloud. Sensors can be used to detect movement, read the temperature, and even monitor a heartbeat.

· Communication networks

IoT devices need to communicate, which is where communication networks come in. They ensure that there can be data transfer between IoT devices and the cloud. The network chosen for an IoT device will affect its range, battery life, and efficiency. Some popular IoT communication options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, RFID, 5G, and LAN.

· Analytical software

The data collected by IoT devices means nothing if it cannot be analyzed. Analytical software uses statistical techniques and mathematical methods to mine through the data and finds patterns. Once it identifies something valuable, it can turn it into actionable insights for the device or user.

IoT vs. M2M

While IoT and m2m are loosely related, there is a huge difference between the two. Since you already understand what IoT stands for, it is time to address m2m. M2M is machine to machine in full. It refers to the connectivity between any two devices, which helps in communicating information. The devices can use public network technologies like cellular networks and ethernet. The idea is for machines to function and communicate without human interaction.

IoT is a subset of m2m, it is quite different from general m2m. While m2m uses point-to-point communication, IoT devices allow for a more complex and integrated communication between diverse devices. Unlike m2m solutions, IoT solutions are meant to be scalable, with it being easy to add devices to a network with minimal hassle. In the case of m2m devices, each device needs to have its own point-to-point communication setup, which can be labor intensive.

IoT devices are typically wireless, while m2m devices mostly require wired communication networks. Since IoT devices don’t typically use wired networks like ethernet, they can be more flexible, but this might expose them to the inefficiencies of Wi-Fi and other wireless networks. The choice depends on the intricate detail of your project.

Internet of Things vs. Internet of Everything

While they are often used in place of each other, the Internet of Things and the Internet of Everything are actually quite different. The main difference is in what they each refer to (the pillars to their concepts):

Internet of everything dwells on things, processes, data, and people – it encompasses everything
Internet of Things dwells on tangible physical objects

The former is a general term that symbolizes the interconnectivity of people, processes and physical objects. IoT, on the other hand, refers to the previously dumb devices that are made smart by embedding sensors onto them.

However, they do share some characteristics. For instance, both are distributed, operating in decentralized systems, which give them some independence. Each distributed system can easily get involved in a data breach. The decentralized nature of the system makes sure that a single attack on the part of the system doesn’t bring the whole of it down. The trick is to use the right Internet of Things security solutions.

Benefits of integrating AI with IoT

AI helps machines make decisions while mimicking human intelligence. On their own, IoT devices are only meant to be data collectors. They gather data before transferring it for storage and analysis. The combination of AI and IoT, often known as Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), give these devices intelligence to understand the collected data and take action.

This results in multiple benefits, including real-time monitoring and decision making. When applied in the right way, an AIoT could result in more customer satisfaction as the devices can perform redundant tasks, freeing customers’ time. AIoT also promises reduced production downtime and enhanced risk management. Here are some real-life examples of AIoT:

Traffic management:traffic can be chaotic. With AI installed on traffic lights, it becomes easy to control traffic. Drones and cameras can be used to collect traffic data which is then analyzed by AI to improve road traffic.
Self-driving cars: without AI, self-driving cars are only but a bunch of sensors. AI helps turn the data collected by these sensors into insights, mimicking the human decision making on the road.
Body sensors:sensors installed in smartwatches can be instrumental in monitoring heart rate and blood pressure. When combined with AI, these sensors can analyze this data in real-time to detect anomalies.

The role of gateways in IoT

Gateways form an important puzzle piece of IoT communication. They act as the bridge between IoT devices and cloud environments. Instead of the IoT devices communicating directly with the cloud, they will do the heavy lifting. This comes with multiple benefits:

Security:The more IoT devices you have connected to the internet, the wider your attack surface is. IoT gateway solutions reduce the number of devices connecting to the internet, improving security.
Filtering data:IoT devices might produce a lot of unfiltered data, some of which won’t be needed in the cloud. The gateway can filter out the clutter to increase resource optimization. For instance, a constant recording of an empty hallway from a security camera has no use in the cloud.
Improving communication: Multiple IoT devices might need to communicate with the cloud or each other, but their communication protocols vary. Gateways can use a standard communication protocol to ensure that messages are exchanged between devices and also sent to the cloud.
Conserve battery life:The longer the transmission range, the lower the battery life of IoT devices. Instead of straining battery life, gateways that can send data at long ranges can receive it from nearby devices before transmission.
Reducing latency:In some cases, responding to the data sent by IoT devices can be time-critical. The sad thing is that IoT devices might struggle to analyze data locally. Luckily, this analysis can be done on the gateway to reduce latency and for timeline action.

Protecting your IoT solution from IoT security issues

IoT solutions might be in their infancy, but that isn’t stopping widespread adoption. The benefits these solutions provide make them ideal additions to personal and business environments. However, security is a major concern for IoT devices. Considering that your business is only as secure as your weakest point, working with secure devices is essential.

While the impact of a breach on the IoT system might seem trivial, it could lead to huge consequences. For instance, IoT devices are a bridge between the physical and the virtual world, and anyone who has control over them could cause real and physical harm. If a person controls the thermostat, they can increase a factory floor’s temperature.

IoT devices also collect a lot of data about their environments, which could be used for malicious intent. Lastly, if you have a centralized IoT system, a successful breach on one front can be used to breach the whole system, resulting in massive downtime. All it takes is the right operational practices to secure IoT solutions:

Proper password management: change the default password of your IoT devices and use strong ones instead. Avoid generic passwords and ensure that you change each individual password of your IoT devices severally each year.
Walk the extra mile when it comes to cloud security: while cloud service providers work overtime to offer secure platforms, security isn’t always guaranteed. Do your due diligence in ensuring your privacy and security is assured on the cloud.
Segment and encrypt IoT networks
Update your solution IoT devices regularly
Monitor your IoT devices constantly

IoT integration Solutions

There is a lot of data you will be pulling from your IoT devices. While some might seem irrelevant, you could find a use for it later on. That’s why it having an integrated IoT solution is essential. Integrating IoT with the rest of your corporate systems, such as ERPs allows you to determine patterns in data faster.

You can then use the data to make decisions in real-time. It also supports innovation as you establish new data utilization ways. Most importantly, it ensures customer satisfaction since you are ahead of most issues. With our IoT integration solution, this could be a reality for your business.