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.