Fifty billion connected devices by 2020. And 8.4 billion devices running by the end of 2017.
When it comes to IoT, monumental numbers like this commonly cited by
big networking providers, like Cisco, or research firms, like Gartner,
seem to get all the attention. But companies implementing IoT often
overlook the nuts and bolts of how they will handle the massive amount
of data transmitted by all of these devices, how they will keep those
devices secure, and how they will remotely manage them and keep them up
to date. It is a huge undertaking that requires planning, the right
skill sets and, quite possibly, a quality partner.
Only
a handful of companies are familiar with what it takes to do all of
this, and the most visible of those happen to be multinational
technology companies that are promoting their own branded IoT products.
Most
organizations outside of the information technology sector don’t have a
long history of developing sophisticated computing devices internally.
Or providing internet-based services. Or creating the business models
with recurring revenue that often go along with them.
Increasingly, it seems companies are turning to managed IoT service providers to help them fill in the skill gaps — third-party organizationsdedicated
to implementing, managing, securing and analyzing a company’s complete
IoT landscape. With the right partnership in place, businesses can take
advantage of the enormous potential that IoT products and services offer
while concentrating their valuable time on core day-to-day operations,
where they often have greater in-house expertise.
Companies
should first ask the following questions to determine if a managed IoT
service provider can help them achieve growth and revenue goals:
What is the market potential for your company’s application?
The
cloud enables remote management of IoT systems of virtually any scale,
which is important when considering market potential. One such example:
Bushnell, a brand known for its outdoor products, takes advantage of
managed IoT services to manage strong market demand for its
cellular-enabled wireless trail cameras. A consumer using a single
Bushnell camera can generate tens of thousands of pictures a year,
requiring large databases, real-time notifications, performance-driven
websites, and data collection and interpretation. Now, consider managing
the data and infrastructure for hundreds of thousands of these cameras.
This is typically not a great fit for a single in-house server and IT
department.
Like
Bushnell, other companies bringing IoT products to market will need to
consider the implications of these offerings and what the challenges
will likely be given the size of the market for these technologies.
Does your company have the needed skill set to manage cloud infrastructure, device connectivity and over-the-air upgrades?
Developing
IoT technologies typically requires various skill sets, ranging from
cloud experience to embedded technologies to cybersecurity and more.
This complexity can put pressure on an organization’s internal
development team when trying to develop and then support
internet-enabled products and services throughout the product lifecycle.
In
our experience, the responsibilities that come with IoT typically
stretch the capabilities of standard device development teams which are
unfamiliar with designing products for use over different wireless
technologies, or in maximizing the efficiency of a cloud computing
platform like Amazon’s IoT platform.
Creating a product that includes capabilities like over-the-air
firmware upgrades, device monitoring and diagnostics, device
authentication and even ongoing connectivity services is a complex
endeavor. To ensure that your technologies are secure and managed
properly, your managed IoT service provider will need to have expertise
in all of those areas.
The
good ones will also provide recommendations for cloud infrastructure
that are appropriate for your IoT technologies, keeping in mind all the
factors that will influence performance, reliability, security and
continuity. This is even more important for companies offering products
on a national or international scale.
Choosing a managed IoT service provider
If
it’s apparent that managed IoT service provider would be a good fit for
your company, then here are some questions to help you vet potential
partners:
Does the provider plan for scalability?
When
your company’s needs change, your service provider must be able to grow
with you. The vendor should have a track record that demonstrates
scalability — and a clear plan that allows the company to easily manage
growth.
Consider
the market requirements for your IoT products, including federal,
state, local, enterprise or regulations in the healthcare or financial
markets.
It’s
equally important that you select the right cloud technology for your
industry. There are quality providers whose infrastructures are
compatible with most, but not all, industries. For a healthcare company,
for example, if the cloud infrastructure isn’t HIPAA compliant,
the technology will likely never get off the ground. Similarly, if an
infrastructure doesn’t meet federal guidelines, it cannot be used in VA
hospitals.
Will the managed IoT service provider use analytics to help transform your business with keen insights extracted from your data?
Many
companies that are relatively new to IoT have never used data from
connected products to help guide their business decisions. If this is
the case for your company, look for an IoT partner that knows how to analyze the data from your IoT products to help manage growth and avoid common pitfalls.
Does your product require ongoing connectivity services?
OEMs
should consider the ways their own customers use their devices to
determine the needed level of ongoing IoT connectivity services.
Managing transactions, device activations, and data procurement and
management requires a special level of ongoing service, and your
business should select a partner that can keep up with the activity.
Selecting
the right managed IoT service provider for your business is a big
decision. Making the right choice will help your company reach its goals
faster while also providing a top-notch experience for your customers.
All
IoT Agenda network contributors are responsible for the content and
accuracy of their posts. Opinions are of the writers and do not
necessarily convey the thoughts of IoT Agenda.
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