Connectivity and the selection of IoT hardware are critical components for the success of any IoT implementation. Research conducted by Beecham Research reveals that approximately 50% of IoT projects fail during the pilot phase, often due to security challenges and neglecting the complexities of connectivity. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to prioritize connectivity throughout the entire lifecycle of an IoT project, whether integrating IoT functionality into an existing product or starting from scratch. This necessitates meticulous planning and ensuring that connectivity remains a top consideration from the proof of concept stage until the product’s end-of-life. In this blog post, we will explore the steps for success when selecting or designing your IoT device to ensure project success.
Define your business objectives and connectivity requirements.
To ensure a successful IoT project, it is essential to define your business case and connectivity requirements. Start by clearly outlining your business objectives, understanding the specific outcomes you aim to achieve through IoT implementation. Identify the pain points you want to address, the operational efficiencies you seek, or the new services you plan to offer. Next, delve into your connectivity requirements, considering factors such as geographic coverage, data bandwidth, latency, security, and scalability. By thoroughly defining your business case and connectivity needs, you lay a solid foundation for a targeted and effective IoT solution. When defining your connectivity needs here are some key actions to consider:
Connectivity Technologies: It is important to explore the various options available and what is to come. These options include cellular technologies like 4G and 5G, Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) such as NB-IoT, CAT-M or LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi, and satellite connectivity. Coming soon you will see Redcap and CAT 1.bis; each technology has its own advantages, limitations, and suitability based on your project’s specific needs. Assess these factors and determine which technology aligns best with your desired data rates, latency requirements, and energy efficiency.
Coverage and Roaming: Ensure the selected connectivity solution adequately covers the regions where you plan to deploy your IoT devices. If your project requires global reach, evaluate roaming capabilities and partnerships between connectivity providers. Look into modern solutions that allow you to benefit from local connectivity to ensure compliance and global coverage.
Security and Compliance: Address security and compliance requirements. Evaluate the connectivity provider’s measures for data encryption, authentication, and protection against potential threats. Ensure the chosen provider adheres to relevant industry regulations and data privacy standards.
Scalability and Future-proofing: When selecting a connectivity solution for your IoT project, consider its scalability to accommodate future growth. Managing multiple vendor relationships can complicate operations, especially when deploying globally. Opt for a connectivity partner that stays updated with emerging technologies and standards. Look for a provider that offers a single integration and platform to manage all cellular connectivity, streamlining operations and ensuring seamless scalability as your IoT deployment expands.
Choosing the right connectivity partner: The right connectivity partner will guide you in technology and SIM card selection, offer input on hardware selection, and provide comprehensive support for testing, ensuring a successful IoT project implementation.
Choose connectivity hardware that meets your requirements
Choosing hardware that aligns with your technical specifications and connectivity requirements is crucial. To facilitate this decision-making process, consider the following factors when choosing the appropriate hardware:
Does the device meet memory Size and processing power requirements?
IoT devices often require real-time processing and data analysis. Therefore, it’s crucial to select hardware components with sufficient processing power and memory to meet the demands of your project. Insufficient processing power and memory can lead to slow response times, data loss, and other issues.
Does the device meet your connectivity and communication needs?
Choose hardware components that support the communication and connectivity options that you need for your project. For example, if your project requires sending SMS notifications, you need to ensure that your device supports SMS. Another important consideration is whether the device will work in the country where you’re deploying. Different countries have different frequency bands and wireless standards, so it’s important to choose hardware components that are compatible with the wireless standards of the country where you’re deploying.
Is the Device Unlocked or Tied to a Connectivity Provider?
Before selecting hardware components for your IoT project, it’s important to determine if the device is unlocked or tied to a specific connectivity provider. Locked devices are often cheaper, but they limit your options for connectivity providers, which can be a significant problem if you’re deploying your project in a location where your preferred connectivity provider doesn’t have coverage.
Does It Have the Necessary Certifications?
Before deploying your IoT project, ensure that your hardware components meet the regulatory requirements of the target country. This includes obtaining safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), PTCRB, and carrier certifications. These certifications guarantee compliance with wireless network standards and enable seamless connectivity. Failure to obtain these certifications can lead to connectivity issues, project delays, and additional costs.
Why Velocity IoT is your ultimate IoT enablement partner
In conclusion, the success of any IoT implementation relies on connectivity and hardware selection. Velocity IoT’s global IoT SIM cards utilize eUICC compliant multi-IMSI technology, delivering cost-effective connectivity. Our solution is designed for IoT scale, offering regulatory compliance, autonomous carrier switching, improved performance and competitive data rates. Through remote SIM provisioning and access to 600+ carriers worldwide, Velocity IoT ensures simple, secure, and seamless global connectivity. Choose Velocity IoT to overcome roaming restrictions, reduce costs, future-proof your IoT project, and enhance network coverage.
Moreover, we provide comprehensive project support for successful IoT deployments. Our knowledgeable team assists in planning and implementing your solutions across all aspects of IoT.
Contact us today to learn how Velocity IoT can add value to your business.
