Understanding the Modern IoT Development Process for a Growing Business

What Can IoT Development Do for Your Business?

If you own or manage a growing business, you should be thinking about the Internet of Things (IoT) as more than just a buzzword. Used strategically, this set of technologies can propel your company to the next level by gathering valuable data, increasing efficiency, and allowing you to gain insights into every aspect of your operations.

When you decide to use IoT devices in your business, you also need the software to make it work in the ways you want. Because each company is unique, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) product might not provide exactly the features you’re looking for. In that case, you can have custom IoT software developed specifically to fit your processes.

Finding the right provider to help with your IoT development process is key to getting a software application that will be an asset to help you expand your operations. Here we explore more about what the IoT can do for your growing company, and how BairesDev can help.

What Is the IoT?

The IoT is the collection of all internet-connected devices across the globe. It includes devices consumers use every day, such as smartphones, smart watches, cars, appliances, and home thermostats.

This technology is also a part of businesses, which can use internet-connected devices to improve efficiency. Examples include inventory tracking devices, sensors to monitor manufacturing equipment, sensors in retail stores to track customer activities and preferences, and sensors within smart cities that do things like regulate traffic and help reduce crime.

Components of the IoT include the following:

Sensors and devices collect information from the equipment they’re attached to or from the environment in which they’re situated. This process could be as simple as taking a temperature reading or as complex as determining the status of energy grid equipment.
Internet connectivity is used to send that information from the sensors and devices to computers loaded with data processing software. The connection can be through a variety of technologies, including cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee.
Data processing software enables users to make sense of the data collected. For example, it could help you ensure that the temperature reading is within acceptable limits or warn you about an intruder on the premises based on video camera data.
User interface notifications are used in conjunction with data processing software to alert you of certain conditions, such as equipment malfunctions or shipment delays. You can also access the user interface to take action based on certain information.

IoT in Modern Business

The IoT can improve business operations within a wide range of industries. Growing companies can use these and similar strategies to better serve customers, increase efficiency, and save money:

Farming
Farmers can use sensors to monitor crops to determine when to water and fertilize, and what kind of fertilization is needed. With this method, they spend less by maximizing resources and by yielding a greater quantity of usable crops.
Manufacturing
In manufacturing, IoT devices are being deployed to help owners and managers know the condition of their machines. Using this process, owners and managers save money by fixing machines before they reach the more costly replacement stage.
Retail
Store owners and managers can use beacons and other devices to customize the shopping experience based on what customers do while in a store. A better customer experience leads to greater loyalty and increased sales and revenue.
Shipping
Sensors on packages and vehicles give shipping operators a granular sense of whether schedules are being kept, offering an opportunity to make adjustments in real time and save money by only deploying resources when needed.
Smart cities
Opportunities abound for urban planners who want their cities to be smart. IoT technology can be used to improve auto, bike, and pedestrian traffic, create a more efficient trash collection system, give citizens and visitors information to find what they need, and much more.
Transportation
Partially and fully self-driving vehicles use sensors to determine conditions and help drivers (or computers) make decisions. For example, some cars have a “blind spot” feature that uses a sensor to show when a car is in a position the driver might not see simply by looking at mirrors.
Utilities
Power companies can use smart devices within customer homes and businesses to increase energy efficiency. They can also use sensors on their own equipment to monitor and maintain the electrical power grid, enabling them to keep equipment longer and spend less on replacements.

The IoT Development Process – How BairesDev Can Help

While the IoT offers many benefits, it also comes with challenges. Perhaps the biggest one is security, which becomes easier for hackers to breach with each new device. BairesDev takes security very seriously which is why we have developed highly secure software applications for dozens of companies across the globe.

At BairesDev, we strive to be not just a provider, but a partner. We take the time to understand your concerns and your software needs. From there, we use a tested process that includes:

Idea & conceptualization. We use a spiral process to create a proof of concept (POC).
UX design. We combine usability consulting, user experience (UX) design, and user interface (UI) design services that are applicable across industries and software types.
Feasibility study. We benchmark your product idea by performing a feasibility study, POC, prototype, and user testing to minimize risks early on.
Consulting. We use professional consulting and enterprise methodology, and tools for governance of apps and production processes. This service is part of a wider service offering that covers the entire product lifecycle.
Software architecture. We create solid architecture that results in reliable, predictable, successful end products. Our approach enables us to design solutions quickly and efficiently no matter the project scale.
Software testing. Our standard processes are the cornerstone of our full range of software testing services and we have unrivaled experience among other outsourced software testing companies.

When you choose BairesDev for the IoT development process, you get all the benefits of software outsourcing, including access to new talent, increased efficiency, more flexibility, mitigated risk, improved security, and effective results.