BIT X BIT: Off-the-Shelf Solutions | Golioth Newsletter
Now for something different.
BIT x BIT (prounounced "bit by bit") is a new approach to the Golioth newsletter. Small bits and bytes of helpful IoT tips, perspectives, and product updates from Golioth experts, the IoT community, and from our ecosystem of partners. Our hope is to provide a little more value and support for IoT developers, bit by bit.?
TOP OF MIND
Going Off-the-Shelf
We’ve heard from many of you that you’ve considered starting an IoT fleet using off-the-shelf hardware. With ready-made hardware, it's essential to think about how big you want your fleet to be. Do you want 10 devices, or 100, 1,000, or even a million? Here's what you should consider.
IoT hardware manufacturers will sell devices that can be pre-loaded with your software. Reliable platforms are great for many use cases, from cellular for asset tracking to Thread for managing buildings. You can launch a fleet with these devices at face-value cost, but there are limits to your flexibility. Here's what to keep in mind as your business grows:
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What if the hardware becomes unavailable?
If you’re faced with a hardware shortage (as many of us were in 2020), or if a product goes EOL, you need to be prepared to switch to something else. That exercise can quickly become complicated, especially if your existing product is not in your proximity. How will you handle managing two platforms (existing in field, and new replacement)? Are there dependencies built into your solution? There are a lot more factors to consider.
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Can you replicate the hardware later if you need to, or is the device too complicated?
If you’ve chosen a product that works for your use case, but you’re not quite sure how the magic black box does its thing, then you could be faced with challenges when trying to expand on its functionality or improve performance. It’s important to know what goes into an off-the-shelf product so you know it’s limitations and how that might impact your product strategy.
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Does the hardware lock you to a specific cloud platform?
Locking yourself to a particular cloud platform means creates a dependency and is inherently risky. Look for flexible clouds that enable you to build in redundancies so you and your customers or users aren’t beholden to a single operation.
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Off-the-shelf is great when you’re aware of the limits
When you choose ready-made hardware, think about the future. Make sure you have space to grow, not just in memory and power but also in how the device connects to the internet. Try not to choose hardware that locks you into a particular cloud option.
It's time for the shameless plug (after all it is the Golioth newsletter ??). Golioth is excellent for building custom hardware, even if you start with off-the-shelf components. The Golioth Firmware SDK can help you remain flexible. It supports a variety of hardware components and operating systems. We're always looking ahead to new ways of connecting to the internet. So, leave room to grow, and we'll be ready to grow with you!
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