Without an IoT platform (middleware that connects sensors, assets, data, software, and business processes), the Internet of Things (IoT) is useless. It integrates all the different components of the IoT infrastructure so that your business can reap all the potential benefits.
There are many IoT platforms on the market, so finding the right platform for your business is crucial. This can be a challenging task, requiring sifting through a lot of complex and competing information.
In this article, we list the key factors to consider when choosing an IoT platform to help you make an informed decision and find the best solution for your needs.
Why do we need an IoT platform?
Essentially, an IoT platform provides a ready-made framework for all IoT infrastructure, bringing everything together and helping you start generating revenue as quickly as possible. Here are some of the biggest advantages of a high-quality IoT platform:
▲It saves money. By increasing the likelihood of project success and reducing the time required to develop systems and solve problems yourself. Without relying on an IoT platform, your project is more likely to fail and waste money. An IoT platform also allows for centralized management of IoT networks, which is more cost-effective than trying to manage a scattered collection of devices.
▲It helps provide security. It ensures your device is secure, protects valuable data from hackers and cybercriminals, and gives you peace of mind.
▲It can help you get to market faster. An IoT platform can handle many aspects of an IoT project, saving you significant time and enabling you to quickly launch prototypes.
▲A high-quality IoT platform comes with ready-made features. From billing assistance to data analytics support, all of these are designed to help you get the most out of your IoT infrastructure and provide valuable support to every member of your team.
▲Device and Data Integration. An IoT platform consolidates all your devices into a central system. This allows you to integrate data with enterprise systems and enhance existing organizational processes. The result is a more cohesive network, where each part supports the entire network, rather than a completely disparate collection of individual devices.
▲By combining IoT data with data from external sources, it can help improve and streamline operations across the entire enterprise, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the organization, thereby driving better workflows and helping you achieve your goals across various areas.
What are we looking for in IoT platforms?
A good IoT platform can offer a number of key advantages for your project and overall business. By providing connectivity as a service, they simplify the process of managing IoT devices using various network connectivity technologies and eliminate the need for contracts with multiple network providers.
However, it's important to choose a platform that suits your specific needs. To ensure you make the right choice, consider the following points.
1. Connection Management
When discussing the Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity is a crucial factor. Every project and organization has specific connectivity needs, which directly influences which IoT platform is best suited for them.
Some IoT platforms are more specialized than others in certain technologies. Ideally, you should choose a platform that can coordinate a range of different network connectivity technologies, such as LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT, LTE-Cat.m1, 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi.
Geographic location is also an important factor to consider. Your IoT platform should be able to support all your IoT applications and devices in different geographical regions.
2. Scalability
As time goes on, your IoT projects will almost certainly grow. With the expansion and wider adoption of this technology, almost every business will likely find itself using more and more IoT devices and features across multiple use cases.
Your IoT platform should be prepared for this. Choose a platform that can easily scale as the project grows and is suitable for all IoT project states.
The best IoT platforms should be able to scale across a range of different deployment models, such as:
▲In the public cloud
▲In a private cloud
▲At your business premises
3. Safety
Another major issue with IoT networks is security. Attacks on IoT devices are on the rise, with 33% of infected devices now being part of the IoT ecosystem. It is crucial to ensure you choose an IoT platform where security is a top priority.
If you don't take security seriously, your IoT infrastructure will be at risk of cyberattacks, potentially leading to downtime, loss of sensitive data, and severe reputational damage. Furthermore, many companies are subject to stringent regulatory requirements regarding data ownership and security, meaning you could face legal penalties if your data is compromised.
Simply protecting your workplace is no longer enough—in our increasingly remotely connected world, you must ensure your devices are secure wherever they are. Your IoT platform should also be able to integrate with common cloud infrastructures such as Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon AWS.
4. Ease of use
The whole point of the Internet of Things (IoT) is to make your life and business processes easier. It shouldn't add extra difficulty and complexity to your systems. The best IoT platforms should be simple, straightforward, and easy to integrate with existing processes.
5. Adapt to technological changes
When it comes to technology, if one thing we can be certain of, it's that constant change is inevitable. This is good for businesses, ensuring continuous progress and development, but for IoT systems, being prepared for this constant change is crucial.
Your hardware, connectivity, and applications need to be adaptable and resilient to change. Otherwise, you'll encounter problems such as technology lock-in, where you'll be forced to use technologies that no longer meet your needs.
One way to ensure adaptability to change is to replace components of your IoT solution over time without impacting the overall end application. This allows you to modify and upgrade your infrastructure little by little without significant delays or downtime.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to IoT platforms. You need to take the time to find out which platform best suits your unique needs and challenges, and then choose one that can help you maximize the benefits of IoT.
