Building a compelling connected system is not as easy as it might appear at first blush. There is a lot of pre-planning required to ensure that the IoT solution that a connected systems builder will be bringing to market resonates with its intended audience of prospective users. There is one way that connected systems builders can maximize success in this regard, and that is to think about building the proposed solution through a well-thought-out, reverse-engineered approach.
All too often, design engineers who build connected systems and IoT solutions start with the cool technology in mind. The trap that these engineers can fall into is admiring how rapidly or seamlessly the technology operates as opposed to what it is that the solution will actually do for users. In the end, what this mindset usually creates is a hip, new technology in search of a market.
By reverse-engineering an IoT solution, design engineers and connected systems builders are putting the business application at the forefront of the process. Once the business application(s) of the solution have been determined, all of the elements and components of the solution are retrofitted in a unified way that supports the application. By starting with users’ desired outcomes from the solution, engineers and builders optimize their opportunity for market acceptance of their product—and a better ROI for themselves.
