As with turnkey solutions, most of these tools can’t be modified. Software providers often don’t have the capability or desire to customize their platforms or data flows so it’s important to start with something that matches your desired use case. These solutions may also rely on your internal IT team to procure and integrate hardware.
Custom IoT Solutions
So, what if your organization has the need or desire to build something unique to your business? If you do decide to go the custom route, it doesn’t necessarily mean your IT team has to re-invent the wheel or even manage every aspect of development on their own.
The IT industry is host to a broad range of partners and providers with the expertise to help you architect, deploy and support a custom IoT solution. From designing intelligent apps to implementing machine learning models, whatever your technology needs happen to be, there’s an expert out there to make it possible.
Beyond greater differentiation from the competition, a custom approach lays the foundation for future growth and improved capabilities. One of the primary benefits of a custom approach is in the ability to integrate various systems and data into a single, actionable dashboard capable of delivering insights across your business.
The primary drawback to a full-custom solution is, of course, the time and resources involved. Developing a comprehensive IoT strategy requires more than a few devices or a new app, it means thinking holistically about everything from security and data flow to organizational change management and employee training. This is why it can typically take more than 10 technology partners to complete a digital transformation initiative.
Bridging the gap
This is by no means a comprehensive list. There are as many variations in these models and approaches as there are providers. No matter which you choose, it’s important to stay focused on the value of connections. As additional point solutions are introduced, disparate systems become more complex and costly to manage. Without a holistic strategy to bring all this data together in a meaningful way, critical insights and corresponding value can be lost.
A Solutions Integrator like Insight can help to architect and manage your data in a way that maximizes visibility and business intelligence. In the next article of this series, I’ll provide an overview of how Insight’s Connected Platform provides a unique, semi-custom framework for achieving unified visibility across all the devices and systems within your organization.
If you do choose to work with individual vendors rather than a Solutions Integrator, be sure to think long term. Smaller vendors or startups may offer a lower price tag but won’t always have the reach or in some cases the bandwidth to support your desired solution. Consolidate as much as possible to improve manageability and avoid having too many cooks in the IoT kitchen. This will also help to reduce the complexity of securing your data.
Take the time to carefully consider your options, consult with industry experts and make the investment that makes the most sense for your business.