The final stage in the Journey of an IoT developer
In the previous post in this series, we explored the third stage of IoT development: Execution & Build. This post explores the final stage of the IoT developer journey.
Moving from prototype to production is rarely straightforward. As challenging as it can be to transform your concept into a design and then into a prototype, bringing an actual product to market introduces a whole new set of considerations.
First, you’ll have to get serious about the numbers. The cost of building your prototype is just a starting a point. Manufacturing tens of thousands or even millions of products requires a more detailed financial approach. This stage is inherent with risk (and opportunities) and it’s critical to understand the unit costs of your business.
For example, you’ll need clarity around the Bill of Materials (BOM) - those individual components, sub-components, raw materials, varying assemblies and quantities of each that are required to manufacture your final product. You’ll want to know which costs are fixed and which are variable, and identify ways to reduce those costs without sacrificing quality.
Next, you’ve got to find the right manufacturing partner. Due diligence is key, so ask lots of questions. What are their minimum quantity orders? What are their tooling processes? Do they provide packaging? What are the shipping terms? Make sure they have a quality assurance guarantee. Ask for references. If you know other developers who have gone through the process, ask for recommendations and warm referrals. Above all, choose a factory partner you trust.
Depending on your product and its intended industry, there may be additional requirements. For example, if you’re building a financial services application, then tighter levels of security will be necessary. It might even need to be certified by a third party. Products intended for government will certainly require thorough evaluations and security checks. Better to be aware ahead of time than have to push back your launch at the last minute.
Which leads us to your go-to-market strategy. Gaining clarity on the cost of building a scalable product demands a lot of your time. Still, you must focus on the market itself. Identify target customers. Study the competition. Think about your launch strategy. Undoubtedly, your business plan will constantly evolve, so be sure to identify where to invest your limited energy and resources.
At Intel, we see our job as facilitating your entire developer journey. From the Intel® IoT Developer Kit v1.0, to code samples and forums on the Intel® Developer Zone for IoT, to hackathons and inspirational project examples, we’ll be right at your side. Our goal is simple: to learn from the developer community, build a trusted partner network, and develop products that realize their full potential to change our world.
Previous: Stage 3: Execution & Build
Start inventing today with the Intel® IoT Developer Program, which offers knowledge, tools, kits, and a community of experts to quickly and easily turn your innovative ideas into IoT solutions.
Dream it, build it with the Intel® IoT Developer Kit for the Intel® Edison and Intel® Galileo platforms. These kits are versatile, performance-optimized, and fully integrated end-to-end IoT solutions supporting a variety of programming environments, tools, security, cloud connectivity, and hardware.
For more resources and to learn how the new Intel® IoT Developer Kit v1.0 can help streamline your IoT projects:
- Download the Intel® IoT Developer Kit
- Visit the Intel® Developer Zone for IoT
- Attend one of our roadshows for hands-on training in creating your own IoT projects