Architecture of an IoT solution: the basics of a successful project

Successful IoT project is always full of challenges.To guarantee its success, it is necessary to ask the right questions, know the traps to avoid at each construction stage and above all facilitate communication between the various stakeholders of the project (end customer, suppliers, providers etc.)).There will be a design and marketing of the IoT solution with a real value creation for the customer.

So how can we design and market a solution with a value for its end user?

The use of a common language with the pyramid of IoT needs

Working on an IoT project requires the action of several players with different approaches (developers, engineers, architects, product managers, data analyst, UX UI Designer, etc.)).To ensure the success of an IoT project, it becomes essential to be able to use a common language between the different IoT trades, but also with the end customer, who does not necessarily know in IoT but for whom it will be essentialto obtain the final product he wishes and to understand his operation.

The pyramid of IoT needs is an excellent educational tool that takes up the basics of the architecture of an IoT solution and its operation.It consists of the four pillars of development of a solution: device, connectivity, data and value.

The path to a successful IoT solution

There are two ways to approach the design of an IoT project: a rising approach starting from the device to the creation of value or a descending approach starting from the creation of value to the device.From a customer point of view, the downward approach is more relevant.It is important to identify the problem to which the solution will answer otherwise it does not bring any value to its end user a priori.The value would come before technology to guarantee the success of the project.It would therefore be a question of identifying the use case, such as for example, detect leaks on a water meter and be alerted immediately to avoid a disaster.

Then comes the floor floor.The objective here is to define the data that will be useful to make the use possible.Indeed, if the data recovered from the device is correctly transformed, analyzed and interpreted, it can become a real growth factor.

But before the data is usable, it must be sorted and made readable thanks to an IoT platform.

After comes the choice of connectivity.It represents the bridge between the physical universe and the digital universe of the IoT solution.It is used to bring up the data collected by the Device. Il existe plusieurs types de connectivité bien connues comme le Wifi, le réseau cellulaire (3G, 4G et 5G)), le Bluetooth etc.

Selon le besoin, les solutions de connectivité peuvent couvrir de courtes distances (quelques centimètres)) comme le Bluetooth (Personnal Area Network : PAN)) et le Wifi (Local Area Network : LAN)) ; ou de longues distances (plusieurs kilomètres)) comme le WAN (Wide Area Network)), le LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network)) et le satellite.

The choice of connectivity depends on the technical constraints of the environment and the final use of the connected object.

For example, in the event that the IoT solution requires large-scale deployment on several different territories, such as an asset tracking solution in green mobility for bikes or self-service scooters, the use of a SIM M2M cardMulti-operator appears as the best choice of connectivity because the SIM card will catch the best network available nearby, even in the event of a network cut.

Finally, comes the design part of the Device, composed of hardware, the main physical component of a connected object and software, the program operated by the connected object.It will be a question of installing sensors, gateway and actuators in the field which will be controlled by a program to collect and send data to a defined interval or carry out a concrete action when a defined threshold has been exceeded.

For example, a sensor detects a water leak via the data collected and a water stop valve is then initiated to avoid the claim.In reality, the two approaches are used because there are often back and forth between the different stages.It is only important to define value creation at the start of the project to guarantee its success.

The choice of a single service provider or several business experts for the development of an IoT solution

In addition to the creation of value, the challenge in the design of an IoT solution is not to design too heavy solutions compared to uses, or inflexible in a permanent evolution environment.It is therefore essential that each stage of construction of its architecture is thought out and designed in coordination between the different IoT professions, thanks to excellent communication between them.

The true complexity of an IoT project lies in the fact of advancing in a coordinated manner.For example, if a project requires the development of a mobile application, we tend to believe, that this step comes at the end of the project because it adapts to the finalized project.However, reflection on the development of the mobile application comes from the first design stages because certain features must be integrated by firmware.

Therefore, if there is bad communication between each profession, it generates bricks that do not fit together, and a waste of time.Two options are then possible: either call on a single service provider, the "one-stop shop";Or call on a different expert for each profession (hardware, software, firmware, connectivity, cloud, manufacture ...)).

For the "One-Stop Shop", it is a question of bringing together each trade in one and the same multi-skill provider.The entire solution is designed by a single provider, which could facilitate exchanges between the various IoT trades and guarantee more reactivity and simplicity in project management.When we call on several business experts, we add technical knowledge and select the most efficient providers in their field for each stage of construction which can guarantee an effective solution to the key.

In conclusion, it is essential to design a connected object to understand the bases of the architecture and the functioning of an IoT solution as well as the interwarming between each stage of construction.The pyramid of IoT needs is an excellent common language tool between the different actors around the design of an IoT solution.And whatever the choice between the single service provider or several business experts, the key is communication and coordination between each step.

The success of a connected object project will become child's play.