IoT services from start to finish

IoT technology brings significant value for the digital transformation across various industries by enabling smarter operations, enhancing customer experiences, and driving growth. Here are only a few business factors that can be positively influenced by IoT-services:

• Operational efficiency. IoT sensors can automate routine tasks, as well as track and optimize resources, which reduces waste and costs. With the help of maintenance prediction tools, businesses can anticipate and fix equipment issues before they cause downtime
• Supply chain optimization. IoT provides shipment transparency in logistics thanks to asset utilization and management. This helps to ensure accurate delivery times and reduce losses.
• Enhanced decision-making. By collecting and analyzing data from the devices, businesses can gain instant visibility into operations, supply processes, and customer behaviors. This data can then be used to support strategic decisions and enhancing business efficiency.
• Increased revenue opportunities. Aside from giving businesses a competitive edge, IoT technology also enables various revenue streams, such as subscription-based functionality, data monetization, and pay-per-use models.
• Regulatory compliance and sustainability. By tracking compliance metrics in real time, IoT helps businesses to adhere to regulations. Along with that, businesses can use insights from IoT data to drive sustainability efforts and reduce carbon emissions.
• Higher workplace safety. IoT sensors monitor workplace conditions and can alert workers in case of an emergency. By enabling functionality like biometric access, IoT devices can protect employees from unauthorized access and cyber threats, too.
• Improved customer experience. Collected user data can be turned into personalized services or product recommendations, which improve user experience and boost retention rates.
• Cost savings and resource optimization. With the help of connected devices, businesses can reduce energy consumption, lower operational expenses, and manage their inventory according to demand and desired market position.

Examples of IoT-driven business value in various domains

Healthcare

• Remote patient monitoring. IoT-enabled wearable devices, such as smartwatches and health monitors, track vital signs (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure) and transmit data to healthcare providers via Iot applications, enabling proactive care and reducing hospital visits.
• Smart medical devices. IoT integrates with medical devices like insulin pumps or pacemakers, ensuring precise, real-time adjustments and facilitating remote diagnostics and maintenance.

Industrial (Industry 4.0)

• Predictive maintenance. IoT sensors monitor machinery conditions, detecting early signs of wear and tear. This reduces unplanned downtime and extends equipment lifespan, saving costs and improving productivity.
• Business process optimization. IoT solutions collect and analyze real-time data insights from manufacturing processes, identifying inefficiencies among the connected products and enabling faster, data-driven decision-making.

Automotive

• Connected vehicles. IoT enables features like vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) connectivity, improving traffic management, enhancing driver safety, and paving the way for autonomous vehicles.
• Telematics. IoT systems collect data on vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, and driver behavior, helping fleet managers optimize operations and reduce costs.

Supply chain

• Real-time asset tracking. IoT tags and sensors provide live updates on the location and condition of goods, ensuring transparency and minimizing losses during transportation.
• Warehouse automation. IoT-powered systems streamline inventory management, improving picking, packing, and storage order, ultimately enhancing fulfillment speeds.

Agriculture

• Smart irrigation systems. IoT sensors monitor soil moisture, weather conditions, and crop health, enabling precise water usage and reducing wastage.
• Livestock monitoring. The devices track the health, location, and behavior of animals, helping farmers ensure better care and boost productivity.

Smart homes and smart buildings

• Energy efficiency. IoT solutions like smart thermostats and lighting systems optimize power usage, reducing energy costs and environmental impact.
• Security and automation. IoT-enabled cameras, door locks, and alarms improve safety, while voice assistants and smart appliances enhance convenience and comfort.

The role of security in IoT solutions development

It’s a critical aspect of IoT software development due to the interconnected nature of required devices and their exposure to potential cyber threats. IoT solutions often deal with sensitive assets and operate in environments where breaches can have serious consequences, such as personal privacy violations, enterprise industrial sabotage, or even risks to public safety.

Reliability practices in the Internet of Things service development lifecycle

At Yalantis, we develop software solutions with security in mind at every development stage. Here are some of the practices we use:

• Requirement analysis and planning. Threat modeling helps to identify potential vulnerabilities and assess risks for devices, software, communication, and cloud data. Along with that, we perform compliance checks to ensure adherence to industry standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001) and IoT-specific enterprise quality frameworks like OWASP IoT Top Ten.
• Hardware design and selection intelligence. We deploy microcontrollers and sensors that support encryption, secure boot, and hardware reliability modules (HSMs). We also implement tamper resistance mechanisms embedded into design.
• Software design. We incorporate quality principles like least privilege, secure by design, and zero trust. We also use protocols for authentication, encryption, and proper device communication (e.g., TLS, DTLS).
• Software development. Yalantis specialists stick to proven coding practices, such as avoiding vulnerabilities like buffer overflows, SQL injection, and insecure APIs. We also validate the reliability of third-party libraries and SDKs used in development.
• Integration and testing. At the testing stage, our cybersecurity specialists simulate real-world attacks to uncover vulnerabilities in device firmware, APIs, and cloud components. We also test the safety of authentication mechanisms like certificates, tokens, or shared keys.
• Deployment. The deployment stage includes processes like Secure Device Provisioning, to ensure safe onboarding of required devices using secure protocols, and firmware encryption to prevent unauthorized updates or tampering.
• Operation and maintenance. In the post-deployment stage, we implement real-time observation for unusual activity, unauthorized access, or breaches. Also, we regularly release patches for vulnerabilities, rotate cryptographic keys, and keep firmware/software up to date.
• End of life. Should any service be shut down, we perform thorough data wiping to ensure all sensitive info is securely erased before decommissioning intelligence devices, and revoke access credentials, such as keys and certificates, from the system.

Our cost-eficient approach to IoT services

As an internet of things and services company with more than 15 years in developing IoT solutions, we managed to strike a perfect balance between feature-rich functionality and cost optimization scale. Here’s how we help to optimize resources:

• Reusing existing platforms and frameworks. We use proven quality open-source IoT stuff to build solutions instead of developing custom frameworks from scratch. We also don’t hesitate to utilize cloud IoT platforms like AWS IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT, or Google Cloud IoT, which offer scalable infrastructure and pre-built IoT services, reducing the need for extensive infrastructure investment.
• Implementing modular development approach. We design modular software and hardware components that can be deployed across multiple IoT projects, reducing development time and costs. Additionally, we build reusable APIs for data exchange and device communication to streamline integration processes.
• Optimizing hardware costs. By using operational technology innovation like digital twins and simulation tools, we can test hardware functionality virtually, reducing the need for physical prototypes.
• Working in iterations for integration and deployment. We use Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline to automate testing and deployment to identify and fix bugs early, reducing costly rework. By breaking development into smaller, manageable sprints, we allow for early identification of potential issues and faster pivots if necessary.
• Adopting low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN). We use cost-effective connectivity IoT technologies like LoRa, Sigfox, or NB-IoT for IoT applications that require low data rates and long battery life, reducing operational costs.
• Focusing on security from the start. We try to address safety concerns early in the development cycle to avoid expensive fixes or reputational damage later. By selecting components with built-in features (e.g., secure boot, encryption modules), we minimize the need for custom measures development.
• Using prototyping and MVP approaches. We focus on developing MVP that includes core functionalities to reduce upfront investment and validate the product in the market. Using world-recognized platforms like Raspberry Pi or Arduino for quick hardware prototypes helps us avoid expensive custom boards during the initial stages.
• Automating testing and tracking. With the use of automated testing frameworks for software and device testing, we can reduce manual effort and shorten testing cycles. Additionally, IoT device management platforms help us control and troubleshoot devices remotely, reducing the need for on-site maintenance.