The “Reason Why” for your IoT projects
At Vodafone Hall B5, Vodafone as well as selected partners and subsidiaries such as grandcentrix held an intensive technical dialogue between customers, partners and IoT-ambitious companies on May 17-18, 2022. This year’s OMR Festival once again managed to attract the international superstars as well as hidden champions and local heroes of the digital scene to the Hamburg exhibition halls. Thus, the Hanseatic city found the ideal audience for our Masterclass that we held with our partner Mutabor. A colorful mix and with a common interest: product networking in the Internet of Things.
When approaching future IoT projects, many companies basically think in terms of so-called proof of concepts. The focus is always on technical feasibility. We want to break down this mindset with the Masterclass, because digital transformation requires a broader horizon. Our clear recommendation: In the run-up, the “Proof of Value” should first be the focus. What benefit do I want to create? In doing so, it makes sense if the idea is shared by many people in the company. From management to the product teams - together, the business model can be examined in detail and an implementation plan systematically developed.
Implement IoT projects holistically with the IoT Business Model
Users, technology, data, functions, revenue potential - five factors need to be taken into account in advance in order to assess the described proof of value. For this purpose, grandcentrix and Mutabor developed a special IoT Business Model Canvas, which was used to guide the approximately 120 visitors through the theoretical realization of IoT projects. We have summarized the core aspects of the individual blocks in the IoT Business Model for you below.
First, define the target group!
Climate, corona, empowerment, digitalization - the topics of our time are often also the reasons for IoT projects. Ultimately, this always involves cooperation between people and machines. The latter can be programmed according to their task, but the needs of the users must be taken into account as early as possible for later success. For identifying target groups, we have formulated three key questions:
- Who are the users and what are their needs?
- What technological possibilities do we have - with physical and digital technology?
- What data is there that we could or should work with?
Only those who understand real needs can practically implement meaningful IoT projects based on their target group. The existing technology is thus then the next aspect to analyze.
Check technological prerequisites!
At its core, the Internet of Things (IoT) always describes the connectivity of the physical world and the digital world. Thus, IoT projects are usually composed of three technical building blocks. On the one hand, we have the implementing IoT device. Here, the considerations should already begin within product engineering. On the other hand, there is a “digital counterpart” to which the devices must connect. What is meant here is an IoT and device management platform, where configuration files and software updates (e.g. as FOTA) as well as various other adjustments are played out.
A connectivity layer is required between the physical product and the digital remote station. In addition to the classic connection types such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or even still wired, mobile radio has become an affordable alternative. grandcentrix works primarily with two mobile radio technologies that have already been rolled out on the global markets. Narrowband-IoT and LTE-M are still quite unknown to the masses, but can be operated for very low costs - for example 0.01 € per day. Whether as a single connectivity standard or in combination - the selection is always based on your specific use case and the existing technology and data landscape.
Identify the relevant data!
An often used metaphor is: “Data is the new oil.” The elementary raw material of digitization can be extracted practically every day. IoT devices, which can be equipped with a variety of sensors, represent a new source here. But a central question in IoT projects is: What do I actually do with the data that results from the connected devices?
To answer this, you should basically consider the following aspects:
- What types and sources of data do you have access to, even besides the actual IoT data?
- What is the quality of the data?
- What insights can be gained?
- What might simple use cases look like to get started?
- What is the long-term strategy and objective for the IoT project?
A large amount of relevant data for IoT projects also accumulates directly within the company. From controlling to project management, new information directly related to the workflow is generated in every department every day. A tip for dealing with “Big Data”: Think small! Especially at the start, projects should be advised that enable simple and well thought-out use cases.
Define efficient features!
Holistic research and good preparation are half the battle when it comes to operational implementation of IoT projects. After the experts from the various departments have dived deep into the digital opportunities of their subject matter, the threads come together in the IoT business model. Subsequently, a design sprint is recommended - as a cross-departmental task force to be able to reliably derive the first findings. This revolves around the following questions:
- Which ideas are really relevant?
- What pays directly to the needs of the target group?
- What can be realized at all in terms of budget?
- Which things can be put in the background?
- What already exists on the market?
- For what is a prototype worthwhile?
Make it ready for the market!
Finally, at the end of the line is the digital further development of the business model. This can be realized or converted into sales in various forms - for example, as an additional service derived from information asymmetries. The actual product becomes the data collection and at the same time the sales platform for the services. In this way, companies can also succeed in penetrating an unfamiliar market with their haptic products and enter into new competition with, for example, classic service providers.
IoT projects in cooperation with grandcentrix
grandcentrix stands for the development of IoT projects with series maturity. For this we have built up a broad expertise over the last decades and think IoT along the entire value chain. In the one-hour masterclass, we succeeded in illustrating this very complex overall process with tangible examples. From the smart city to the connected cordless screwdriver - the entire span of IoT projects can be conveniently accessed on demand.
