Successful products are designed to meet a need. While this is still true, products no longer only serve one function or solve one problem. Mobile phones were designed to make calls from anywhere, but now they also function as cameras, calculators, and calendars. First-of-their-kind, or legacy, products still serve a valuable purpose for consumers, but products connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, and more are the future of the market.
Benefits of Adding IoT to a Product
Integrating IoT into your product has a range of benefits, both for you and the consumer. IoT products have enhanced functionality and features compared to legacy products. Businesses can also collect data and manage their devices more efficiently.
Adding IoT to a device significantly enhances its scalability. Future generations of the product can be easily adapted to meet evolving demands in software, user experience (UX), app updates, and more. Upgrading a feature can be as simple as changing a single component on a PCB. Software updates can upgrade connected products remotely, saving customers the hassle and expense of frequently purchasing new products. UX improves when products include IoT. With a wide range of features, users have a more personalized and engaging experience with IoT products.
Products with IoT connectivity often see an increase in revenue due to their enhanced features and the creation of new revenue streams, such as subscription services. The ability to offer ongoing updates and improvements keeps customers engaged and satisfied, leading to higher customer retention and long-term profitability.
Should You Add IoT to an Existing Product
As discussed, adding IoT to a legacy product can have various benefits. However, when redesigning a product, it is essential to remember the foundation of product design—meeting a need. Adding connectivity to stay on trend without considering what would enhance UX is a recipe for failure. Taking the time to redesign a product, investing in components, and opening your brand up to a larger market is costly. Add IoT features to your product for the right reasons.
Upgrading a Product: How to Add IoT
Once you have identified the features you want to add to a product, designs must be updated. Electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, industrial designers, embedded firmware engineers, and manufacturing engineers all play a role in IoT product development. Consult with a design firm if your company lacks the design and engineering experience required for an IoT product upgrade.
Designing for an Existing Customer Base
When making significant changes to a product, such as adding IoT, it is critical that the final design released on the market still has the features and capabilities that produced a dedicated customer base. IoT enhances UX, but only if it adds a real benefit and functions as well as the legacy product. Working with an established product design company with IoT expertise is the best way to ensure success through more efficient time-to-market, consumer adaptability, and lower costs.
Building a Prototype
Now that you’ve decided what features your next-gen product will have, it’s time to build a prototype that combines the old product’s functionality with the new product’s features. Often, this involves building a board designed to fit into your legacy product and then testing the board’s functionality and features.
During the design and prototyping process, you must choose which type of signal your product will connect to based on its function.
- Wi-Fi:Ideal for many devices, Wi-Fi is most used in indoor settings, such as homes, offices, and schools.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth has a shorter range than Wi-Fi but also uses less power. As it is not limited by a router’s range, Bluetooth is a popular choice for wearable and portable devices.
- NFC: Near-field communication enables communication between two devices in close contact, such as tap-to-pay credit cards or key fobs to enter buildings. RFID uses similar technology but has a slightly longer range.
- LoRa: A low-power, wide-area network, LoRa (which gets its name from “long range”) can connect devices across a large area. It is commonly used to collect operational data across farms and cities.
Many IoT devices have a corresponding app that allows customers to interact with the product, customize settings, or upgrade their devices. When developing an app, it’s crucial to decide whether it will be a native app, tailored specifically for a particular operating system, or a cross-platform app that works on multiple devices. Additionally, you need to determine the key functionalities the app should provide, including capabilities for upgrades, seamless connectivity, and intuitive UX.
Consider the environment your product will be in. If your legacy product was used outdoors, your updated IoT device should also be able to withstand harsh environments. Ensure that the new device is durable, weather-resistant, and capable of operating effectively in the same challenging environments as its predecessor.
After successfully building and testing prototype units, assess whether a complete product redesign is necessary. If this is the case, the packaging should also be redesigned to reflect the new version of the product. An updated packaging design can enhance the unboxing experience, further reinforcing the value and innovation of the new IoT-enabled product.
A Successful Next-Gen Device
Releasing a next-gen device with IoT capabilities gives a competitive advantage over competitors’ legacy products. Upgrading your product with IoT capabilities can offer consumers enhanced user experiences through real-time data access, remote control, and integration with other smart devices. This added value can differentiate your product from competitors, making it more desirable to tech-savvy consumers seeking advanced features and convenience.
Furthermore, incorporating IoT can open up new revenue streams, such as subscription services, maintenance packages, and premium features accessed through an app. This boosts your profitability and creates ongoing relationships with your customers, fostering brand loyalty and repeat business. If done correctly, adding connectivity to your legacy product is a formula for success.
Pivot International has over 50 years of experience in the design and manufacturing industry. Our global, multi-disciplined engineering team is experienced at working with partners to upgrade their existing products using our expertise in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software design, firmware design, and DFM. Contact us to discuss how we can bring your legacy product into the next generation.
