The Internet of Things (IoT) has proven its commercial viability over the last decade, and numerous examples such as wearables, connected cars, and smart HVAC systems are now commonplace. However, the deployment of IoT devices goes beyond common-sense scenarios. Several industries, including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, are now leveraging the advantages of IoT devices to
The Internet of Things (IoT) has proven its commercial viability over the last decade, and numerous examples such as wearables, connected cars, and smart HVAC systems are now commonplace. However, the deployment of IoT devices goes beyond common-sense scenarios. Several industries, including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, are now leveraging the advantages of IoT devices to optimize operations and save money and time.
As the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) expands rapidly, so will the demand for services that span multiple IoT application domains to realize the efficiency gains promised by IoT technologies.
However, most IoT app developers today are looking to add value to existing IoT systems and, as a result, deal with heterogeneous systems and devices.
IoT networks are made up of several heterogeneous devices that are linked together and use a variety of protocols (standards-based or proprietary-based), communication techniques, and network connectivity options, all of which play an important role in the infrastructure.
What Is IoT Device Management?
The ability to monitor and control your deployed IoT devices is referred to as IoT device management. It entails remotely accessing an IoT device to diagnose its health and manage its functionality.
Your devices may or may not be physically accessible depending on the size and location of your network. To ensure adequate performance and security of your IoT network, you must regularly assess the capability of each of these devices.
Maintaining their performance levels is critical for ensuring their safe operation and compliance with regulations. IoT device management demonstrates the critical importance of using secure and high-quality tools to prevent problems and correct malfunctions.
Why do IoT Devices Matter?
IoT has been a popular topic for decades, and we still don’t know what it will look like in the future, but there have been many advancements.
One specific example is how appliances can be linked. When one runs out or requires maintenance, they all receive notifications from their respective networks informing them of the situation.
Though the Internet of Things has not yet reached the point of being globally applicable, it is steadily evolving. While the concept itself is not flawed, rapid growth and technological adaptation limit the impact this technology can have on our lives right now.
Innovations are required for them to succeed today and in the future, when things may change. When it comes to IoT device management, familiarization cannot be overstated.
A strong and consistent evolution in this area will be critical for bridging any gap between unrealistic growth expectations and reality when large-scale IoT projects fail.
Innovations will only make an impact if stakeholders are aware of the IoT applications and device management software that can benefit their company. It will assist in making informed decisions among the available software solutions.
IoT Device Management Challenges
- Device Activation
IoT device activation is critical to the operation of an enterprise’s or any of its customers’ IoT infrastructure. An internet connection and strong connectivity are required for the continuous flow of data as well as the coordination of programs and commands for successful automation and monitoring processes within the environment of IoT device deployment.
Over-the-Air Activation (OTAA) and, in rare cases, Activation by Personalization are used to activate devices (ABP). OTAA devices perform a network join procedure in which a dynamic EUI address is assigned and security keys are negotiated with the device. This minor step establishes automatic activation that does not require any kind of manual interface. This process is hampered in remote areas due to poor internet connectivity and powercuts which has no backup.
- Placement Of IoT Device
Another issue that persists in IoT device deployment is the choice of IoT device type and placement location for real-time data collection. The IoT market is expanding, as are the types of hardware devices (outdoor, indoor, waterproof, and so on) and their features, which necessitate careful consideration.
Though sensors and gateways are available in various networking facilities with emerging technology such as LoRa, an enterprise’s requirements are frequently not evaluated with the choice of hardware before deployment, resulting in a dead investment in IoT technology. Another issue is that the location or location for deployment is not the desired factor that impedes IoT functioning. Some devices are designed for outdoor use, while others are designed for indoor use; choose wisely.
- Device Battery Life Management
Another issue within the scope of IoT technology is battery life capacity. One of the major concerns that customers who want to invest in IoT have is the battery life of an IoT device. Investing in networks that use more battery power and have a shorter battery life will cost customers twice as much and may hurt monitoring standards within the company.
Battery life management is critical for maintaining continuous real-time updates. IoT investors must optimize battery life by selecting the appropriate network and device type for their business. As a result, battery life management is dependent on the network and device that customers choose. For example, a wireless network device such as 3G/4G or Wi-Fi consumes more power.
- Firmware Update
Firmware is software that is embedded in a hardware device and is critical to the continuous operation of IoT technology within a given environment. In other words, because the firmware is a code that runs on hardware and is critical to the hardware’s operation, it is required in IoT to enable automation and predictive maintenance as it works to fix bugs, and unauthorized data, strengthen encryption, update features, and so on. When it comes to IoT technology, firmware updates become difficult when the over-the-air (OTA) method is unavailable. As a result, it is critical to find IoT technology that offers OTA firmware updates for continuous real-time data updates.
- Monitoring Device Health
The device/sensor that provides real-time data as well as automation and predictive maintenance for accuracy in management, monitoring, and business intelligence at all times is the most important aspect of implementing IoT technology. Because the device remains at the heart of IoT technology, it is critical to understand the status and health of your deployed device to ensure its continued operation. The problem arises when such features as revealing device health are ignored when using IoT technology. Choose IoT infrastructure that reveals all information, even the most trivial, to ensure transparency in your company’s operations.
Solutions
The good news is that there is a solution to all of the problems mentioned above. What are you thinking? Fogging is an IoT solution that offers end-to-end user-friendly and automation-oriented services. Fogwing is a platform that has been meticulously engineered through research, trial and error, testing, and re-modeling, among other things. It is a professional outcome created by IoT experts for the IoT community.
Final Thoughts
Devices are the most important component of an IoT system, and their management determines how well your entire IoT network functions. You can write your device management software or use an off-the-shelf platform that allows you to integrate multiple devices into a single system and integrate services that you already use.
When selecting a platform, consider compatibility, security, documentation quality, customer support, and automation functionality. A good IoT system management platform will allow you to remotely control and manage your devices, as well as deploy OTA updates to all devices at once.
