The main challenges of IoT deployment are often summarized in publications with the term "5C's of IoT" and include:
To this would also have to be added two aspects that can also be a heavy burden for IoT solution providers:
This article addresses the problems associated with deploying and managing a fleet of devices, i.e. points 3,6,7.
Deploying IoT solutions, even with only a dozen devices, can be cumbersome. Especially when it comes to managing the configuration of devices, monitoring their performance and providing consistent data in real time. Each of these aspects is critical to keeping operations running smoothly and minimizing the risk of system failure.
Device registration and configuration on an IoT platform can be time-consuming. It is especially evident with a large number of devices. Each device requires setting communication, network and security parameters, and repeating the same steps multiple times not only takes time, but also increases the risk of errors.
Managing a fleet of running IoT devices also means monitoring their status and the quality of the data provided on an ongoing basis. You can expect problems related to, for example, lack of power (depleted batteries), lost network connection or damaged device sensors. Detecting such failures and repairing them as soon as possible is crucial, and often business-critical.
The next sections discuss how to deal with deployment and management problems, which Signomix offers.
Signomix provides API methods to register multiple devices to the platform by copying the definition of a device registered earlier.
This can automate the registration of a set of devices by preparing data in CSV format - specifying only the parameters by which successive devices differ (e.g., device ID or name).
The concept of an application defined on the platform is based on basic assumptions:
The application is formed by a set of defined parameters and JavaScript codes, which are applied according to the following rules:
Data received by the platform's API is analyzed for compliance with defined rules.
The correspondingly defined rules are applied for detection:
Both rule violations and return to normal values are signaled to administrators via selected communication channels (e.g., e-mail, SMS).
If an expected measurement interval is declared in the device's configuration, the platform can report instances of missing data transmission from that device and signal this to administrators.
Regardless of defining rules and notifications, the administrator can define a dashboard in the Signomix webapp that shows the operational parameters of all or selected devices. This is a convenient way to see the current status of the entire system.
Deploying large IoT systems presents challenges in terms of configuration management, performance monitoring, power management and data analysis. The Signomix platform addresses these challenges by offering:
Signomix is a comprehensive tool that supports administrators and developers in the efficient management of even complex IoT deployments, while minimizing the workload and risk of errors.