Building Custom IoT Software vs. Low-Code Solutions: Key takeaways from Blynk at The Things Conference

The landscape of Internet of Things (IoT) development is rapidly evolving, and businesses face a crucial decision: should they build custom IoT software in-house or leverage low-code platforms? In her recent keynote at The Things Conference, Iryna Liashchuk, President of Blynk, explored this ongoing dilemma, providing valuable insights into the pros and cons of both approaches.

The Build vs. Buy Dilemma

Iryna opened her session by addressing two critical questions that businesses must consider when deciding between building or buying IoT solutions:

1. Can you afford to delay your IoT solution's launch?
   • Launch delays can allow competitors to gain traction and capture market share.
2. Is your in-house solution truly generating the ROI you anticipated?
   • Many companies discover that their custom-built solutions become resource drains rather than effective ROI generators.

A Case Study: The Construction Industry

To illustrate the challenges companies face, Iryna shared the story of a large U.S. construction firm that began its IoT journey in 2019. Despite having the resources to build an in-house solution for monitoring air quality, noise levels, and leak detection, the company found itself stuck in the proof of concept (POC) stage years later. With only 5% of their sites equipped with the necessary sensors, they struggled with manual processes and unscalable solutions. This led them to reevaluate their approach and consider adopting a low-code platform.

Weighing the Options: Build vs. Buy

Iryna emphasized the importance of understanding the trade-offs between building custom solutions and adopting low-code platforms:

• Building In-House:
  • Pros: Greater control over architecture, source code, and security.
  • Cons: Potentially long time to market, high development costs, ongoing maintenance, and resource allocation issues.
• Using Low-Code Platforms:
  • Pros: Faster time to market, reduced development and maintenance costs, and immediate access to a proven solution.
  • Cons: Reliance on a third-party vendor, which can lead to concerns about data ownership and vendor stability.

Prioritizing User Experience

Iryna highlighted a critical yet often overlooked factor: user experience (UX). Regardless of the investment made in IoT solutions, if user adoption is low, the overall investment is at risk. Key considerations for a successful UX include:

• Installation Process: Is it intuitive and quick?
• Dashboard Usability: Is the data easy to access and interpret?
• Role Flexibility: Can different users access the necessary data based on their roles?

These elements can significantly impact the long-term success of an IoT solution.

Conclusion: How to move forward

Iryna concluded by emphasizing the importance of investing in a platform that prioritizes user experience. Platforms like Blynk offer comprehensive, low-code solutions that not only simplify IoT implementation but also ensure a seamless user experience. By leveraging established platforms, businesses can focus on innovation and ROI rather than getting bogged down in the complexities of custom development.

Key Takeaways

• When considering IoT development, weigh the pros and cons of building in-house versus leveraging low-code platforms.
• User experience is crucial for successful IoT adoption and higher chances of ROI.
• Investing in a robust, low-code platform can help businesses streamline their IoT initiatives, reduce time to market, and enhance user satisfaction.

Check out the full keynote!
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