IoT Network Design: 3 Best Practices for Businesses

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In today's digital age, interconnectivity is no longer just a passing tech trend.

Statista said Internet-of-Things (IoT) connected devices worldwide reached approximately 11.28 billion in 2021. Statista also says this number will increase to over 29 billion by 2030.

Furthermore, they expect the global IoT market size to reach $1.387 trillion by 2024. Industries that use IoT include healthcare, hospitality, financial services, and manufacturing, to name a few.

If you want to integrate IoT into your business, there's no better time than now. However, to integrate IoT into your business correctly is another matter entirely. Don't worry because we can help you.

In this guide, we'll discuss the three best practices for IoT network design to help your business create a secure and reliable IoT network.

1. Determine Your IoT Requirements

The first step in your IoT project is identifying your IoT requirements. What are you going to use IoT for? What benefits do you want to receive from IoT?

All businesses have specific use cases for their IoT networks, and determining yours will help you identify your unique requirements.

For example, IoT networks in the hospitality industry can help provide more seamless and positive guest experiences. Hotels can add IoT-enabled devices to rooms that allow guests to change the room's temperature, turn the TV on or off, and adjust the lighting from a single IoT-enabled control hub.

Determining your IoT requirements will depend on your industry, budget, and business size. However, here are some questions you can ask to make the process easier.

• What problem (or problems) do you want to solve?

• Do you want to use IoT to improve your customers' experience?

• Do you want to integrate IoT to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs?

• What type of connectivity do you need (more on this later)?

• How much do you want to spend on your IoT network?

• Do you want to scale your IoT network?

2. Choose Your IoT Devices

Once again, choosing the proper IoT devices will depend on your specific use case and industry

Types of IoT devices

There are many types of IoT devices catering to specific needs and industries. Here are some examples.

• Security devices

These IoT devices include inter-connected sensors, alarms, and cameras that can provide 24/7 security to customers and guests (e.g., the security devices in and near guests' hotel rooms).

• Activity monitors

The healthcare industry uses inter-connected activity monitoring devices to track patients' vitals, including their heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels 24/7

• Smart logistics devices

The manufacturing and logistics industries use IoT devices to streamline various logistical processes. 

These businesses use smart shipment tracking devices that track shipment locations in real-time, automated inventory management solutions that can determine inventory levels at any time, and even interconnected fleet monitoring systems that provide the real-time locations of all vehicles.

Besides understanding your industry and the devices that are most beneficial to your business, here are some factors to consider when choosing your IoT Devices:

• The type of data you need to collect

• The IoT network's data-collection frequency

• The device's data collection accuracy

• In-device vs. cloud storage

• The types of networks available

• Device specifics, including size, weight, battery life, and more

• The cost of the devices

It would be best to discuss your needs with solutions experts. The good news about building IoT networks today is finding reliable IoT service providers is easy. You can find providers in your area by googling something like "IoT service providers + [your business's ZIP code]."

3. Use a Reliable Network

A robust, reliable internet connection is vital to an effective, problem-free IoT network.

Here are some reasons why you need a solid internet connection.

• Internet speed and latency impact your IoT network's performance.

Latency is the time it takes for a network to transfer data from one node to another. 

Interconnected IoT devices communicate by transmitting data from one another to perform specific tasks. The higher their network's latency, the slower these devices exchange data, reducing their effectiveness.

You need a fast, stable, and low-latency internet connection to reduce the time your devices need to communicate with one another and maximize your IoT network's performance.

• IoT network data collection relies on fast internet speeds.

Your IoT devices generate tremendous amounts of data at any given time.

A fast internet connection with minimal latency ensures your business can collect and analyze this data in real-time, providing the insight you need to optimize your processes and perform system maintenance whenever necessary.

• IoT devices need a fast connection for real-time tracking.

Your IoT network will need a fast and steady internet connection to monitor things in real-time.

For example, consider a hotel with an interconnected 24/7 security system that includes cameras, motion sensors, alarms, and more.

The hotel's security system needs a stable round-the-clock internet connection to function correctly and keep guests safe. If the hotel's internet is unreliable, the security system might not detect threats or suspicious activity—like an intruder trying to break into a room—in real-time and alert the hotel and its guests. At best, this situation can provide a bad customer experience. At worst, it can cause severe and actionable safety issues.

You'll likely spend a significant amount on your IoT devices, so you might as well maximize them using a blazing-fast internet connection. 

There are many reliable internet service providers today, so finding one that suits your needs and budget should be relatively easy. However, make sure you choose the one with the best unlimited mobile hotspot plans so that you can monitor your IoT network's performance and perform maintenance from your smartphone or laptop no matter where you are in the world.

Plan Your IoT Network Today

A well-implemented IoT network can help your business solve multiple problems, increase operational efficiency, and enhance your customers' experiences. However, building an effective IoT network requires a lot of planning, so don't rush it. While plan specifics will vary by industry, ensure you follow the best practices mentioned in this guide, and you can't go wrong.