This partnership started with the Notecarrier R, a product built to make it easy to integrate Notecard into an Arduino Portenta or MKR board solution.  

 But we didn’t stop there.  

 Today, we launched the Wireless for PLC,  a powerful expansion that brings the Notecard’s plug-and-play wireless connectivity to the Opta PLC ecosystem.  

 Before we get into why we engineered the Wireless for PLC and why it’s set to revolutionize industrial automation…  

 We invite you to learn more about our partnership while exploring Wireless for PLC by joining Blues and Arduino for a fireside chat on Wednesday, June 12, at 1pm ET. Register Now 

 Now, let’s explore Wireless for PLC. 

Solving the IT to OT Disconnect with Wireless Connectivity 

Together, Blues and Arduino set out to solve a critical challenge stifling the progression of industrial intelligence, building automation, and more — The disconnect between operational technology (OT) teams and information technology (IT) teams that all too often blocks brilliant OT applications from reaching production. 

 While these two departments often work harmoniously due to differing priorities and responsibilities, they usually find themselves in juxtaposed positions.  

 IT departments are tasked with managing, maintaining, and, above all, safeguarding enterprises’ technological infrastructure and systems. The success of these departments is measured by system uptime, SLA compliance, response time to threats, the overall number of security incidents, and more.  

 Contrast this with OTs primary responsibilities, and the disconnect is abundantly clear — OT is primarily focused on enhanced industrial efficiency, process optimization, and control system management — all of which often require connectivity and systems that fall under the purview of IT. 

 These competing priorities often stifle OT’s ability to innovate as they need to navigate intensive IT compliance and approval processes. 

 So, what’s the solution? How do we unlock OT innovation while satisfying IT’s requirements?  

 The answer is wireless connectivity over public networks like cellular or LoRa, and with the launch of the Wireless for PLC, that’s precisely what we’ve done.  

From Lotus Notes to Blues: Empowering Teams Through Connectivity 

In the early days of productivity software, products like Lotus Notes, Microsoft Access, and FrontPage sparked a revolution by offering teams and organizations methods of communication without having to rely on their own internal IT department. They had the freedom to set up their own technology and databases internally without waiting for IT to do it. This empowerment allowed marketing, operations, and product teams to take control of their systems and push progress at a rapid pace. 

Lotus Notes, created by Ray Ozzie, Founder & CEO of Blues, empowered teams to collaborate and innovate without the constraints of traditional IT departments. Notes combined email, calendaring, document sharing, and custom application development as an integrated platform, allowing teams to centralize their communication and streamline their business processes. This all-in-one approach eliminated the need for disparate platforms and reduced reliance on IT for essential productivity tools. 

Today, Blues and Arduino are leading a similar revolution, but rather than empowering human-to-human connections, wireless is empowering permissionless machine-to-machine cloud connectivity. 

Local networks like Bluetooth, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi are the domain of IT departments, prioritizing security and reliability above all else. These networks are critical infrastructure, connecting devices and systems within an organization and enabling data flow between them. However, this centralized control often comes at the cost of agility and the progress necessary to remain relevant and competitive. 

 If the revolution in productivity software taught us anything, emboldening teams to innovate on their own terms can lead to breakthroughs that transform entire industries. As wireless connectivity ushers in a new era of machine-to-cloud communication, OT can regain ownership of their technology and push their IIoT projects forward.   

Cellular Connectivity: The Key to OT Autonomy and Agility 

By leveraging wireless technologies like cellular, OT teams can deploy cloud-connected PLCs like the Arduino Opta without relying heavily on IT-controlled local networks like ethernet or Wi-Fi for their connectivity.  

Armed with secure wireless connectivity, OT teams can rapidly bring PLCs and sensors online to demonstrate the value of their IIoT use cases without requiring IT involvement. This newfound autonomy gives them the ability to quickly implement Proofs-of-Concept (PoCs) and pilots, allowing them to iterate, refine, and optimize their IIoT solutions before scaling them enterprise-wide. 

Moreover, wireless connectivity extends the reach of IIoT to hard-to-wire environments, such as remote sites, moving equipment, and temporary installations. OT teams can deploy wireless solutions independently in these scenarios, enabling them to collect more valuable data and further optimize operations in previously inaccessible areas. 

However, enabling IIoT connectivity over networks like cellular is hardly trivial; in fact, such technologies are known for being incredibly complex and requiring years of R&D — that is, until the Wireless for PLC. 

Introducing the Wireless for PLC  

To restore autonomy to industrial OT and product teams, Blues and Arduino, a household name in the maker and professional community, joined forces to create the Wireless for PLC. This powerful expansion brings Notecard’s turnkey, pre-provisioned, and encrypted connectivity to the Arduino Opta micro-PLC. 

 The Arduino Opta micro-PLC brought the easy-to-use, intuitive programming experience Arduino is known for to the PLC market.  

Now, with the Wireless for PLC, we’re taking it a few steps further by offering Opta developers a seamless, compatible route to integrate Notecard’s plug-and-play wireless capabilities with the Arduino Opta micro-PLC.  

 The Wireless for PLC is offered in the Cell+WiFi configuration. With pre-provisioned connectivity and a simple, low-code JSON interface, the Wireless for PLC reduces development time from years to months while bypassing the need to rely on local networks and gain IT’s approval.  

The result? 

OT teams can now focus on developing powerful applications and driving operational efficiency rather than grappling with complex network configurations, security protocols, and bureaucracy. 

In addition to turnkey connectivity, the Wireless for PLC prioritizes security, featuring industry-leading encryption and authentication through an integrated secure element ensuring data security between PLC and cloud while giving both OT and IT teams peace of mind. 

Furthermore, the module’s onboard backup power supply enables power outage detection alerts, giving OT teams an out-of-the-box way to detect and address downtime rapidly.  

 With the launch of the Wireless for PLC, we’ve brought the world of PLCs into a new hassle-free era of cloud connectivity. 

Take the Next Step Toward Cloud-Connected Industrial Automation 

Now, with the easy and flexible Opta PLC Combined with Wireless for PLC’s streamlined device-to-cloud wireless connectivity, OT teams have a direct path to intelligent PLC systems. 

 If you’d like to be among the first to build with the Wireless for PLC, join our waitlist today. 

 Want to learn more about Blues and Arduino’s partnership while discovering what’s possible with the Wireless for PLC? Join us for a fireside chat. 

The post Blues: Fueling IIoT Innovation with the Micro-PLC and Wireless Connectivity appeared first on Blues.

To fill these gaps in coverage, developers have increasingly relied on satellite technology, which offers persistent global connectivity. Over time, the cost to launch and maintain a satellite has decreased tremendously, driving a rapid increase in the number of satellites and constellations while putting downward pressure on data costs. This dynamic will only accelerate over time and continue to unlock new previously cost-prohibitive use cases and applications.

In this piece, we’ll examine the current state of the Satellite IoT, explore the obstacles standing in the way of widespread satellite IoT adoption, and explain how Starnote for Skylo’s developer-centric design overcomes these obstacles.

So, strap in and prepare for a journey into the final frontier.

Connecting the Constellations: Understanding the Current State of Satellite Technology

The satellite market is experiencing transformative growth characterized by rapid expansion and technological advancement. According to a recent forecast by ABI Research in early 2023, the revenue from satellite IoT connections is expected to increase from $2.3 billion in 2022 to $9.5 billion by 2030. This equates to a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.6%, highlighting the growing demand and potential of satellite connectivity in various industries and applications.

The sheer number of satellites is also exponentially rising. As of late 2023, approximately 6,000 satellites orbit Earth, with around half in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Projections indicate a major upswing, with estimates ranging from 20,000 to 58,000 satellites by 2030. The approval of 5G  connectivity over non-terrestrial networks (NTN) by 3GPP in 2022 heralds a new era where satellites function akin to “cell towers in space,” enhancing connectivity for various applications.

The satellite market is on the brink of a significant transformation, bolstered by the advent of direct-to-cell services, exemplified by initiatives like Starlink. These services bypass traditional terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure by providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet directly to end-user devices through compact user terminals. This allows them to offer high-speed satellite connectivity.

While direct-to-cell services hold promise, their impact on IoT remains uncertain. We need more clarity on the overall business model and data fee structure to assess whether or not it is a viable connectivity solution for IoT.

This always-on global connectivity will unlock innovations we cannot yet imagine. More data from aggregated and analyzed sources in the cloud will lead to greater intelligence and more robust modeling and predictions. Companies can finely tune complex systems based on telemetry from components anywhere in the world. Autonomous vehicles across settings from agriculture to transportation will benefit from centimeter-level positioning and instantaneous communication. Mesh networks with intelligent routing will extend far beyond where terrestrial infrastructure reaches today. Emergency response and regional healthcare solutions will save more lives when enabled by satellite IoT systems.

The horizon of satellite IoT is ripe with opportunity, particularly in sectors where remote monitoring and data collection over large or difficult-to-access areas can enable new services and efficiencies. The implications are significant: satellite operators and IoT platform providers are scaling their services, putting downward pressure on data costs while simultaneously improving throughput and accessibility and unlocking new applications.

Monumental Satellite IoT Innovations    

Now that we’ve covered the satellite IoT sector as a whole, let’s briefly look at a few incredibly innovative companies whose solutions are paving the way for the next generation of globally connected products:

• Swarm’s Low-Cost Global Connectivity: Swarm introduced the world’s most affordable satellite connectivity for IoT devices, utilizing ultra-compact “grilled-cheese-sized” satellites. This innovation of uniquely small satellites offered connectivity at a fraction of the cost of existing satellite solutions, unlocking new possibilities that were previously financially unviable. In 2021, SpaceX acquired Swarm.
• RockBLOCK’s Versatile Satellite Communication: RockBLOCK offers robust satellite IoT connectivity through the Iridium network. Its compact, low-power design supports global operation, facilitating seamless data transmission from remote locations, which is crucial for developers seeking to integrate satellite communication into diverse applications.
• Lacuna Space’s Revolution in Connectivity: Lacuna has combined ultra-low cost tracking with global, no-blank spot satellite connectivity with seamless integration with terrestrial LoRaWAN networks into a solution capable of operating on battery power for up to 5 years. Ideal for solutions sending low amounts of data, Lacuna has become a leader in asset tracking, smart agriculture, logistics, and more.
• Skylo Enables Seamless Dual Connectivity: Skylo’s technology is built on top of the latest cellular industry standards (3GPP NTN), removing the need for separate satellite modems or antennas, and making satellite connectivity affordable and accessible for all.

Roadblocks to Satellite IoT Adoption

Despite all this innovation and the falling price of satellite data, significant challenges to widespread Satellite IoT adoption remain. Here are some of the most pressing issues connected product developers are facing when looking to add satellite connectivity to their solutions:

• The Politics of Space: One of the most impactful yet challenging obstacles is the politics of connectivity. Achieving global connectivity requires a satellite network provider to work with every country and various international bodies to gain approval to operate within their borders. This is a painstaking process that often leads to patchwork coverage.
• Exorbitant Module Cost: Existing satellite modules are expensive, often costing upwards of $200, driving developers to either forego or downscale deployments.
• High Data Cost: While the cost of satellite data has declined, it is still incredibly high when compared to other RATs. This high-cost forces developers to perform time-consuming byte optimization, leading to a lower data sampling frequency and reduced data payload.
• Active Device Fees: Many major satellite network providers charge a monthly fee per active device, causing service costs to be opaque and unpredictable.
• Integration challenges: The developer experience for satellite solutions is incredibly complex and, for many, inaccessible. The issue is compounded by the fact that few use cases rely solely on satellite connectivity, meaning developers must develop solutions leveraging multiple RATs, manage the complexity of multiple modules with their own distinct firmware requirements, and incur duplicative module costs.

These challenges highlight the need for innovative solutions that offer enterprises cost-effective, transparent, and developer-friendly options.

Industries Primed for Satellite IoT Transformation

Satellite IoT can be used in an almost limitless number of ways, but several industries and use cases will see tremendous benefits by integrating backup satellite connectivity into their devices:

• Marine telematics: Satellite innovations revolutionize marine operations by delivering cost-effective, high-frequency connectivity in near-shore areas and ensuring seamless coverage across open seas. These cutting-edge technologies empower comprehensive resource tracking, facilitate oceanic data collection, and enhance maritime management, thereby driving substantial advancements in logistics efficiency and safety standards.
• Smart agriculture: Satellite connectivity empowers farmers to make informed, data-driven decisions, even in regions with unreliable cellular coverage. Using satellite connectivity, agricultural operations can efficiently optimize crop production, minimize resource consumption, and remotely monitor environmental conditions. This innovative approach enhances yields and promotes sustainability in farming practices.
• Oil and gas: Persistent global connectivity is paramount for offshore rigs and remote wells in the oil and gas sector. Satellite connectivity enables precise asset tracking, real-time predictive maintenance insights, and emergency alerts, bolstering operational efficiency and safety.
• Mining: Maintaining connectivity is essential in isolated mining and construction sites. Satellite connectivity enables global resource monitoring and seamless integration of location data from various sources, ensuring efficient management and safety of heavy equipment.
• Transportation: In the transportation sector, satellite back-up connectivity is essential for tracking vehicles and containers, as well as monitoring the temperature of goods along shipping routes.

With Starnote for Skylo, the ‘Sky’s Just the Beginning

As satellite IoT technology becomes more affordable and accessible, the opportunities for global connectivity are expanding rapidly. However, significant challenges such as political hurdles, high module and data costs, and integration complexities remain to be addressed.

At Blues, we’re meeting these challenges head-on through the launch of Starnote for Skylo, our solution for adding backup satellite connectivity to your Notecard-based product.

Here’s what makes Starnote for Skylo different from other satellite IoT modules:

• Affordable Hardware with Bundled Data: At just $49 with 18kb of bundled data, Starnote is a cost-effective way to add backup satellite connectivity to your Notecard-based solution.
• Native Failover Capability: Deployed in partnership with any Notecard, Starnote offers effortless backup failover satellite connectivity.
• Zero Monthly Active Device Fees: One of the only satellite IoT offerings without a monthly active device fee.
• Fast-Tracked Time to Market: Pre-provisioned satellite connectivity, effortless data routing, low code technology, a straightforward JSON API, and the same unmatched Notecard developer experience reduce your time to market from years to months.

If you’ve been searching for an affordable yet exceptionally capable backup satellite connectivity solution paired with an unmatched developer experience, then your search ends here.

The post Satellite IoT: The Final Frontier of Wireless Connectivity appeared first on Blues.

Today, a divergent approach to connected product development has mired the IoT industry. This divergent approach has led to a cumbersome product development experience where the choice of radio access technology (RAT) has to be made upfront, cloud orchestration platforms are only aligned around a single RAT, and hardware device designs are highly differentiated amongst RATs. 

Blues set out to clear the divergent obstacle stifling IoT innovation through an innovative approach called wireless harmonization.  

So, what is wireless harmonization? Here’s how we define it: 

Wireless harmonization is an architectural approach that abstracts the complexity of connected product development by allowing developers to seamlessly transition between connectivity technologies at any point in the product lifecycle, whether prototype or deployment, based on the wireless connectivity available at the point of deployment.  

To put it another way, through wireless harmonization, we’ve consolidated the many disparate, messy pieces of IoT into a single, unified experience: 

• Rather than a specific hardware and software design for each RAT, we created a single unified hardware design and a standardized software interface that accommodates every RAT. 

• Instead of routing IoT data through multiple RAT-specific cloud orchestration platforms, we built a single cloud orchestration platform capable of routing data received from any RAT to the cloud.  

• Rather than sorting through numerous location data points captured from multiple sources, we analyze multi-source location data to automatically determine a device’s best location, giving you a single location to focus on. 

Thanks to this architectural breakthrough, developers can now move freely between RATs such as cellular, LoRa, and Wi-Fi with minimal design changes. This approach enables developers to focus on developing ground-breaking applications and then decide which RAT to leverage, leading to better products in less time. 

Now that we’ve defined wireless harmonization let’s outline the critical issue hampering IoT innovation and connected product development— the problem of wireless divergence. 

 Convergent Suppliers, Divergent Development  

In the past few years, the IoT wireless connectivity market consolidated, giving rise to a market narrative around wireless convergence. Semtech acquired Sierra Wireless, UnaBiz acquired Sigfox, Telit acquired Thales Cinterion’s IoT business, and many more. 

These acquisitions created suites of solutions under a single roof, allowing customers to source multiple IoT connectivity needs from a single supplier. The industry reduced procurement complexity by removing the need to procure connectivity solutions from multiple suppliers, achieved greater economies of scale, and put downward pressure on bill of materials (BOM) cost.  

The industry should celebrate the supply-side efficiency improvements brought on by this consolidation; however, this strategy entirely neglects the product development experience, does nothing to solve the problem of wireless divergence, and certainly hasn’t achieved wireless convergence. 

Wireless convergence is the idea that assumes these disparate and highly differentiated technologies like cellular, Wi-Fi, LoRa, and satellite can converge into a single, homogenized, blended approach. However, the reality is wireless convergence is not possible —at least in the foreseeable future — given how vastly different RATs are. 

Rather than fixating on wireless convergence, Blues took a distinctive approach by addressing the challenge of wireless divergence. Recognizing the substantial variations among RATs (Radio Access Technologies), Blues crafted a sophisticated ecosystem that gracefully navigates and mitigates the intricacies inherent in these diverse technologies. 

Before we dive deeper into wireless harmonization, let’s examine the critical shortcomings associated with a divergent wireless ecosystem: 

• Developers are still forced to commit to a RAT at the beginning of the development lifecycle, even before they fully understand the product’s requirements. 

• Cloud orchestration and data routing platforms are still RAT-specific, causing enterprises to execute multiple redundant implementations and incur greater costs while introducing greater operational complexity.  

• Each RAT is supported by a distinctively designed hardware device featuring a unique form factor and specific software architecture. 

The impact of this engineering oversight is tremendous. Enterprises are developing siloed, disparate IoT solutions, product development cycles are lengthy and resource-intensive, and teams must commit to a RAT at product inception, even before they fully understand their customers’ requirements and real-world demands. 

Failure to solve the problem of wireless divergence is one of the core reasons the IoT space has consistently underperformed expectations and struggled to achieve its full potential. Simply put, the product development experience has been neglected, and there is too much complexity standing between developers and their ideal product. 

At Blues, we set out to solve this problem by developing a wireless ecosystem that abstracts the distinct complexities of each RAT to create a unified and simplified IoT experience.  

Understanding Wireless Harmonization  

Let’s take a deep dive into how we put wireless harmonization into practice and what it means for developers building with our products.  

Since our ecosystem is harmonized, our hardware (the Notecard) is interchangeable, and our connectivity is portable. This allows developers to build a connected product that utilizes multiple RATs while leveraging the same software and hardware design. In essence, you can develop your product and then decide which RAT(s) to leverage afterward. 

Our framework is comprised of 3 core pillars: Harmonization of Radio Access Technologies, Harmonization of Location, and Harmonization of Data Flow. We’ll get to those shortly, but first, here’s a real-world example highlighting the profound impact of a harmonized wireless architecture:  

An enterprise has built and shipped a solution that leverages the Notecard Cellular, but after meeting with some of your end users, you discover there’s demand for this solution in rural, cell-signal-challenged areas that require LoRa connectivity. 

An enterprise has built and shipped a solution that leverages the Notecard Cellular, but after meeting with some of its end users, they discover there’s demand for their solution in rural, cell-signal-challenged areas. The current solution doesn’t need a low-latency network connection, so LoRaWAN connectivity is ideal. 

But since they built with Blues, all they need to do is take the Notecard LoRa and plug it into the same M.2 edge connector that the Notecard Cellular was using, and they’re done.  

It’s that easy. 

There’s no hardware re-design, additional software development, lengthy time-to-market, or additional resource allocation. This pioneering approach dramatically streamlines product development and brings the world of IIoT into a new era. 

However, there are certain constraints developers need to be cognizant of; primarily, their host firmware application should only target the Notehub core APIs that are supported across all Notecards. For example, Notecard Cellular features like GPS tracking aren’t supported because they are unavailable on the Notecard WiFi. 

The 3 Pillars of Wireless Harmonization 

Harmonization of Radio Access Technologies: Connecting the Unconnected 

The cornerstone of our harmonization of radio access technologies (RATs) is the Notecard. The Notecard is a low-power, secure System-on-Module that seamlessly supports a spectrum of RATs like cellular, Wi-Fi, and LoRa — and in the case of the Notecard Cell+WiFi, it dynamically supports multiple RATs. 

Since the Notecard is harmonized across RATs, developers have the freedom to prototype with, for example, Wi-Fi and then deploy with LoRa or cellular. All our Notecards can be integrated into your product through an M.2 edge connector and hardware communication interfaces like Serial and I2C that are compatible with just about any microcontroller. 

Here’s a quick overview of each Notecard Blues currently offers:  

• Notecard Cell+WiFi: features global connectivity options for both wideband (LTE Cat-1) and narrowband (LTE-M, NB-IoT & GSM) while supporting precise asset tracking through GPS/GNSS, Cell tower or Wi-Fi triangulation. 

• Notecard LoRa: Achieve ultra-low power, long-range communication, and industry-leading security with the Notecard LoRa. These features make it ideal for battery-powered device clusters and rural and remote IIoT applications. 

• Notecard Cellular: Combines prepaid cellular connectivity, low-power design, and secure “off-the-internet” communications in one System-on-Module. 

• Notecard WiFi: Built the next generation of line-powered device clusters with a high sampling rate by leveraging our secure, low-power Notecard WiFi. 

• Notecard WiFi Chips Edition: Designed to be easily integrated into mass-produced products, Blues packages ultra-low-power architecture, market-leading security, core firmware, and Wi-Fi connectivity into a single compact device. 

• Notecard LoRa Chips Edition: Transform even the most cost-sensitive, space-constrained products into data-driven intelligent products with the mass-production ready Notecard LoRa Chips Edition. 

Harmonization of Location: Finding the Unfindable 

GPS/GNSS changed the world profoundly. The advent of real-time location tracking allowed humanity to create powerful applications and connect people in ways we’ve never thought possible. 

However, like all technologies, it has its limitations. Here are 3 limiting factors of GPS/GNSS: 

• Satellite Communication is Power-Hungry: The time and energy needed to track multiple satellite signals continuously or almost continuously consumes much power. Furthermore, devices often track different satellite constellations that operate at slightly different frequencies, meaning their antenna must be configured to receive all these, increasing power consumption even more. 

• Time-Consuming Computation: Communicating with multiple satellites to triangulate a device’s location is time-consuming due to the distance signals have to cover and the involvement of multiple satellites. 

• Unreliable Indoors or in Dense Urban Environments: GPS/GNSS cannot locate devices indoors as the long-range frequencies cannot get through walls and roofs. Additionally, if the device is located in a dense urban area like New York City, it will not deliver an accurate location due to multi-path errors. 

At Blues, we’ve overcome the limitations of single source location tracking by layer in location data from multiple sources such as cell towers, and Wi-Fi, in addition to GPS/GNSS, and analyzing that data in Notehub to calculate the “best location” of a device automatically. 

Notehub automatically evaluates how granular that data is, when it was sent, and a variety of other factors to provide you with the single, most accurate location of your device. Notehub takes the numerous data points from multiple sources and compiles them into a single location. 

This harmonized approach abstracts the complexity of multi-source device tracking by making it as easy as single-source tracking, which is imperative for enterprises tracking fleets of devices constantly moving. 

Harmonization of Dataflow: Explaining the Unexplained 

Data is the reason we’re here.  

It’s the cornerstone of business applications and AI models. The success of most business applications and AI models hinges on the ability to relay mountains of valuable data in real-time. 

By integrating connectivity into a physical product, enterprises gain access to previously untapped datasets that provide unprecedented insight into their products and customers. 

But all too often, wireless connectivity providers have made it difficult for developers to capture this data and route it where it needs to go. 

At Blues, we engineered and developed Notehub, a cloud orchestration layer for seamless data routing, easy provisioning at scale, and remote asset management. 

The primary goal of Notehub is to easily route your valuable data to where it needs to go. It natively supports secure routing to AWS, Azure, GCP, Snowflake, and numerous other cloud platforms — often in a “no-code” manner. 

While this is a tremendous improvement from most other cloud orchestration layers, Notehub’s critical innovation is that it is a single platform capable of seamlessly managing and routing data captured from multiple RATs to the cloud. It is a single platform for all your IoT data, regardless of RAT. 

Currently, most other cloud orchestration layers are RAT-specific, so connected product developers leveraging multiple RATs must route their data through several disparate platforms and then onto a single cloud destination where the data can be digested and utilized. 

By removing the need for multiple redundant, unnecessary cloud orchestration platforms, Notehub dramatically reduces implementation complexity, expenses, and operational maintenance. 

Notehub’s cloud-agnostic and omni-RAT architecture, coupled with its elegant but powerful JSON interface, empowers enterprises to build game-changing business applications faster than ever.  

Embracing Change: Don’t Dread Network Sunsets

Network sunsets are a natural part of technological evolution, especially in the Cellular world. 

Despite the predictability of sunset events, history is rife with manufacturers who have overlooked the importance of creating contingency plans to address them. 

Here are just a few examples of how sunsets caused dramatic impacts on manufacturers: 

• In the wake of the 3G sunset, some Nissan vehicles were left with an obsolete 3G modem, which left drivers without the use of several internet-enabled features. This led to costly recalls and damaging class action lawsuits. 

• Sparking fears of ‘alarmaggedon,’ the 3G sunset prompted the Alarm Industry Communications Committee to raise concerns that roughly 2 million burglar intrusion systems, fire alarms, and personal emergency alerts would go offline. This caused providers like ADT to scramble for a fix amid the pandemic’s microchip crisis. 

As an integral element of our wireless harmonization framework, Blues places a strong emphasis on designing an architecture that makes network sunsets painless.  

We have streamlined the sunset experience with our swappable Notecard design. When the next sunset event arises, companies that have chosen Blues will effortlessly transition by simply unplugging the existing Notecard from its M.2 edge connector and plugging in the new one.  

Similar to transitioning between RATs, no hardware re-design or software implementation is needed. This approach allows companies to future-proof their products by avoiding product obsolescence and dramatically reducing sunset-related expenses and reputational risk. 

Futureproofing Your Connected Products with Blues 

Blues’ wireless harmonization approach offers a forward-thinking solution to the challenges connected product developers face today and into the future.  

Blues has given enterprises a massive head start on building the next generation of AI-powered products by harmonizing access to connectivity technologies, accurate device location data, and dataflow. 

Our revolutionary approach to network sunsets protects the products you worked so hard to build from obsolescence through our modular, swappable Notecard design that eliminates the need for costly hardware re-designs and software implementations. 

The end result of this hyper-focus on simplicity is an ecosystem elegantly designed to empower developers, foster innovation, and ultimately allow IIoT to achieve its full potential.  

It all boils down to a fundamental decision:  

Will you continue to grapple with unnecessary complexity and glaring architectural flaws at every stage of your connected product’s lifecycle? 

Or will you build your connected products around Blues’ simplified, flexible, forward-thinking, future-proof ecosystem that fosters innovation and offers a genuine competitive advantage? 

The choice is abundantly clear. So, if your mind is already made up, right this way.

The post Wireless Harmonization: A New Era for Connected Product Development appeared first on Blues.

VROEGH Design is a major player in the micro mobility industry, serving as an outsourced R&D department providing design and engineering support to a diverse array of products, including e-bikes, cargo bikes, and e-scooters.

Together with Blues, VROEGH is developing the future of transportation by embedding cloud-connectivity in micro mobility vehicles. VROEGH’s innovative micro mobility design will be showcased at Blues’ CES 2024 booth #10770, in the IoT Infrastructure section within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Stop by our booth to discover how cloud-connected intelligence is reshaping everything from transportation to agricultural and industrial equipment and just about everything in between!

Creating the Future of Transportation

In 2014, VROEGH Design set out to reshape the micro mobility landscape. With a vision to blend innovation and practicality, they delved into the world of light electric vehicles, crafting solutions that promised to redefine urban mobility.

When Cleantron tapped VROEGH for help developing their Circular e-bike batteries, the company recognized the opportunity created by embedding a cloud-connected battery management system (BMS) into these batteries. However, they struggled to find the right technology to connect the battery to the cloud.

The integration needed to be as flexible as it was robust, adaptable to various e-bike models, and economical enough for broad implementation. This is the exact type of challenge Blues’ wireless cloud data pump was created to solve.

A Breakthrough in Micro Mobility Connectivity

VROEGH integrated Blues’ wireless cloud data pump into their battery’s design to build a revolutionary BMS.

They embedded the Notecard, a compact yet powerful connected system-on-module (SOM), into their battery by connecting it to a variety of components and sensors.

Now that the Notecard was capturing numerous data points about the battery’s condition, location, and performance, it began to relay this data to the cloud through Notehub, Blues’ cloud orchestration layer. This implementation enabled real-time battery management and monitoring while delivering an unparalleled rider experience.

Harnessing the Power of Cloud-Connected Experiences

The integration of these technologies into e-bike batteries comes with benefits for both the bike brand and its customers:

• • Improved Real-time Monitoring: Batteries can now communicate critical data in real-time. They relay information integral to keeping the e-bikes safe and running, including battery health, temperature, voltage, current, and state of charge.
• • Enhanced Battery Performance: The continuous data collection helps optimize the battery performance, ensuring longer life and better sustainability while giving the manufacturer insight into how they can improve future designs.
• • Superior Manufacturer Experience: The integration allows end users and manufacturers to track and manage the battery’s performance more effectively, enhancing reliability and usability.
• • Scalability and Ease of Use: Blues’ wireless cloud data pump’s plug-and-play functionality allows businesses to develop innovative cloud-connected applications in months, not years.
• • Proactive Vehicle Maintenance: The integration notably enhances end-user engagement, enabling them to monitor and maintain their e-bike batteries proactively. Proactive monitoring allows users to identify and address potential battery issues early, effectively preventing wear and extending the battery’s operational lifespan.
• • Misuse Detection: A notable feature of the integration is the ability to detect and report potential misuse of the batteries. This safeguard protects the batteries from premature degradation and catastrophic failures that could lead to fires, injuries, and lawsuits.
• • Sustainability Boost: The project contributes to sustainability efforts in the micro mobility sector by improving battery lifespan and usage. Longer-lasting batteries mean reduced waste and a smaller environmental footprint.

Visit Blues and VROEGH Design at CES 2024

The development of this BMS is the beginning of a unique partnership between Blues and VROEGH Design that will tremendously impact micro mobility and beyond.

As Bob Vroegh, Head of VROEGH Design, put it…

“I would love a bike to be able to send a message to the owner — Hey, we sense that your ebike motor has more resistance than we would expect. Let’s go to our service mechanic at [address] for a check. He is available at [option A,B,C]. IoT and Blues can make that happen.”

Discover firsthand how the partnership between VROEGH Design and Blues catalyzes a transformative wave in the micro mobility landscape by visiting us at CES 2024!

At our booth, you’ll find products designed by VROEGH on display, a host of Blues products showcased, two interactive demos, nineteen products built with Blues from just about every industry, and, of course, the famous Blues Café serving complimentary espresso, coffee, and water.

If you’re attending CES 2024, stop by booth #10770 in the IoT Infrastructure Section within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Ready to transform your products today?

Visit Blues for more information or talk to one of our experts.

Learn more about VROEGH Design and its pioneering work in the field by visiting VROEGH Design.

The post CES 2024: Reshaping Micro Mobility with VROEGH Design and Blues appeared first on Blues.

Geocene, a trailblazer in low-power connected devices, is dedicated to developing robust sensors to solve some of the most challenging problems faced around the world. At the heart of their success is a partnership with Blues, a collaboration that allows their sensors to thrive in environments where other technologies falter.

 The capabilities of Geocene and Blues’ partnership will be showcased at our CES booth, #10770, in the IoT Infrastructure section within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Stop by to see the next generation of cloud-connected sensors. 

Wireless Innovation for Ocean Data

Geocene, born out of Danny Wilson’s PhD research at UC Berkeley, specializes in developing versatile IoT data-logging sensors. Its mission: democratize IoT technology by making wireless sensor deployment and data analysis accessible to all. Geocene’s innovative sensors have proved crucial in challenging environments.  

Geocene first engaged Blues when they were implementing cellular connectivity for Sofar Ocean’s Spotter platform. The platform collects surface and subsurface data, such as wave spectra, wind, pressure, and temperature, and transmits it in real-time from anywhere in the ocean.

The Spotter platform’s historical reliance on satellite connectivity to send observations, however, created unnecessary cost and bandwidth limitations for some users, particularly those with devices moored just offshore. In these areas, having a reliable cellular service makes satellite connectivity redundant.  

Geocene found a powerful solution when they reached out to Blues and learned about our plug-and-play global connectivity capability. In just a few months, Geocene successfully integrated Blues’ wireless cloud data pump into the Spotter platform.

The pre-provisioned Notecard integrated seamlessly with the Spotter platform’s existing hardware and software, resulting in reliable cellular connectivity in record time. Today, the Spotter platform outperforms competitors by offering more frequent data sampling, global cellular connectivity, and secure data transmission at a lower cost than other devices that rely solely on satellites.

Ongoing Connectivity, Efficiency, and Reliability

The integration of Notecard and Notehub into Geocene’s products marked a turning point in the company’s ability to tackle complex connectivity challenges.  

Take, for example, Wedgworth’s IoT-connected fertilizer trailer sensor, the BrewBot. Geocene developed the BrewBot sensor system for their Killebrew fertilizer trailers. This sensor detects when bins are emptied, prompting timely trailer pickups. 

By integrating Blues, the BrewBot now streamlines the process of trailer pickups, with an estimated operational efficiency improvement of up to 20%. This enhancement aims to optimize logistics and translate into considerable financial benefits for Wedgworth. 

“Honestly, it is the best experience I have ever had working with any group,” —Patrick, Engineer, Wedgworth. 

Today, Geocene partners with Blues for all the ​cellular solutions they build for clients. They enjoy: 

• Global connectivity: The Notecard’s ability to support a spectrum of radio access technologies ensures Geocene’s sensors can be deployed in a wide-range of environments.
• Developer-centric ecosystem: Blues’ focus on creating a developer-friendly environment resonated with Geocene’s ethos. The simplicity and flexibility of the Notecard and Notehub allowed Geocene to focus on application-specific challenges instead of wireless connectivity. 
• Data management and security: With Notehub’s robust data routing to the cloud and scalable remote management capabilities, Geocene’s solutions can efficiently process large volumes of sensor-generated data. 
• Scalability and flexibility: The modular nature of Notecard and the comprehensive service offerings of Notehub provided Geocene with the scalability needed for its diverse range of projects. 

Visit Us at CES to Create a More Connected World

The partnership between Geocene and Blues has reshaped data collection in challenging environments and transformed how companies like Sofar Ocean and Wedgworth operate. Geocene has delivered innovative IoT applications that significantly improve operational efficiency and data management by leveraging Blues’ wireless cloud data pump – resulting in more bottom-line revenue for Geocene and its clients.  

“Since working on Sofar, Geocene has continued to build successful cellular solutions in partnership with Blues,” —Danny Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO, Geocene. 

Discover the future of wireless connectivity with Blues at CES 2024. 

 Visit Blues and Geocene at booth #10770 in the IoT Infrastructure Section, within the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at CES 2024.  Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with our experts, explore what’s possible with Blues, and take the first step towards transforming your products into data-driven intelligent services. 

Ready to transform your products today? 

 Talk to one of Blues’ experts. 

Reach out to Geocene to learn about their innovative solutions and global impact. 

The post Showcasing Geocene and Blues’ Partnership at CES 2024 appeared first on Blues.

Cloud connectivity is at the heart of this transformation, a technology that enables patient data to be transmitted from monitoring equipment to the cloud. It enables healthcare providers to remotely monitor patient health trends and take timely action when necessary. 

The Changing Landscape of Healthcare 

The traditional model of healthcare, confined to the four walls of a hospital or clinic, is rapidly evolving. Patients, especially senior citizens, now strongly desire to ‘age in place’. This means they want to receive healthcare while remaining in the familiar surroundings of their homes. This shift in perspective presents a remarkable challenge and opportunity for healthcare providers. 

Simultaneously, the healthcare industry is moving away from the old paradigm of one-size-fits-all care. In its place, it’s adopting a proactive, data-driven approach. With technological advancements, healthcare professionals have access to vast amounts of patient data. This data is a veritable goldmine for anticipating health trends, intervening early, and delivering personalized treatments. 

A growing commitment to health equity is another factor reshaping healthcare. The goal is to make healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial means or geographic location. Remote patient monitoring is pivotal in this endeavor, ensuring healthcare services reach even the most underserved populations. 

But while the future is promising, it’s essential to recognize the challenges ahead for RPM manufacturers as they navigate this transformative journey. 

Key Challenges for Remote Patient Monitoring Device Manufacturers 

Although RPM is a promising frontier in healthcare, it comes with unique challenges. Manufacturers in this field must navigate these intricacies diligently to develop reliable and efficient solutions.  

• Reliability – Ensuring Data Integrity and Safety: The cornerstone of any RPM system is reliability. Unlike many other technologies where an occasional glitch may be a minor inconvenience, in healthcare, it could be a matter of life and death. RPM devices must maintain constant connectivity to ensure the integrity and safety of patient data. Even in challenging conditions, where connectivity might be limited, RPM devices must remain unwaveringly reliable and not leverage a solution that exclusively uses one connectivity technology but several redundancies.  
• Availability — Overcoming Supply Chain Woes: The RPM ecosystem is highly dependent on a consistent supply chain. Delays or disruptions in the supply chain can have cascading effects, causing significant hurdles for manufacturers. The burden of managing supply chains often falls on RPM manufacturers. Any hindrance in procuring essential components can ripple through the production process, potentially affecting the availability of vital RPM devices. 
• Compliance — Navigating the Regulatory Maze: Healthcare regulations, including the need for FDA clearance, present a formidable challenge to RPM manufacturers. Achieving compliance is a time-consuming and complex process that demands meticulous attention to detail. Regulatory bodies require comprehensive documentation and rigorous testing to ensure the safety and efficacy of RPM devices. Any alterations or updates to the device may necessitate revisiting the compliance process, which can significantly extend the time to market. 
• Privacy and Security — Safeguarding Patient Data: RPM revolves around the sensitive realm of patient health data. Consequently, the issue of privacy and security looms large over this field. The stringent privacy laws and regulations surrounding healthcare underscore the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures. RPM systems must guarantee the confidentiality and integrity of patient information through strict data encryption, secure boot procedures, and regular over-the-air (OTA) security updates. These measures are not merely recommended but essential to maintaining patient trust and complying with legal requirements.
• Pre-provisioned — Ready to Deploy: The process of deploying RPM devices involves numerous intricacies. Traditionally, it required setting up and configuring various components, including data plans and SIM cards. For RPM manufacturers, the challenge lies in simplifying this process. The term ‘pre-provisioned’ encapsulates the need for RPM devices to come ready to deploy, with cellular data plans pre-baked into the system. This simplification of the deployment process can significantly reduce the time and resources required to get RPM devices up and running. 

These challenges collectively represent a formidable landscape that RPM manufacturers must navigate. Addressing them comprehensively not only ensures the development of reliable and secure RPM solutions but also paves the way for a future where remote patient monitoring plays a pivotal role in healthcare delivery. 

The Future of Remote Patient Monitoring Devices with Cloud Connectivity

Cloud connectivity is driving a transformative wave in the realm of RPM devices. It’s not just about monitoring health; it’s about empowering patients to lead healthier lives and ensuring healthcare providers have the tools they need to deliver timely care. 

With cloud connectivity, RPM devices can seamlessly transmit critical patient data to secure, cloud-based servers. This enables healthcare professionals to monitor patient health trends in real time, facilitating early intervention when needed. Imagine a scenario where a patient’s vital signs change, triggering an alert, prompting immediate medical attention. Cloud-connected RPM devices make this a reality, ensuring patients receive timely care, even from the comfort of their homes. 

Cloud connectivity is also ushering in a new era of data-driven healthcare. The massive datasets generated by RPM devices can be harnessed to identify broader health trends, optimize treatments, and even predict health issues before they become critical. This shift from reactive to proactive healthcare can potentially reduce healthcare costs, improve patient outcomes, and ultimately save lives. 

Blues as Your RPM Connectivity Solution

Navigating the complex landscape of remote patient monitoring calls for a steadfast ally. That’s where Blues’ Notecard and Notehub step in. As a trusted partner, Blues is dedicated to addressing the challenges that RPM manufacturers encounter. 

Our commitment to reliability ensures that your RPM devices, powered by Notecard and connected through Notehub, remain connected even in the most challenging conditions.  Blues even builds Notecards with redundant cellular and even Wi-Fi failover built right in. We shoulder the burden of supply chain management, guaranteeing the availability of these cutting-edge technologies regardless of external disruptions. 

Connecting RPM with Notecard and Notehub 

Notecard and Notehub are the dynamic duo revolutionizing RPM. Notecard’s reliability is unmatched, ensuring that your RPM device maintains connectivity even in signal-challenged locations and safeguarding patient data integrity. When paired with Notehub, our ecosystem creates a seamless data transmission pipeline from patient equipment to the cloud, enabling real-time monitoring and proactive care. 

When it comes to compliance, Blues simplifies the regulatory maze by offering FTC compliance benefits and handling crucial security aspects, such as encrypted “off the internet” communications and pre-loaded certificates through an integrated secure element. Our emphasis on privacy and security ensures that patient data, transmitted seamlessly through Notehub, remains safeguarded at all times. 

With Blues, you get more than just a connectivity solution; you get a faithful ally. Our MinSpin service provides invaluable engineering support, making RPM product development swift and efficient. We abstract the complexities of connectivity with Notecard and Notehub, allowing you to focus on your core mission. 

Let Blues be your partner in transforming healthcare through RPM. Talk to one of our experts to get started today. 

Together, we can shape the future of healthcare. 

The post Navigating the Cloud in Remote Patient Monitoring Devices appeared first on Blues.

The connectivity space has long struggled with overly complicated ecosystems that didn’t deliver the solutions customers demanded. 

Wireless customers, especially global enterprises, operate in a wide range of environments that require a spectrum of connectivity technologies like cellular, Wi-Fi, and Long-Range [LoRa].  

But as they built products around these technologies, they quickly hit a roadblock… 

They had to reinvent the wheel every time they wanted to leverage a connectivity technology and integrate it into a product’s design.  

On September 20, we cleared this obstacle by delivering a comprehensive line of connected devices within an interchangeable harmonized ecosystem. 

How did we do it? Read on to find out. 

We’ll unpack the concept of wireless harmonization, discuss how a lack of it has hampered connected product development, and explain how our enhanced line of Notecards has transformed the connectivity landscape.  

Understanding Wireless Harmonization  

The Connectivity Roadblock 

A disjointed approach to wireless has caused connected product development to be cumbersome, costly, and chaotic.  

The space lacked a unified, harmonious wireless ecosystem, so projects were forced to start from the ground up for every new connectivity technology they wanted to leverage.  

To make matters worse, projects were bogged down by expensive telecommunications contracts and complicated wireless protocols. 

The result? 

An industry that spent more time establishing connectivity than it did building game-changing products. 

This didn’t make sense to us… 

Clearing the Road for Innovation 

In 2018, we flipped this paradigm by creating the Notecard and Notehub.  

The concept was to simplify wireless through a single device with out-of-the-box connectivity, partner it with Notehub, a cloud solution to easily manage and route your data to your cloud application of choice via a novel no-code approach, and eliminate the need to build this complicated workflow from the ground up. 

Fast forward to today, and we continue to shatter this paradigm by achieving wireless harmonization. 

A New Era for Intelligent Products 

Wireless harmonization is when a single wireless communications ecosystem seamlessly supports multiple connectivity technologies like cellular, Wi-Fi, and LoRa.  

When wireless harmonization is achieved, an ecosystem’s hardware is interchangeable, and its connectivity is global. This means you can create a solution leveraging a spectrum of connectivity technologies with minimal design or software changes.  

In essence, when you create a solution for 1 connectivity technology, you’ve created a solution for multiple connectivity technologies. 

This critical innovation catapults the world of connectivity into a new era and empowers industries to build the next wave of data-driven intelligent products.  

With the expansion of our Notecard offering, Blues has cleared a critical obstacle, creating a world where enterprises can tackle connectivity as a whole rather than 1 by 1. 

A Comprehensive Line of Notecards 

The Notecard changed the game by packaging everything needed to build intelligent cloud-connected products into a single solution.  

With the launch of our expanded line of Notecards, we’ve created a suite of connected devices that cover a wide range of connectivity technologies within an interchangeable, harmonized ecosystem. 

Our new product offerings include a Notecard Cell+WiFi, a  Notecard LoRa, and a Chips Edition (Wi-Fi or Lora) Notecard.  

These are an addition to our existing Notecard Cellular and Notecard WiFi. 

Let’s take a look at what each of these new devices brings to the table… 

The Notecard Cell+WiFi 

 This System-on-Module [SoM] includes dual cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity with a failover feature that automatically switches to the fallback network during network disruption. It comes in various coverage options, including wideband (CAT-1) or narrowband (CAT-M and NB-IoT) connectivity paired with a Global, North American, or European coverage model. Following our endeavor to simplify connectivity, we abstract the need to deal with AT commands and instead build a novel JSON interface that is shared across all other Notecards making it a near plug-and-play experience. 

The Notecard LoRa  

We combined our industry-leading security, cloud orchestration platform, and expertise in low-power design with the ultimate in low-power design, a LoRa SoM. This makes the LoRa Notecard ideal for scenarios that use low amounts of data, areas where cellular coverage isn’t present, such as rural areas, or solutions that need to rely solely on battery power for years at a time. 

The Notecard WiFi Chips Edition 

Experience unparalleled design autonomy with our Notecard WiFi Chips Edition. Blues packaged low-power architecture, market-leading security, and Wi-Fi connectivity into individual chips. These chips allow you to own the design process by giving you the essential components to establish connectivity in a compact solution. 

The Notecard LoRa Chips Edition 

The Notecard LoRa Chips Edition transforms even the most cost-sensitive, space-constrained projects into data-driven intelligent products. Designed to be easily integrated into mass-produced products, Blues packaged LoRa connectivity into a single compact 7mm x 7mm device.  

Experience IoT Like it Should Be 

As part of our emphasis on developing interchangeable architecture, no matter which Notecard you select, you’ll still experience the same unmatched engineering experience with our plug-and-play JSON interface, access to Notehub, our cloud orchestration layer, and devices that arrive pre-provisioned. 

Not sure which solution is right for you? Talk to an Expert 

Unlock a New Level of Functionality 

Packaged in all of our Notecards is a set of features designed to unlock new functionality and intelligence in your products.  

These features will help you scale faster, transform your products into “as a service” revenue drivers, optimize resource allocation, and increase visibility. 

Here are some powerful features we’ve wrapped into our Notecards… 

Wi-Fi Triangulation 

When GPS is unavailable, or you are using a Wi-Fi only Notecard, our Wi-Fi Triangulation feature can determine your device’s location, even indoors, with as little as a single access point.  

Included In: Notecard Cell+WiFi, Notecard WiFi, and Notecard WiFi Chips Edition. 

Dynamic Network Failover 

The Notecard Cell+WiFi can automatically failover from the primary to the failover network in the event of disruption, giving you unprecedented reliability and redundancy. 

Included In: The Notecard Cell+WiFi  

Go Global with a Range of Coverage Options 

The Notecard Cell+WiFi support a range of either wideband (CAT-1) or narrowband (CAT-M and NB-IoT) connectivity that’s paired with a Global or Regional (North America or Europe) coverage model. 

Included In: The Notecard Cell+WiFi  

Dual Embedded SIM Capability  

Increase your coverage by selecting a Notecard Cell+WiFi with a dual embedded SIM option to expand your coverage to additional countries to improve reliability and carrier support. 

Included In: The Notecard Cell+WiFi  

Ultra-Low Power Consumption  

Have devices located in hard-to-reach remote locations? 

Operate for years on a battery and even extend battery life with sleep mode, which can wake the device up for programmable events. 

Included In: The Notecard LoRa and Notecard LoRa Chips Edition 

Precise GPS Location Tracking  

Track your products with pinpoint accuracy through a GNSS/GPS module that enables tracking mobile assets when located in populated areas. 

Included In: Notecard Dual Cell+WiFi  and Notecard Cellular 

Industry Leading Security 

The Notecard features robust security through encrypted “off the internet” communications and pre-loaded certificates for device authentication through our integrated secure element.  

Included In: All Notecards except the Notecard LoRa Chips Edition have an integrated secure element 

Discover What’s Possible with Blues 

The Blues Notecard ecosystem has cleared the road for enterprises to innovate and unlock the true potential of their products.  If you’re ready to transform your physical products into data-driven, intelligent services, talk to one of our experts. 

The post From Chaos to Harmony: Transforming Connectivity appeared first on Blues.

It is common to have EVSE operators manage the connectivity provider and even cloud instance. With many new operators entering the market, especially smaller scale operations, time is of the essence. This has posed a challenge to operators that may lack the skillset, time, or resources to build a custom module in house. For OEMs and SIs, monetizing customers past the point of sale of equipment is also a major obstacle. Offering a full-solution approach not only allows manufacturers to overcome these hurdles, but also creates a new perpetual revenue stream and shapes a more sticky customer. 

When to build custom connectivity 

Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, a custom solution allows for full customization, giving you complete control over the design and implementation of your EVSE charging network. 

Organizations who opt to build their entire connectivity infrastructure in-house do so to create a customized connectivity system to cater to their unique requirements. 

Pros of building custom connectivity 

• Cost-efficient for companies with existing in-house expertise and resources to spare 
• Full customization and control over the connectivity and packaging solution 
• Flexibility to adapt to future market demands based on specific product roadmaps 
• Ability to tailor the user experience to the brand’s vision 
• Complete and sole ownership of proprietary data 

Cons of building custom connectivity 

• Absence of in-house expertise can lead to costly setbacks, impacting profitability and brand credibility 
• Opportunity cost in dedicating resources to building connectivity rather than allocated to build your core product 
• Prolonged development timelines result in missed market opportunities 
• Requires extensive training and hiring, impacting resource allocation 
• Managing supply chain complexities delay GTM timelines 
• Full data security burden rests on the organization’s shoulders 
• Providing timely maintenance solutions necessitate ongoing costs and expertise 
• Greater risk of failure – 75% of in-house IoT undertakings fail to achieve their intended results 
• Necessitates expertise to build a connectivity infrastructure with flexibility to meet today’s and tomorrow’s EVSE needs 
• Rigorous testing and certification processes cause delays and incur even more costs 
• Typically results in higher total costs when accounting for BOM, in-house training and hiring, ongoing maintenance and security, and custom provisioning 

….download and read the whole whitepaper by using the form below:

The post Custom vs Hyperscale: Untangling the EVSE Connectivity Dilemma appeared first on Blues.

Connectivity is pivotal in securing the future of EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) collegially known as EV Chargers. Let’s explore how connectivity addresses the pain points faced by manufacturers while unleashing the true potential of EVSE

The Growing Need for Connected EV Chargers

As electric vehicles become increasingly prevalent, the need for a robust and efficient charging ecosystem has become paramount. EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supplier Equipment) manufacturers encounter several hurdles in their quest to build a sustainable and accessible charging infrastructure. From limited charging stations to user concerns about range anxiety, these challenges pose significant obstacles to widespread EV adoption. Let’s explore these challenges in more detail:

• Limited Charging Infrastructure: As the adoption of electric vehicles gains momentum, the demand for charging infrastructure is growing exponentially. However, the limited availability of charging stations hinders the widespread accessibility of EV charging. Many regions lack an adequate charging point network, leading to charging deserts, dissuading potential customers from purchasing EVs.
• Range Anxiety and User Concerns: Range anxiety remains a prominent concern among potential electric vehicle buyers. The fear of running out of charge before reaching their destination deters many from switching to EVs.
• Grid Integration and Load Management: As the number of electric vehicles on the road increases, grid integration and load management become critical challenges. Charging many EVs simultaneously can put immense stress on the electric grid, leading to potential overloads and blackouts.

The Role of Cloud Connectivity in EV Charging

Cloud connectivity forms the foundation of modern EVSE infrastructure, enabling communication between charging stations and the cloud platform. Through embedded IoT modules that boost efficiency and productivity, EV chargers establish a secure and real-time connection with the cloud. This helps in facilitating data transmission and remote management.

Manufacturers access many benefits by easily integrating EVSE with a cloud platform. Let’s explore some of these advantages:

• Remote Monitoring and Management: Cloud connectivity empowers manufacturers with comprehensive visibility into charging sessions. Real-time monitoring allows them to track charging progress, monitor performance metrics, and detect potential issues remotely. With proactive insights, manufacturers can promptly address maintenance needs and ensure optimal charger functionality.
• Firmware Updates and Enhancements: Staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements is crucial for EVSE. Cloud connectivity streamlines firmware updates, allowing manufacturers to push enhancements and security patches remotely.
• Data Offload and Analysis for Optimization: Cloud-connected chargers collect valuable data during charging sessions, including energy consumption, user behavior, and charger performance. By offloading this data to the cloud, manufacturers gain profound insights into charging patterns and user preferences.
• Payment and Billing Solutions: Cloud connectivity simplifies payment processing for EVSE services. Drivers can make payments through various methods, such as credit cards or mobile apps, with the help of cloud-connected chargers.
• Enhanced Security and Privacy Measures: Contrary to security concerns, reputable cloud connectivity providers implement robust security measures to safeguard user data and charger operations. Cloud infrastructure often offers better security mechanisms than local networks, ensuring user data privacy and preventing unauthorized access to chargers.

The Impact of Connectivity on the EVSE Ecosystem

As cloud connectivity becomes increasingly prevalent in EVSE, its profound impact extends beyond individual chargers, shaping the entire EVSE ecosystem. Let’s understand the wide-ranging effects of cloud-connected chargers and their impact on the future of EVSE technologies.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Considerations

Cloud-connected chargers play a pivotal role in promoting sustainability and energy efficiency in the EV industry. Manufacturers can gain valuable insights into charging patterns and energy consumption with access to real-time data transmission and analysis. This data-driven approach allows for the optimization of charger performance, ensuring that energy is utilized efficiently and wastage is minimized. As more chargers become cloud-connected, the collective impact of these optimized charging sessions contributes to overall energy conservation and a greener transportation landscape.

Smart Grid Integration and Demand Response Capabilities

The seamless integration of cloud-connected chargers with smart grid systems revolutionizes the management of both grid and electric vehicle charging.  Grids and utility companies can partner with charging operators to ensure the grid stays stable even during peak demand times in exchange for lower rates and other incentives. Charging operators can implement dynamic demand response strategies by accessing real-time data on charging demand and grid capacity. During peak periods, cloud-connected chargers can adjust their charging rates intelligently, aligning with grid demand and available renewable energy sources. This smart grid integration prevents grid stress and enhances grid stability and resilience, creating a more reliable and sustainable charging infrastructure.

Enabling the Future of EVSE Technologies

Cloud connectivity acts as a catalyst for ushering in an era of cutting-edge EVSE technologies. One such advancement is wireless charging, where cloud-connected chargers facilitate seamless communication between EVs and charging pads, eliminating the need for physical connections.

Additionally, cloud-connected chargers enable revolutionary Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) integration, empowering EVs to draw power from the grid and feed excess energy back into it, enhancing grid balancing capabilities.  In exchange for credits and favorable rates, using energy dense batteries in electric vehicles helps utilities maintain grid stability, without the use of polluting and expensive-to-maintain peaker plants.

Moreover, cloud connectivity facilitates AI-driven charging management, allowing chargers to adapt charging schedules based on user preferences, electricity rates, and grid conditions, creating personalized and optimized charging experiences.

The Market is Demanding more from EVSE

In the past, it was easy for a manufacturer to pass full ownership to integration partners and end users.  This includes everything from cybersecurity to prototyping a working, viable solution. The dizzying array of cyberattacks targeting operations has left customers with a heightened sense of awareness of the risks that come with IoT products, leading them to demand more from their EVSE partners.

In the world of SaaS where everything is a service, reducing risk, lowering barriers to entry, and providing a seamless solution has left many customers with a preference to offload responsibility to manufactures. At the same time, manufactures seek additional revenue streams and are being lured in by the As-A-Service model of perpetual revenue and increased customer lock-in. Thus, there is an increase in which EVSE are fully bundled not just with the hardware itself, but with the connectivity as well. These hurdles can make something as simple as cloud integration bundled in an elegant package difficult for an operator to build on their own.

Embracing Connectivity for Scalable and Future-Proof Solutions

OEMs and SIs must embrace connectivity as an essential aspect of their products in order to thrive in the rapidly evolving EVSE landscape. Cloud-connected chargers can seamlessly accommodate emerging technological advancements and industry standards, ensuring that manufacturers stay ahead of the curve. The ability to scale up infrastructure efficiently to meet the growing demands of EV owners and operators is critical for long-term success.

Embracing cloud connectivity fosters a collaborative ecosystem where manufacturers can continuously refine and improve their charging solutions. Data-driven insights from cloud-connected chargers provide valuable feedback, enabling OEMs and SIs to make informed decisions and optimize their products for maximum efficiency and user satisfaction. This iterative approach ensures that their solutions are always aligned with the evolving needs and preferences of electric vehicle owners.

Harnessing the Potential of Connectivity in EV Charging

The significance of cloud connectivity in EVSE goes far beyond the realm of mere convenience. For EV charger manufacturers, embracing cloud connectivity opens the gateway to many advantages, revolutionizing the landscape of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. From real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making to smart grid integration and future-proofing, cloud-connected chargers lay the foundation for an efficient, sustainable, and intelligent EV charging ecosystem.

Driving the Future with Blues’ Notecard and Notehub

As a trailblazer in IoT connectivity solutions, Blues has introduced the game-changing Notecard, empowering EVSE manufacturers with seamless cloud connectivity. With Notecard, OEMs and SIs can offer solutions that remotely manage charging sessions, optimize charger performance, and proactively address maintenance needs, all in real time. Additionally, Notecard facilitates firmware updates and enhancements, ensuring chargers remain up-to-date with the latest features and security measures.

Notehub, Blues’ powerful cloud platform, serves as the backbone of cloud-connected chargers, effortlessly managing data offload and analysis. Notehub’s robust capabilities enable manufacturers to gain valuable insights into charging patterns, user behavior, and energy consumption, empowering them to make data-driven decisions and enhance charger efficiency.

Every Notecard customer receives 500MB of complimentary data, which doesn’t expire for 10 years, as well as free cloud credits.

EV charger manufacturers can embrace cloud connectivity with confidence by taking advantage of Blues’ comprehensive suite of IoT. With Blues’ Notecard and Notehub, the future of electric vehicle charging becomes more than just a vision; it becomes a transformative reality.

Learn more about how Blues can help solve EV Infrustructure here.

The post Accelerating Sustainable Mobility: The Critical Role of Connectivity in EVSE appeared first on Blues.