The Hidden Challenges of Connected Product Development
Key Takeaways
RF complexity, certification requirements, firmware integration, and component availability can create challenges that are easy to underestimate early in development.
Addressing technical and supply chain risks during design helps reduce costly redesigns, certification delays, and production issues.
Connected Development is an expert engineering design services (EDS) firm that helps organizations reduce risk though a phased product development process provides, including hardware engineering, embedded software, RF design, certification support, testing, and supply chain management.
Explore some of the most common product development risks and practical strategies for mitigating them early in the process.
What Challenges Are Commonly Overlooked in Product Development?
RF performance, wireless certification, and system integration are among the most underestimated aspects of connected product development.
Real-world deployment conditions like metal enclosures, interference, multiple wireless protocols, and regional requirements can impact both device performance and certification outcomes. Issues discovered late in development often result in retesting, redesigns, and increased costs. Certification requirements can also introduce unexpected testing, documentation, and compliance challenges if they are not considered during the design phase. Connected Development integrates RF and certification considerations early, using in-house testing expertise to identify and resolve issues before formal certification begins.
As connected products become more sophisticated, successful products require seamless interaction between hardware, firmware, connectivity, and cloud platforms.
Connected Development supports embedded software development, secure boot and update mechanisms, over-the-air (OTA) strategies, cloud API integration, edge computing, and sensor-fusion applications alongside hardware and RF development.
How Can Companies Reduce Supply Chain Risk?
Supply chain resilience begins during product design. Evaluating component availability, lifecycle status, lead times, and sourcing flexibility early helps prevent costly delays later. Single-source components, long lead times, obsolescence risks, and certification-dependent parts can create significant production challenges when identified late. One of the most effective ways to reduce these risks is to partner with an experienced EDS provider like Connected Development.
By combining engineering, procurement, and supply chain expertise, Connected Development helps teams identify potential sourcing and lifecycle risks early through BOM management, shortage mitigation, lifecycle monitoring, alternate sourcing strategies, and component selection support throughout the product lifecycle.
How Does Connected Development Optimize the Product Development Process?
As a division of the Exponential Technology Group (XTG), Connected Development benefits from a robust distribution network. Alongside Mouser Electronics and TTI IP&E, XTG is part of the TTI Family of Specialists (FOS). Connected Development brings hardware, firmware, RF, certification, testing, and supply chain expertise together from the beginning. This helps identify challenges before they become costly problems and supports the transition from concept to production. Our experts can review your BOM and supply chain requirements, identify potential risks, and recommend strategies for a more resilient product launch.
Planning a new product design? Our team can help identify potential risks, uncover sourcing challenges, and recommend strategies to support a faster, more resilient path to market.
Contact Connected Development Today!
