Lean Strategies for Affordable Smart, Connected Products: Tips & Real-World Examples – Part 2

As we discussed in Part 1, the lean approach enables enterprises to launch effective smart, connected products on a limited budget. We highlighted that reducing data volume and starting with simple logic cuts IoT development and implementation costs. Today, I’ll share additional tactics that help companies deploy smart, connected solutions without overspending.

Moving Intelligence from Local Software to the Cloud

Adding on‑device intelligence can drive up costs. For entry‑level solutions, hosting logic in the cloud keeps the device itself cheaper and removes the need for on‑premises software maintenance.

Example: Smart greenhouses. Sensors capture temperature and humidity of soil and air. The cloud‑based IoT platform compares readings to predefined thresholds and, when heating or watering is required, sends commands to actuators. Keeping the logic in the cloud also simplifies adding new greenhouses, as they don’t need additional embedded software.

Because a rule‑based approach suffices, no machine learning is required. An operator can control actuators via a mobile or web app, eliminating the need for a separate control application. With sparse sensor placement and a sampling interval of, say, ten minutes, the data volume stays low, further driving down costs.

Controlling Products from Mobile or Web Applications

Another cost‑saving option is to allow full control through a dedicated mobile or web app rather than integrating the device into a heavy enterprise system such as SCADA. Integration brings extra costs and complexity, as the new device must sync with all existing equipment.

While SCADA integration offers convenience, a standalone app is often sufficient for entry‑level products and is easier to deploy.

Example: Pharmaceutical manufacturing. Operators use a mobile or web interface to set mixing parameters and quantities for smart equipment that blends raw materials based on sensor‑derived quality metrics.

What’s Next – Scaling Without Breaking the Bank

Starting simple doesn’t lock you into obsolescence. As a business grows, new resources become available, enabling you to expand the product’s functionality. Focusing first on core features and gradually adding advanced components keeps initial costs low and reduces project complexity at every stage.

Endnote

Entering the IoT space can be costly, but a lean approach delivers higher business value with fewer resources. By minimizing data volume, simplifying logic, moving intelligence to the cloud, and controlling devices via mobile or web apps, you optimize available resources and cut waste.

Begin with a straightforward smart, connected product that uses only the data necessary to perform its functions. When new requirements or resources emerge, you can confidently add advanced capabilities, ensuring a strong return on investment.

The author of this blog is Alex Grizhnevich, process automation and IoT consultant, ScienceSoft

About the author

Alex Grizhnevich is a process automation and IoT consultant at ScienceSoft, an IT consulting and software development company headquartered in McKinney, Texas. With 17+ years of experience in IT and OT, he has programmed industrial microcontrollers, developed web and desktop applications, databases, and document‑management solutions for oil & gas and logistics. Holding a degree in automation and management of industrial processes, Alex now focuses on IoT and machine learning applied to sensor data.