iomico

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Research and Development Engineer of Industrial Technology Research

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

ITR is a full-service predictive maintenance provider focused on elongating the life of the most complex industrial equipment

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire iomico to accomplish?

• Help with the development of a wireless sensor network

SOLUTION

How did you find iomico?

Online Search

Why did you select iomico over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from iomico were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Scope of work:

1. General Software/Firmware Review
2. Improve communication reliability between Coordinator and Endpoint 
3. Add firmware features: 
4. Consult on best deployment strategies 

• Deliverables:

1. Updated Endpoint firmware that implements best coding practices and new features 
2. Updated Coordinator software that improves communication reliability between devices, cloud computing, and cloud databases

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The measurable outcomes from the project are the functionality and deployment of firmware and software for the wireless sensor network.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management was handled professionally. Their team kept constant communication and documentation on the progress and milestones. Additionally, they provided valuable insights on necessary trade-offs during the development process. Team dedication around key milestones kept deliverables on time.

What was your primary form of communication with iomico?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They are technically competent and have an eye for sourcing talent in various areas.

Are there any areas for improvement or something iomico could have done differently?

Understanding a new project and working on an existing infrastructure takes time. Their team did an awesome job at understanding the existing solutions and adding/redesigning them to meet changing needs. No areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of Engineering of Sleepme

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Smart temperature control for your bed.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire iomico to accomplish?

• Improve IoT Device Connectivity Issues

SOLUTION

How did you find iomico?

Online Search

Why did you select iomico over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from iomico were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of our project was to improve the overall wifi and MQTT connectivity resiliency. We have issues today where our product will be unable to reconnect itself to our cloud broker, resulting in the need for a physical power cycle by our end users. The desired end result is that if the device was able to ever make a good connection to a home network, that it would always be able to reconnect after a temporary disconnection event - even if that requires a reboot of the unit.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Iomico showed a high degree of technical expertise in the initial audit phase of our product's codebase. They identified multiple code issues, ranging from minor items such as missing error handling, to more advanced and less pronounced cases such as incorrect / missing logic. They were able to quickly implement all the suggested fixes, including a few side requests. 

They also helped implement a general watchdog logic that will ensure the unit, even if a reboot is required, will always be able to get back online.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Excellent project management. We had visibility into tasks and progress via their JIRA board, caught up with weekly Zoom meetings to sync on goals, and constant daily communication through Slack. They implemented faster than we expected for sure on this project, and were great to work with for all our requests.

What was your primary form of communication with iomico?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Talented engineers, great project managers, and great communication all the way around.

Are there any areas for improvement or something iomico could have done differently?

Nothing comes to mind from this project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive at a maritime transportations company. We work in the marine industry, offering maintenance and accessories.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with iomico?

We asked iomico to help us develop our own WiFi system to have a better connection on board since our customers had requested it before. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

iomico has developed custom software for our maritime vehicles that has allowed us to improve our products, including the 5G connection.

iomico has used multiple technologies for development. They’ve built the firmware on top of a real time operating system (RTOS) and used Vue.js with a continuous integration tool for the UI’s customization. iomico has used a tool similar to Jenkins for software testing.

Moreover, iomico has helped with our product’s certification. Our products must be certified since we work in the worldwide marine industry. They have also worked on all the required network protocols, including WiFi, internet, and global system for mobile communication (GSM) protocols. iomico is currently working on the feasibility study of other projects that are under development.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with around 20 different specialists from iomico from all expertise levels, including senior and junior. We’ve also worked with UI/UX designers and iomico’s owners. 

How did you come to work with iomico?

We consulted several business partners for company recommendations that could develop this project. We had several calls with iomico and chose them for their professionalism and organization.  

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent around $300,000 with iomico.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with iomico started in September 2021 and is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

iomico has helped us be at an advantage over our competitors. We recently attended an important trade show in the marine industry, and we were one of the few manufacturers that presented a 5G product for the industry. We’re happy with iomico’s work. 

How did iomico perform from a project management standpoint?

iomico has immediately become one of the most proactive partners in our portfolio. They’re always available and quick to respond. We communicate through Slack and WhatsApp and have Zoom and in-person meetings. 

Moreover, iomico’s project management has been excellent. They provide good follow-up and feedback through Jira. iomico’s team is really involved with our project, and we feel like they’re part of the company.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with iomico’s commitment to meeting deadlines. They’ve always been proactive, and their goal is to respect deadlines even in critical situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Moreover, iomico has been clear and honest throughout our engagement. They inform us about unexpected situations in real time. For instance, our project’s budget increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the lack of electronic components.

We initially started the project with a different budget. However, iomico has stayed by our side and checked for the best possible solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for iomico to improve. If they approach other customers the same way they’ve worked with us, they’ll surely get more projects. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend working with iomico if you need an honest, professional, and technical development partner. You must have a clear idea and be transparent to approach the job because iomico is an entirely trustworthy partner.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the CTO of a consumer electronics company, launching a new product that incorporates cutting edge computer vision.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire iomico, and what were your goals?

We lacked in-house expertise regarding embedded systems, computer vision on the edge and firmware development. We hired Iomico to guide us in the selection of the various hardware components, testing their capabilities and writing the shipping firmware for our product.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Iomico had a strong track record of delivering high quality products and an ability to adapt and be flexible as the project took shape. They also had a strong reputation for taking projects all the way through the lifecycle which was a big bonus for us. Lastly they where open and honest throughout the process, which was a refreshing change from the 'yes men' we had also been considering.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Iomico started by creating a list of hardware requirements, so they could reach out into the supply chain and gather a number of samples of camera and embedded boards that could meet the projects needs. Next they thoroughly tested each option so we could finalise our hardware selection. Finally the firmware was developed over a number of sprints. They provided excellent documentation throughout the process, which helped keep everybody on the same page and ran daily calls with us to ensure alignment.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We had two core team members working day to day on the project, a firmware engineer with expertise in computer vision, alongside a project manager to ensure we remained on track. Other team members would join as and when required.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We have been delighted with the quality of work and their flexibility as the project evolved and will be keeping them onboard for the long term.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Project management has been great, with the team providing daily status updates, longer weekly catch ups, excellent documentation and have been very proactive in suggesting options to keep everything on track.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their openness, honesty, and quality of work have all been absolutely outstanding. We really feel in control and at no point have felt in the dark.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I think we could have brought on additional resources earlier in the project, however thats more on us than on Iomico.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Hatch manufactures custom electronics. We focus on custom Android products, but had a client request for an IoT product which we wanted to help with. I own Hatch.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire iomico?

Firmware and hardware development.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Met in person. They understood the project. Offered a fair price. Seemed easy to communicate with and serious to work with.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Approve a BOM. Get schematics. Do PCB layout. Make prototype. Test prototype. Find and fix problems. Make another prototype. Work out bugs and optimize.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Project manager. Hardware Engineer Firmware Engineer Bluetooth Engineer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The team has been very helpful and committed to providing a high level of care to the project. At first there were problems which created a delay, but the owner of Iomico stepped up and took responsibility. They've done a very good job following up after the initial problems. They have shown a high level of dedication and professionalism.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team was good about following timelines. We had a weekly call to go over status. The calls ranged from 10 to 60 minutes and were helpful. Iomico engineers created good documentation about the project which helped during the testing phase and onboarding new engineers.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The engineers were genuinely nice people, made themselves available, and knowledgeable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Initial expectations misalignment led to a long delay, but they took responsibility, didn't charge more and did a great job on the second try. To me taking responsibility for mistakes is more important than avoiding mistakes. One is real and the other is impossible.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CTO of an IoT solution company focused on fresh vending. The solution consists of a smart refrigerator powered by sensors and controlled via an android platform. The fleet is managed by a cloud native SaaS platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire iomico?

To develop a prototype of a computer vision system to augment the sensing capability of the refrigerator.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We worked with iomico on a previous project, and we were pleased with their quality. We were introduced to iomico when they reached out to us with an introduction. After an evaluation of their capabilities and a visit to their facilities, we were comfortable that they would be able deliver on the projects.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

They are creating a prototype of a computer vision system to be retrofitted to our fridge. They determined ideal camera placement, lenses, number of cameras, and developed host controller software. They have achieved the milestones of detecting hand movement, and object enumeration. On the android side, they have developed a mqtt communication layer and are developing a driver interface to a new payment system.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

A project manager, 2-3 people on the computer vision team, and 1 resource on the android development team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

This project is still under development, but is tracking to the timelines.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have daily standup calls for the android development, and weekly calls for the computer vision project. We also use slack to communicate.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We're impressed by how their hardware and software skills blend well with each other. Their Operational Support System is ideal for our needs.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Initially, updates on the computer vision project were spotty. This has been addressed with weekly calls.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm CEO of the Electronics Manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire iomico, and what were your goals?

We had serious challenges with software and hardware Linux development. The goal was to find the best software and hardware solution for our project, doing a great job in R&D.

SOLUTION

How did you select iomico and what were the deciding factors?

We found them in Google and considered them along with 4 other vendors. CEO of the company was very result-driven that helped us to make the right decision and choose Iomico as a partner.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

- R&D hardware, with a very well organized optimized results - R&D software - Hiring specific specialists - Smart Networking etc

How many people from the iomico team worked with you, and what were their positions?

5+ people

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

In our project, it is hard to count measurable results, but that was 100% what we needed.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project management was absolutely outstanding, and they met all deadlines. Used Jira, Confluence, Google Services.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

From the first days, the CEO and the team were fully involved in the project and were in love with it no less than us. This allowed us to get excellent results within a reasonable time frame.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I cannot say that this is a minus, but the company does not always have free specialists who were needed. Which is okay in general, good people are always busy with projects. At the same time, the CEO has always found opportunities for us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a company that provides IoT solutions for the Marine Industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire iomico, and what were your goals?

We are in the process of releasing a new version of our hardware that requires to handle efficient power management features. We hired Iomico for their expertise in low power IoT products to help design and develop a power management module for our product.

SOLUTION

How did you select iomico and what were the deciding factors?

We searched online on several platforms until we found Iomico. We had an virtual interview and chose them based on their past projects, experience with IoT products, their project management skills and cost.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a kick-off meeting to discuss the goals and objectives for the required module. After this meeting the team was able to provide us with different approaches on how to best manage power within the device. After few iterations they delivered a well documented module capable of automatically setting the device on different power saving modes.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We worked directly with 2 people, a project manager and a senior developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

After testing our hardware with the power manager module loaded we saw a 60% decrease in power consumption and an increase in battery life.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timelines.

We had daily stand-ups with video calls to discuss any potential blockers and updates. This meetings helped us understand if there were any delays or additional requirements to allow for a smooth execution of the project. We also used slack for quick communications.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their quick execution and knowledge on the required task were impressive. They provided detailed documentation about the project and they have been extremely responsive throughout the whole project.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not for noe. Their execution has exceeded our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of firmware and hardware development at an Austrian company with around 120 employees. We make GPS trackers for pets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with iomico?

We looked for external help to develop the firmware architecture of our GPS trackers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our development team was small, and we had an existing firmware that was completely outdated and not future-proof. We decided to create a new firmware architecture, which would become the new frontier for our existing tracker. 

Their team has worked on the implementation of different technologies. They have experts in different areas who have contributed to the overall project. We have an app for end-users, and they have also helped a little with its development. 

What is the team composition?

We have changed the number of people according to our needs, and we started with six people. Currently, we have eight partners. 

How did you come to work with iomico?

I wasn’t part of the project when management chose to work iomico, but I know that it was a valuation process of various companies like iomico. In the end, they were chosen.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested somewhere around the €100,000–€250,000 (approximately $120,000–$300,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in October 2019, and the development is still ongoing but in the final phase. We are planning on ending our partnership around June 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I can't give feedback about the development, because we don't evaluate the developers from iomico separately from our own developers. The only evidence I have is how fast we’re able to get issues fixed.

How did iomico perform from a project management standpoint?

At the beginning of the development, one of our iomico partners took care of the management. However, the experience wasn’t that pleasant, and we saw some parts that needed improvement, so we took over. We have integrated them into our section so we can manage the Slack channels that they are involved in. We use emails mostly for invoices and the rest is through our ticketing tool based on Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I can't really compare them to anybody else. However, I can say that we really like them because of their excellent communication, eagerness to solve problems, and ability to find solutions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I honestly can't think of anything to improve. We had some issues with the holidays, but everything was solved swiftly. We are happier because they're here.

Any advice for potential customers?

Learn how to integrate them into your workforce as if they were an internal guide. That way the development team is really part of the team. We see them as one team and they are involved in every meeting that is relevant to the project. We also recommend taking over the project management and planning.