Today I thought of talking about IoT systems and the Business Analysts role in a IoT project/product.
IoT is becoming a hot and a trending topic nowadays. It’s estimated that the worldwide number of IoT-connected devices will increase to 43 billion by 2023.
Businesses nowadays embrace IoT technology because of the immense number of benefits it can provide to the business over its competitors. It generates a competitive advantage to the business over others.
IoT projects or products can be considered much more challenging than typical software projects due to the below reasons -
1. Resource Availability
2. Cost
Resource Availability-
It is very hard to find a good development resource for IoT projects and it is much more harder to find a one with the required amount of experience.
Not only that but also there exists a difficulty in finding quality hardware devices for a reasonable price. Most companies try to partner with a hardware manufacturer for IoT projects/products due to the same reason though most partnerships fail.
Cost -
Starting from the human resources for a IoT project to devices to innovation and creativity to research and development to testing, every step in IoT projects are very costly and most companies do not possess the required budget to involve in IoT projects.
Now let me talk to you about the Business Analysts role in a IoT project-
Business analysts play an important role in any project. And IoT projects are no exception. They are essential role players to ensure challenges are avoided or easily overcome at each stage of the project. But how do they do it?
1. Identifying the Business Need
A business analyst works to engage with all stakeholders to carefully consider the business' exact requirements. This helps to determine exactly what the business wants from the IoT project.
2. Conducting the Market Research
As with any new project a business takes on, it is essential to understand what competitors are doing. It is also vital to know exactly what customers want and include this information in the business Use Case. If a value added functionality is found, don't forget to add it to the product or even suggest to your customer if the context matches.
3. Read and Share New Ideas
By considering important data and insights, a business analyst comes up with ideas that match the business' requirements. Through this, all stakeholders can study the ideas and find the most suitable solution for implementation.
4. Analyze Risks
It is vital to evaluate how the project will turn out. A business analyst can assess any risks throughout the development stages, the implementation feasibility, the project's functional strength and any potential roadblocks.
5. Involve in User Acceptance Testing
Business Analyst understand the heart beat of the customer. Hence he/she would be the most ideas person to conduct the UAT.
Having said all of the above, BAs role in a IoT projects requires the BA to learn and understand the business domain as well as communication protocols between devices, data flow and storage, security and technical details. It is much challenging than a typical software BA role. Having said that, it is also the most interesting arenas.
With custom IoT systems, businesses can improve productivity, enhance service to consumers and stand out among competitors. The key to success with custom IoT technology is to invest in a professional team that can overcome the challenges that arise from embarking on an IoT project.
