Custom hardware devices: from idea to finished product

Sometimes the exact thing that would solve your problem simply does not exist on the market. Either no one makes it, or the ready-made solutions do too many unnecessary things and miss the one that matters. That is when a custom device makes sense. And that is exactly what we do.

When a custom solution really pays off

A custom device is not always the right choice. It mainly makes sense when:

• No ready-made solution exists or none fits your specific process, space or machine.
• A commercial solution is overpriced with licences and features you will never use, while missing the one that matters.
• You need to connect systems that normally do not talk to each other, or to get data to where you can actually use it.
• You keep doing something manually and it is worth automating.

On the other hand, if a proven ready-made device exists that does exactly what you need, buying it is usually the smarter move. We will always advise first on what makes more sense for your case.

We design, build and program it

We take care of the entire development in one place - from the initial idea, through design and a prototype, all the way to a finished device together with its software. You do not have to run between several companies and translate requirements from one to another. We start from what you need and build it so it does precisely its job, reliably and without anything unnecessary.

How development works, step by step

So that it is not a leap in the dark, we work in clear phases:

1. Analysis and design. We pin down exactly what the device should do, in what conditions and how it will be operated. From that we create a design of the solution.
2. Prototype. First we build a working prototype, on which the idea can be tried in the real world and refined before investing in the final form.
3. Firmware and software. We program the firmware (the program inside the device) as well as the layer on top, for example an application, a web service or a control panel.
4. Manufacturing and assembly. We prepare the final form including the enclosure and assembly so the device can withstand the environment it will work in.
5. Deployment and support. We put the device into service at your site, train the operators and take care of further maintenance or adjustments.

Examples of what we can build

• Sensors and measurement for a smart home or a workplace (temperature, humidity, motion, machine status, data collection).
• An e-ink display with a reservation system for meeting rooms, showing when a room is free and when it is occupied.
• Process automation - a device that monitors something on its own, switches things on and off, or sends an alert.
• Connecting multiple systems that normally do not communicate with each other.

Not just hardware, but the software to go with it

A device is only half of the solution. The other half is the software that controls it and gives you access to the data. We can program an application or a web service for it - for example a clear reservation (booking) system, a control panel in the browser, automatic alerts, or integration with your existing tools.

Benefits and limits compared to a ready-made solution

So that you have realistic expectations, we will be straight with you.

Benefits of a custom device:

• it does exactly what you need, with nothing unnecessary,
• no monthly licences for features you will not use,
• it adapts to your processes, not the other way around,
• one supplier for both hardware and software, so no one passes the blame.

What to watch out for (the limits):

• developing a prototype takes longer than buying a finished product off the shelf,
• for a small number of units the unit price is higher than in mass production,
• the solution then needs to be maintained, so it helps to have a supplier who knows it.

That is exactly why we first weigh up together whether building custom is worth it, or whether an available solution will serve you better.

Have an idea? Let us build it

If it makes sense, it can usually be built. If you have a specific idea or just a problem that needs solving, get in touch. Together we will think through exactly what you need, propose a solution and build it to measure, including the software and the web part.

This article is part of our Business IT overview.