![8 IoT Issues and Ways to Solve Them [WebbyLab Team’s Real-Life Experience]](https://webbylab.com/wp-content/webp-express/webp-images/uploads/2024/06/upload_6673f1472abd4-791x267.png.webp)
There are many IoT challenges and issues you might face when working on your project. Picture this: an industrial factory uses numerous sensors to monitor critical equipment. Suddenly, a power outage hits, covering the facility in darkness. The internet connection drops and the factory loses valuable real-time IIoT data. This scenario is just one of many.
Over five years of developing IoT solutions, we’ve encountered our fair share of IoT implementation challenges. What seemed like invincible obstacles at each stage of IoT development now feels like a breeze — experience truly is the best teacher.
In this article, we’ll try to figure out what are the challenges of IoT and share 8 IoT product development challenges and solutions from our own background.
From maintaining functionality during connectivity issues in Propuskator ACS and dealing with limited battery power in a smart A/C drain line cleaner to IoT data challenges in MyBox — we’ll cover everything you need to know in detail.
Key IoT challenges Webbylab team has solved:
2Smart Cloud mobile app developed by WebbyLab
Let’s get straight to the point and examine the IoT product development challenges and solutions from our experience. Although these were our specific issues, you’ll surely find them relevant to your own project.
Kostiantyn Oliynyk
Head of IoT at WebbylabHelped dozens of startups create effective IOT products.
Get a ConsultationPropuskator Cloud ACS, Smart Automated A/C Drain Line Cleaner.
We aimed to ensure IoT devices function properly even without an Internet connection.
Sometimes, IoT devices lose their Internet connection due to power outages or connectivity issues. Despite these interruptions, devices must maintain functionality and keep critical IoT data.
We faced these IoT challenges while developing a controller for the Propuskator access control system and a smart dispenser for cleaning air conditioning drain lines.
Although the lack of Internet access limits remote control options, we implement offline modes of operation for continued device use. For simpler devices like relays and LED lamps, offline mode is pretty straightforward and allows full functionality through physical controls such as buttons and remotes.
For more complex devices, like the ACS controller and the drain line cleaner, maintaining core functions comes with certain complications. Both devices need to make decisions — granting access or performing a cleaning action — and report these actions to the cloud. Since decision-making and reporting are key business functionalities of these devices, we had to ensure their smooth operation even without an Internet connection.
To achieve this, we developed the following mechanism for the devices:
This task required careful memory management to balance rewriting flash memory and preserving events, ensuring data integrity and efficient storage.
As a result, we delivered devices that, after initial configuration, can operate offline for extended periods, saving the entire history of events. Upon reconnection, they report all actions with accurate timestamps to the cloud, making sure no data is lost.
A Propuskator controller with offline mode support developed by Webbylab
Smart Automated A/C Drain Line Cleaner.
We sought to develop an IoT device that regularly syncs with a cloud application via the Internet, operates an electric pump to drain liquid, and notifies users about floods and other events. The device had to function for at least one year on 4 AA batteries.
One of the IoT challenges we face is balancing long battery life with full functionality for standalone IoT devices.
After R&D and real-world IoT testing of various devices, we selected the ESP32 S2 module. This choice was driven by its ability to handle business logic, peripheral control, telemetry collection, and Wi-Fi connectivity for cloud communication.
Using the ESP32 S2’s features, we developed firmware based on the Espressif IDF. The key to extending battery life was employing the Deep Sleep mode, which allowed the device to maintain minimal power consumption while waiting for specific triggers to wake up.
To ensure timely wake-ups, we used the ESP32 S2’s ULP (Ultra Low Power) co-processor, which remains active with very low power consumption. This setup allows the device to wake up when scheduled times, button presses, float activations, or microswitch triggers occur. When using ULP, we needed to identify the pins that support these wake-up triggers early on to make sure all scenarios were covered.
As a result, we developed a device based on ESP32 S2 equipped with a Wi-Fi module. Powered by 4 AA batteries, it can fully operate for three years (calculated mathematically based on real consumption measurements). The device remains in sleep mode most of the time but can wake up automatically or via a trigger to start the pump, communicate with the server, or perform various other functions.
A drain line cleaner with extended battery life developed by Webbylab
We aimed to provide users with an alternative way to manage devices without an Internet connection.
There are scenarios when neither the device nor the user’s or integrator’s phone has an Internet connection. Therefore, it’s necessary to provide basic control and monitoring capabilities locally.
The Internet of Things challenges we faced involved developing a universal mechanism for working with various devices and delivering a decent user experience.
In addition to our standard built-in admin panels for local management, we developed a specialized interface for the MyBox IoT app. This interface detects devices on the local network, even without Internet access, using the mDNS protocol. It also automatically generates a management interface based on the device configuration received upon connection.
Local management of devices in the MyBox mobile app – developed by Webbylab
Smart Automated A/C Drain Line Cleaner, MyBox, Propuskator Cloud ACS, 2Smart Cloud.
We had to provide users with a local management, configuration, and pairing tool.
One of the common IoT issues we face in our IoT projects is resource limitations on controllers, particularly those based on ESP32 modules. These devices can sometimes be tight on flash memory for storing static files.
As part of our SDK and other outsourced projects, we have built a basic admin panel along with the tools necessary to develop an IoT product. Now, we use it and its modifications across almost all our projects.
Our admin panels allow users to:
Besides that, the admin panels feature a responsive layout and are comfortable on all screen sizes and platforms. They’re built with the Parcel Packer, which lets us minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code. As a result, the panel takes up minimal microcontroller memory, averaging just 10–12 kB.
Managing Wi-Fi network settings in 2Smart Cloud
Smart Automated A/C Drain Line Cleaner.
Our goal was to provide users with a convenient and seamless way to pair their IoT devices through web browsers.
The challenges in IoT implementation appeared as not all gadgets have Bluetooth for pairing, and many browsers block HTTP or HTTPS requests to web servers with endless certificates.
In the web version of our app, we implemented a device pairing mechanism similar to mobile pairing. Initially, the application makes requests to the device and sends all necessary data, requiring the device to have valid SSL certificates. However, SSL certificates can only be valid for a maximum of five years, creating a potential issue if the device is sold and needs to be paired again without a firmware update.
To address this, we developed the following mechanism in the web application:
As a result, we delivered a solution that avoids the risks associated with SSL certificates. Additionally, the device’s admin panel is styled to match the application, creating a seamless user experience.
Seamless Wi-Fi pairing of IoT devices
We had to develop a communication mechanism between charging stations and the cloud that guarantees the delivery and integrity of critical data via MQTT.
One of the key IoT challenges we faced was ensuring reliable data transmission. Charging stations communicate with the cloud exclusively through MQTT, publishing all information to a broker.
However, the default MQTT setup doesn’t guarantee that the backend correctly receives and processes the data. This posed unacceptable risks of losing messages, especially considering these records are essential for billing based on charging sessions.
Universal ecosystem for managing and maintaining EV Charging stations
As developers of products built around MQTT, we created a specialized yet universal bus system that ensures secure and reliable communication. The key features of our solution include:
Our efforts resulted in a secure bus within the MQTT framework, which guarantees the delivery and integrity of all data. It also provides confirmation from the backend and is flexible enough to be used for various applications and tasks.
We aimed to allow smart LED lamp users to synchronize multiple devices so that controlling one lamp through an app or a physical control button changes its state (on/off, color, brightness, mode, intensity, etc.) and simultaneously updates all other synchronized lamps.
In terms of desired behavior, it was necessary to let the user group lamps for synchronized control without affecting all lamps at once. Other development challenges in IoT involved implementing robust protection measures to prevent unauthorized access from third-party devices with malicious firmware.
We developed a dedicated bus at the firmware level for devices communicating with the cloud through MQTT. This bus, with restricted access, allows each device to send information necessary for synchronization. This solution not only addresses the functional requirement but also provides real-time synchronization using MQTT.
On top of that, the bus does more than just connect identical devices. It syncs a wider range of similar gadgets, including LED strips, bulbs, floor lamps, table lamps, and garlands. Thanks to MQTT in cloud computing, the system can synchronize devices even if they’re not on the same network. For added flexibility, the bus also lets users create synchronization groups, allowing logically separate smart home devices.
Device synchronization feature for Intellect Led Lamps
We sought to ensure a quick and seamless process of updating the access rules for residents on all controllers without blocking the system.
Our Propuskator access control system allows personalized access rules for each resident and various entry methods for a given access point. In a busy residential complex, the volume of such rules can be substantial and frequently updated. Blocking access points during the update process is inconvenient. Additionally, frequent overwriting of information on the controller’s flash memory (ESP32 in this case) reduces its lifespan and operational time.
ACS & remote controller
To tackle development challenges in IoT, we designed an efficient and fast rule update mechanism for the Propuskator ACS and controllers using our proprietary firmware. Key elements of our solution include:
As a result, we delivered a solution that lets thousands of controllers:
Propuskator mobile app – developed by Webbylab
Handling IoT app development for over half a decade, WebbyLab has overcome numerous IoT risks and challenges. Just eight of those were described above. Let’s quickly recap what our company can do. We cover:
But that’s not all. Our professional team has various other IoT device development challenges and solutions to discuss. We streamline IoT-based MVP development, help with IoT analytics, and tackle design challenges. Check out our expertise in dealing with these IoT issues in our portfolio.
Building an IoT product is a promising venture, yet it comes with certain challenges and issues.. As we’ve discussed in this article, various obstacles can arise — think connectivity issues, limited battery life, or device synchronization problems.
Alexey Krol
Chief Business Development OfficerConsulted 30+ IoT startups to speed up time to market.
Get a ConsultationThe good news is that we’ve already been there and tackled various IoT implementation challenges successfully. And if you’re currently struggling with IoT development problems, WebbyLab can take responsibility for helping you with them. Just reach out to us for further consultation.
Written by:
Head of IoT at Webbylab
With a robust academic background in Telecommunication Systems Engineering, I apply my knowledge to lead innovations in the IoT domain. Starting as the first team member in the newly formed IoT department at WebbyLab, I've spearheaded its growth, fostering the expansion into embedded and hardware development alongside our core software projects. My dedication lies in pushing the boundaries of IoT technology, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence that profoundly impacts our clients' operational success.
The integration challenges we faced were primarily due to differing communication protocols and data formats. To overcome these IoT problems, we developed a universal communication bus based on MQTT, which ensured seamless data exchange between devices and the cloud.
To tackle IoT challenges and issues related to scalability, we leverage efficient data management and communication techniques. For example, we use MQTT technology to integrate many devices easily. Our engineers also employ protocols that compress data into the smallest possible size and effective data packaging methods to ensure devices communicate seamlessly without overloading the system.
We handle IoT issues with power consumption by using cutting-edge hardware components and power-saving techniques. For example, we leverage the model of an ESP32 S2 module with Deep Sleep mode and a ULP co-processor to reduce power usage. This lets devices operate on their batteries for extended periods, often over a year.
The main IoT risks and challenges we face during device implementation include the following:
Our skilled team has come up with viable IoT challenges and solutions. Those include offline operation modes, local management interfaces, and custom MQTT-based buses.
First of all, we use convenient built-in panels to collect and view IoT data. We also leverage MQTT for reliable data exchange, while our proprietary protocol minimizes data size for efficient processing.
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