LoRaWAN: Product Design for Scale

Introduction: Scaling IoT Solutions with Confidence

Designing IoT products for scale is a complex journey, especially with the rapid pace of innovation and evolving connectivity needs. Josh Cox, CEO of Oxit, shared valuable insights at The Things Conference 2023 about scaling LoRaWAN products from concept to deployment. Drawing on over a decade of experience and 100+ LoRaWAN projects, he highlighted the critical factors for designing scalable, future-ready IoT solutions.

Josh’s talk at The Things Conference 2023 showcased Oxit’s expertise in scaling LoRaWAN projects, emphasizing design longevity and deployment strategies. The event brought together industry leaders like The Things Industries, Semtech, and STMicroelectronics to share transformative IoT use cases.

This blog distills key lessons from Josh’s talk, focusing on design principles, production strategies, and deployment best practices for LoRaWAN products.

1. The Foundations of Scalable IoT Design

Designing for Longevity

Scaling begins with selecting the right microcontroller units (MCUs) and architectures. Josh stressed the importance of evaluating not just the technology but the company behind it:

• Vendor Stability: Partner with vendors with a proven track record and strong roadmaps to avoid supply disruptions.
• Lifecycle Planning: Ensure components and firmware stacks won’t be prematurely retired, which could disrupt production.

Pro Tip: Build relationships with vendors to stay informed about product updates and roadmaps. These partnerships can prevent critical supply chain issues as your product scales.

The Role of Multi-Protocol Support

Adding complementary protocols like Bluetooth or cellular to your LoRaWAN design ensures long-term flexibility:

• Future Proofing: Integrate secondary radios to accommodate future updates or market shifts.
• Practical Applications: Use Bluetooth for device commissioning and firmware updates in the field.

Example: Adding a Bluetooth module to a LoRaWAN design enables seamless troubleshooting and configuration, even in areas with weak LoRaWAN connectivity.

Learn how to integrate multi-protocol support for scalable IoT solutions by watching Josh Cox’s presentation: How to Design LoRaWAN Products for Scale.

2. Production Strategies for Scalability

Security Starts in Production

While LoRaWAN is inherently secure, scaling devices introduces risks:

• Key Management: Avoid common mistakes like using identical keys for all devices or embedding keys in unprotected formats.
• Factory Security: Ensure join keys and sensitive data are securely managed during production to prevent breaches.

Pro Tip: Use hardware-based encryption or secure key storage to prevent security vulnerabilities during manufacturing.

Optimizing Production Lines

Josh emphasized the importance of flexible production processes:

• Programming Flexibility: Ensure devices can be updated during production to avoid costly delays if bugs are discovered.
• Component Planning: Work closely with vendors to mitigate risks from shortages or delayed shipments.

Example: A scalable production line enabled a client to swiftly adapt to a last-minute design change, avoiding a six-month delay.

3. Deployment Best Practices

Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) Updates

FOTA is critical for maintaining devices in the field:

• Case Study: A company deployed 100,000 sensors but overlooked how environmental factors could trigger excessive message transmissions. Without FOTA, resolving this would have been impossible, leading to premature battery failures.
• Key Takeaway: Incorporate FOTA capabilities from the outset to ensure adaptability and reduce long-term costs.

Leveraging Network Solutions

For deployments at scale, Josh recommends managed LoRaWAN Network Servers (LNS) like The Things Stack or Everynet:

• Benefits: Outsourcing LNS management reduces operational complexity and ensures reliability.
• Warning: Avoid running LNS on gateways, which can create bottlenecks and scalability challenges.

4. Lessons Learned from the Field

Case Study: Overcoming Challenges in Scaling

One of Oxit’s clients faced significant hurdles when scaling an IoT solution globally. By:

• Implementing multi-protocol support (LoRaWAN + BLE),
• Optimizing their production processes, and
• Leveraging a managed LNS platform, they reduced deployment costs by 30% and expanded to new markets without delays.

Oxit’s contributions to scaling IoT projects were also featured on Instagram and LinkedIn, where event highlights celebrated their partnership with The Things Industries and other leaders.

Conclusion: Building Scalable IoT Solutions with Oxit

Scaling LoRaWAN products requires foresight, flexibility, and strong partnerships. By focusing on design longevity, production optimization, and deployment readiness, businesses can avoid costly missteps and deliver scalable IoT solutions.

As Josh Cox put it, “Scaling isn’t just about technology—it’s about building systems and relationships that grow with your business.”

Ready to scale your IoT project? Partner with Oxit for expert guidance on designing and deploying scalable LoRaWAN solutions.

Discover how Oxit and other industry leaders are transforming IoT scalability at The Things Conference.