Hardware and Firmware Development
Would you like to have hardware and firmware created and are looking for a comprehensive overview from the idea to the finished application?
We accompany you step-by-step to the successful development of your own hardware.
_Workshop
Develop the idea
Everything starts with your idea. During a workshop, we define the purpose of your app and identify the problems or needs it should solve.
Target group analysis
In order to position your app successfully, a precise target group analysis is essential. We work with you to identify your potential users and their preferences, habits and needs. These findings help us to work together to develop an app that is specifically tailored to your target group.
Define functionalities
We work with you to define the core functionalities of your app. What features are needed to solve the main problem or achieve the main goal? We prioritize these features to ensure your app can be tried out as quickly as possible in relation to the customer.
_Prototyping
Functionality testing
A prototype allows developers to verify the actual functionality of the hardware. This includes testing circuits, interfaces, sensors, actuators, and other components to ensure everything is working as expected.
Error detection and troubleshooting
During the prototyping process, errors and problems in the design can be identified early on. This makes it possible to fix errors before expensive mass production begins.
Risk reduction
Prototyping helps minimize technical, operational and business risks by identifying and managing potential difficulties early.
Cost control
Identifying design issues at the prototyping stage can avoid expensive corrections in later stages of production.
Optimization of the design
By evaluating a prototype, developers can optimize the design to improve performance, efficiency, and usability.
Verification and validation
Prototypes make it possible to verify and validate design decisions. This is particularly important to ensure that the product meets the desired requirements.
Customer feedback
We use prototypes to present the planned product to you or other stakeholders. Feedback from these parties can inform the development process and help tailor the final product to meet needs and expectations.
_Development
Development of hardware and firmware in sprints
Developing hardware and firmware in sprints allows the team to respond flexibly to changes, incorporate continuous feedback, and create high-quality hardware/firmware in iterative steps. This approach promotes transparency, team collaboration and continuous improvement of the development process. With you as part of the Scrum Team, we can deliver the optimal result for you.
_Approvals and Standards
Certifications and conformity assessments
Products often need to receive certain certifications or conformity assessments to meet certain safety, health or environmental standards.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMV/EMC)
Products must not produce harmful electromagnetic emissions and should be immune to such interference. Safety Certifications: Products must be safe to use and may require certifications such as UL, CE, CSA or others.
Environmental friendliness
Products may need to comply with RoHS, REACH or other environmental standards.
Tests and exams
Products must undergo extensive testing and inspection to ensure they meet the required standards. These tests may include mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical and other tests.
Documentation
Comprehensive technical documentation, including manuals, safety instructions, specifications and other relevant information, is often required to obtain approval.
Declaration of Conformity
In some cases, manufacturers are required to make an official declaration of conformity certifying that their product meets the relevant standards.
_Lifecycle Management
Scaling
Scaling refers to how the product moves from development to a larger stage of production to meet market demand. This includes the planning and implementation of production processes, material procurement, supplier management and quality assurance. Scaling may require changes in design to make mass production more efficient and cost-effective.
Production
In the production phase, the product is manufactured and assembled in larger quantities. It is important to implement quality assurance processes to ensure that every product produced meets specifications. Production processes can be monitored and optimized to ensure efficiency and quality control.
Maintenance and support
Maintenance and support are essential to ensure that the product functions properly after sale and customer satisfaction is maintained. Firmware updates may be required to fix bugs, fix security vulnerabilities, or add new features.
_Why and how do we use Scrum to develop your hardware and firmware?
What is Scrum?
Why is “flexible to change” so important and what does it have to do with the competitive environment?
What is optimization and improvement all about?
_Scrum leads to more transparency and communication, but why is this important?
Why do we use Scrum?
Who is part of the Scrum team?
How does a sprint usually work?
COMMUNICATION
We talk to every customer about communication again and again, because that’s exactly where many software projects fail.
In your role as Product Owner within our joint software development, our project managers ensure as much communication as possible. And for a variety of reasons, but here are the most common ones:
Interaction with you
Communication with you is absolutely crucial to ensure that the product developed meets your needs. Regular updates, presentations and discussions allow progress to be reviewed, feedback to be given and adjustments to be made.
Understanding of requirements
Clear communication helps understand the requirements and expectations for your software project. Developers need to understand exactly what the application is intended to achieve to ensure they implement the right features and deliver the desired results.
Teamwork
Software development is often a team process in which different members with different skills and areas of expertise work together. Effective communication promotes collaboration, makes it easier to share knowledge and ideas, and allows the team to work together on a solution. As a product owner, you also interact with the team and our teams get to know you and your industry better and better. This makes communication increasingly easier.
Avoiding misunderstandings
Unclear or incorrect communication can lead to misunderstandings, which can lead to errors, delays or inefficient workflows. Clear and precise communication reduces the risk of misunderstandings and contributes to the quality and timeliness of the project. Misunderstood requirements can lead to weeks of development going in the wrong direction. We ensure that misunderstandings are quickly uncovered with regular presentations (every two weeks).
