It pays to outsource wireless design

Wireless design is a key technology area best left to specialists, argues Craig Swallow, Commercial Director of Triteq.

In the past, companies viewed outsourcing as a way to handle overflow engineering opportunities or to supplement engineering staff due to resource hiring limitations or temporary skills shortages.

Now rapidly growing companies are quickly realising that their growth does not need to be limited by their ability to attract and retain top-level engineering talent.

Outsourcing allows progressive companies to implement a rapid product design cycle business methodology, whereby products can be designed to meet market windows without having to first ramp up staffing to address, and possibly miss, the market opportunities.

Niche wireless outsourcers have emerged to provide applications and services to businesses, enabling companies to free up staff from many of the challenges of rolling out wireless technology.

Design outsourcing companies are entering into partnerships with major electronic design companies and establishing a long-term mutual commitment towards one another.

In doing so companies are assured of having an available electronic design team when needed to help them grow to meet market demand.

By establishing partnerships, the outsourcing relationship extends over many individual design engagements and allows the company to leverage its investment in the relationship in contrast to one-off type contract house projects to which they may be accustomed in the past.

There are definite advantages for systems OEMs to outsource.

Large companies often have difficulty scheduling new product design within their internal R and D resources due to bandwidth issues.

Outsourcing not only enables businesses to increase their design supply to supplement in-house engineering, but can facilitate parallel processing of related design activities and improve product development cycles and production quantity lead times.

Often applications require the integration of more than one technology.

Specialist wireless companies have the technical skills and knowhow to implement complex designs, which may not be available in house, for example a company may wish to combine GPS with GSM, RFID with GSM or Bluetooth with GSM.

GSM is now the preferred option for wide area wireless connectivity in addition to catering for the explosion in telematics applications.

This has evolved due to SMS or data only tariffs now being affordable and often supporting a realistic return on investment.

GSM coverage is now ubiquitous throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and most of Asia, where it is not uncommon for population and geographic coverage to be in excess of 90%.

GSM can now be used in a wide spectrum of industrial products and applications from elevators to generators, traffic management technology to air conditioning equipment.

Implementing a wireless connection is often easier in urban areas as well as the more obvious rural applications.

Installation costs are much reduced, as expensive cabling does not have to be provided.

GSM modules operate in much the same way as a normal, wired modem, and understand the same set of commands, thereby making programming a relatively straightforward operation.

One of the greatest challenges facing many companies is choosing the right technology to provide solutions.

Companies that are planning to launch new wireless technology need specialist companies that can provide them with the multiple platforms and expertise to develop, deploy and deliver wireless applications to customers.

Specialist wireless design companies, such as Triteq, can advise established companies as well as startups on technology, development processes and development infrastructure.

Not only does outsourcing this expertise offer a cost effective means of getting product to market quickly, but it also helps: identify ways of minimising design costs through reduced componentry and avoidance of bespoke componentry; smooth out the pitfalls in getting a product into full market production; and remove time and issues during the design/prototype phase.

This ensures a speedier resolution of any design problems leading to the fast delivery of a prototype.

Working with startups, wireless design companies understand budgeting constraints and work within fixed quotations ensuring that prototypes are delivered on time and within budget.

Wireless design companies first understand the customer's application and then apply the technology.

Outsourcing design can present more than a few challenges.

For one thing, designers and engineers on opposite sides of the fence can wind up bickering and, ultimately, undermine a project unless everyone clearly understands his or her role.

For another, it is crucial to choose a contract designer that has the expertise and resources to handle the project, and ensure that solid agreements, controls, and monitoring systems are firmly in place.

Communication and terminology must be open and clear between partners to ensure that OEM and design outsourcer understand exactly what the other is communicating.

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