The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.

When it comes to IoT connectivity, the sheer number of options that you have is enough to cause any business all kinds of issues. Different technologies, different protocols, different names for effectively the same thing. And on top of this, there are huge overlapping areas of convergence, where multiple products do the same thing but in different ways. If you are not very technically minded, this is an easy mistake to fall victim to.

The IoT Space has grown at such an alarming rate, (and continues to do so) that the industry has failed to keep up with setting any kind or appropriate standardisation for most of it. Therefore, when businesses are trying to develop something that is standards based, the task is almost impossible. This leads to not only constant redesign and redevelopment, but also to an eventual design paralysis as businesses are reluctant or unable to even get started.

Even as consumers, we cannot help but notice that the industry is already talking about the next new thing even before the last new thing has been fully developed, deployed or rolled out. Take 5G for instance. They are now talking about 6G coming out of Asia and we still don't have a truly viable global 5G network to speak about. This rapid development is causing many issues within the industry. Do you even bother with one tech, when a new one is already being tested?

When it comes to IoT connectivity, the market is designed for long term growth and volume based use cases. As such, the revenue is only in longevity as opposed to any value adds. This means that vendors are trying everything they can to differentiate themselves from each other. This is leading to some very creative marketing language which by most definitions is... Misleading at best, and downright dishonest at its worst. 

"I thought I had a god deal?" - is an all too common statement that I hear from most of my clients. In reality, the pressure to gain opportunity, traction or market share in a highly competitive industry has the inevitable result of forcing Sales people to become clever with their pitches and proposals. And whilst I have some pity for these fellow professionals, I cannot condone the misleading or mis-selling approach that is being adopted.