An embedded device is an object that contains a special-purpose computing system.
Examples of embedded devices include dishwashers, banking ATM machines, routers, point of sale terminals (POS terminals) and cell phones. Devices that can connect to the Internet are called smart or intelligent.

As electronic sensing and processing power increases, more and more companies are coming out with great ideas that are functionally and financially feasible. The problem shifts more from “if we can implement these ideas” to “how we can implement these ideas.” Large companies have had the resources for years, and in some cases decades, to embed electronic intelligence into their products. The threshold for feasibility is decreasing, making it easier for smaller companies to enter the market. This is mainly due to:

Lower cost per processing operation

Lower cost per bit of information stored

Lower cost per bit of information communicated

Continued miniaturization of electronics

Lower power consumption per processing operation

To be clear, when I say “small companies,” I mean those with fewer than 100 employees. I’m talking about companies in the industrial space (v.s. consumer), that manufacture sub-systems or systems that are generally more expensive (~$1,000s – $100,000s per unit), and have a relatively low production volume (10s to 100s of units per year).

The differences between embedded design for small and large companies matter because:

They can help small companies become aware of potential pitfalls before they get in too deep.

They can level the playing field for small companies.

Hopefully this article improved or solidified your mental model in some way and you feel more confident to take the next steps either on your own or engaging with an external company. If you’d like to chat about your embedded needs, you can reach out to us here.

Business process automation is not restricted to a handful of functions. Some factors that can indicate the need for automation include:

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