The Internet of Things (IoT) consists of a network of interconnected devices that generate and track large amounts of data. You can create digital intelligence and enable real-time data communication by adding sensors to all kinds of devices.
Dashboards have become an integral part of the user interface for IoT applications. Their primary function is to collect data, which is particularly important for IoT applications. Dashboards are essential for tracking and structuring enormous amounts of data. Visualizing information, discovering trends, and noticing patterns is possible through them.
Although IoT dashboards are widely accepted and recognized, many still have questions about how and why to collect and analyze insights.
What are the main components and advantages of IoT dashboards, and how do you build them? Read on to find out the answers to your questions.
Table of Contents
1. A Complete Guide to Components, Advantages, and Best Practices
You should familiarize yourself with the main components of the best real-time IoT dashboard, whether you build one from scratch or acquire one off the shelf.
Data Collection
IoT devices are designed to collect data, but it varies from business to business and depends on the objective. IoT dashboard components include:
- Voltage/energy
- Pressure
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Air quality
- Motion
- GPS coordinates
Data Visualization
As soon as you begin collecting data, you will be able to visualize it immediately. There are several ways:
- Gauges
- Charts
- Graphs
- Geographical maps
You can compare and test several if you aren’t sure which one to choose.
Mobile Access
Mobile devices have become so popular that almost all software has a mobile version. Building a real-time IoT dashboard for smartphones is therefore crucial. Mobile applications allow users to access information anytime and anywhere. To stay in touch, you should receive notifications on your phone, not on your desk computer or laptop.
Real-Time Performance Data
IoT solutions require real-time data; however, complications might prevent uploading instantly. In some cases, the data transfer between the IoT device and the dashboard can be delayed, or the data can be processed slowly, or even the dashboard itself can be delayed.
To get data to real-time IoT dashboards directly, skip the database or collect it in batches. Real-time data processing should provide accurate information about an event as it occurs. Three things are required:
- Stable connection
- Dynamic database
- Qualified development skills and resources
Insights on Performance Over a While
There is no point in presenting information without historical data to compare it with. Users should be able to compare data over specific periods and durations with a custom web IoT dashboard. Making data-driven decisions and analyzing patterns increases effectiveness. Users can plan smartly and increase productivity.
You need to plan and capture the data to access it later and process it according to your needs. As your company grows and expands into new branches, departments, and locations, it becomes even more important.
Secure Access Control Systems
Certain access control systems should be developed based on who accesses your data. IoT dashboards with hierarchical systems ensure smooth and safe access to information based on roles.
A certain level of limitations should be put in place to protect your customers’ data. For instance, administrators have access to data about every employee in their departments, but individual employees can only see their data. A breach of confidential information can result in costly lawsuits and ruin a company’s reputation.
Alerts & Warnings
You cannot spend all day staring at Internet of Things dashboards. This is why alert notifications are so important. Develop a real-time IoT dashboard with automatic warning capabilities that send you messages via SMS, email, or push. It is important to customize the notifications – so select the method, set the threshold, and personalize the content. Lastly, alerts could be sent to another computer to trigger certain functions.
2. Advantages of IoT Dashboards
- Accessible to Both Businesses and Individuals: Everyone can use IoT analytics, including executives, managers, employees, and customers. Every smart device supports real-time IoT dashboards, which can benefit individuals and corporations because of their original purpose and design. Businesses use dashboards to improve operating efficiency and data security, while individuals use them to monitor and improve their productivity to track fitness.
- Monitoring and Controlling Physical Assets: The Internet is a completely digital paradigm, and when we think of it, we do not imagine physical things at all. Incorporating the physical world into the digital one is part of the IoT. Using IoT dashboards, we present data as charts, graphs, maps, and widgets so we can access it from our computers. Thus, it is a way to translate data into “human language” and use it for a specific purpose.
- Cloud-Based: Due to IoT’s cloud-based nature, it can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Web dashboards for IoT devices can be accessed via URLs. Any company can migrate their data to the cloud and save money thanks to cloud vendors like AWS and Google Cloud.
3. How IoT Dashboards Are Used to Monitor Data?
Manufacturing:
Most manufacturing data is recorded manually, so human error is a high risk. Manipulation and fraud can also occur when data is entered manually. With so much information, tracking human errors and potential security threats is highly challenging.
Monitoring manufacturing performance and increasing productivity is made easier with IoT analytics dashboards. Users can achieve better results and avoid unnecessary complications by visualizing the important metrics and automating the data entry process.
GPS Tracking:
GPS tracking is widely used on the International Space Station, where monitoring machine conditions is vital. System operators receive real-time information about machine efficiency, condition, pressure, etc. In real-time IoT dashboards, digital panic buttons alert users about potential threats immediately.
The International Space Station saves a lot of money by integrating IoT dashboards since the cost of repairing a machine breakdown is four to fifteen times higher than maintenance.
Tracking Services:
Business and personal dashboard apps can be implemented using IoT technology. GPS tracking goes beyond merely tracking locations: it monitors temperature, light, and motion. These data enable customers to track packages throughout the shipping lifecycle in real time, ensuring their parcels reach their destination safely.
Customers can track their packages and locate them at any time with a low-cost tracking solution. Another way to use this tracking solution is to give it to your child or parent or attach it to your pet’s collar to keep track of their location. We have created an online platform where customers can check their package’s status or track the location of the GPS tracker. Tracking is easier and faster with the integrated map.
Monitoring and Alerting:
Real-Time IoT dashboards for smart homes are becoming increasingly popular. You can control the safety of your house from a distance and alert the police or fire department. Smart homes use sensors to monitor temperature, smoke, CO2 levels, and humidity. On your smartphone or tablet, you can visualize this data at any time to see trends and comparisons.
Water Consumption:
In many places of the world, water usage is a real problem. Countries with restricted water supplies are more prone to experience droughts and shortages of water. People can access information about leaks and overall trends in water consumption through graphs, charts, and maps. Making better decisions based on historical data allows consumers to compare their water consumption with a previous period.
4. Developing Web Dashboards for IoT Applications
IoT components include IoT device control and monitoring, data collection and processing, as well as data management and analysis. It is necessary to build a complex system to accomplish all of the above.
1. Choose a Network
An IoT network consists of devices, gateways, and data systems. You will need a network to support whatever type of connection you require. Choose a network based on your goals and scale:
- Microchips and small sensors are used with nanonetworks in military and biometric applications;
- Near-field communication connects devices near each other, such as contactless payments;
- A personal area network (PAN) is a network that connects devices within a room or two;
- Local area networks (LANs) are created within one building for devices;
- A corporate area network (CAN) connects devices within one organization, such as a hospital or school;
- Metropolitan area networks (MANs) are designed to create smart cities or areas within cities;
- Wide area networks combine MANs and LANs.
2. Select a Protocol
A protocol enables devices to communicate with each other and with apps. You can use the following protocols:
- The Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol is ideal for small and low-powered devices. Three components transport information: subscribers, publishers, and brokers;
- Data Distribution Services (DDS) support more complex systems and are built for computing;
- The Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) allows messages to be sent between apps and middleware.
3. Custom-made or Off-The-Shelf Dashboard for IoT
Custom IoT Dashboard
A custom real-time IoT dashboard requires a lot of resources and expertise; however, it allows you to create something that perfectly suits your company. Dashboards can be customized to meet your business needs and enhanced with new features.
Pros:
- Custom features
- Third-party independence
- Data security
- Flexibility
Cons:
- Large investments
- An experienced development team
- Money and skilled labor will be necessary for the short-term development process. You will eventually save money by improving the efficiency of your operations in the long run.
Off-The-Shelf IoT Platform:
You can purchase an IoT dashboard if you do not wish to build one. Their cost is significantly lower and they are ready to be implemented. Starting to use it does not require waiting for the completion of the entire development process.
Pros:
- Immediate access
- Built-in features
- Technical support
Cons:
- Unable to add or remove features
- Monthly payments
- Low customization
Third-party vendors and their policies will have to be dealt with. Furthermore, off-the-shelf solutions are not easily customizable, which makes adding or removing features nearly impossible. Lastly, this is not a one-time payment procedure; you will have to pay every month, and if your team or needs grow, you will have to pay even more.
Conclusion
IoT makes life easier, personally and professionally. Taking care of your assets, monitoring your consumption, and securing your home is easy. In addition, IoT dashboards can boost productivity and improve customer service.
HashStudioz is a leading provider of IoT dashboard solutions. We help businesses of all sizes collect, visualize, and analyze data from their IoT devices. Our dashboards are designed to be easy to use and understand, so you can make data-driven decisions that improve your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is a real-time IoT dashboard important for IoT applications?
A real-time IoT dashboard offers instant visibility into the performance, status, and data generated by IoT devices. It enables quick decision-making, proactive maintenance, and optimization of IoT applications.
2. What network protocol should I use for my IoT application?
An IoT app can be built using a variety of network protocols, including WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LoRa, Sigfox, and many more. Gathering requirements and consulting with a knowledgeable IoT developer is the best way to determine the right network for your project. You need to consider the range, bandwidth, and power consumption of the network you choose. The number of devices your system can handle also plays a role.
3. For my IoT project, how can I optimize cost and time?
Planning is essential for staying within budget and meeting deadlines. Make sure your technical specification defines all the details about your project, from networks and technologies to features and people responsible for delivery and acceptance. At HashStudioz, we always recommend starting with a discovery phase in which we analyze the market, define your business needs, and evaluate the feasibility of your future product.
4. What technologies should I choose for my IoT app?
The world of IoT technologies is the most diverse, with a variety of protocols, libraries, programming languages, and so on. My recommendation is to stick with a language that has a lot of support, frameworks, libraries, and licenses for specific technologies. The most important criteria are the reliability and performance of the programming language.