Interview with Oriol Patau, CTO (Chief Technology Officer) at Accent Systems

For over a decade, Accent Systems has been committed to transforming all connected objects that come their way. They started developing electronic products in 2007, long before IoT became a buzzword. Their perseverance in analyzing a growing market and constant research in new technologies has placed the company in a privileged position in the Internet of Things sector.

Focus on IoT Devices

They focus on developing connected objects, both standard products and for third parties, known as IoT devices. They always utilize the latest communication technologies to connect them to the Internet.

To shed light on this matter, we spoke with Oriol Patau, CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of Accent Systems.

Evolution of Wireless Technologies

At Accent Systems you are experts in communication technologies, especially wireless. How have these technologies evolved since the company began?

Wireless and Low Power technologies have evolved significantly over the last decade, largely due to the emergence of smartphones. When the company was founded, smartphones were just beginning to emerge. The iPhone existed but lacked connectivity. Over the years, smartphones began to connect with things primarily through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which Accent Systems identified as a potential technology and started working with.

We became a key manufacturer of beacons and began developing all kinds of devices connected to the smartphone with BLE, from safe boxes to smart locks.

Future of Low Power Technologies

And which way are these technologies heading today? How do you think they will evolve in the short future?

For about a year and a half, the trend has been to connect devices not just to smartphones but directly to the network. We are talking about technologies like SigFox and, above all, Narrowband-IoT and LTE-M, two super Low Power Technologies, with which the battery can last for 10 years and have a longer range. Additionally, these technologies are expected to become part of 5G.

Accent Systems’ Early Adoption

And it is here where we can start talking about IoT, IoE… But Accent Systems began when even these concepts had not shifted the public sphere…

Yes. Our experience as telecommunications engineers meant that the first product we developed was already connected. We started developing electronic products but soon realized the key was to turn them into connected objects. We began connecting devices to computers because mobile phones did not yet offer that possibility. Our key has always been to stay attentive to new standards, study them, and see how we could provide the best-connected solutions to our customers. We didn’t think of IoT then, but eventually, the sector adopted these terms.

Importance of R&D

Correct me if I’m wrong… One of the strengths of your company is its constant research in new technologies. Why is R&D so important in your sector, and why do you decide to invest in these engineering efforts?

When a new technology appears, the initial information always highlights its best features. However, to offer a good solution to your customers, you must know its pros and cons. This can only be achieved by researching and using the technology: going to the lab, testing at a technical level, examining consumption, costs, and deployment.

It is also crucial to push the technology beyond its limits. For example, according to its characteristics, NB-IoT is not supposed to track objects moving at speeds above 40 km/h, but we have verified this is possible by placing one of our IoT trackers in a car traveling over 100 km/h.

Adopting New Technologies

When a new technology appears, what procedures do you follow?

Undoubtedly, the first and most important step is to gain access to that technology. It’s not easy; you have to use all your contacts. For instance, with NB-IoT, we requested network access from Vodafone, an operator, and obtained hardware pieces that are not yet on sale. We have to make many moves.

Once you do this, the rest is easier. You just need to study it thoroughly, test, and analyze its connection and low consumption: indoor coverage, consumption comparison with other technologies… These are some of the things that interest us as an engineering solutions company.

Technology Selection Process

When and how do you decide that one technology is going to be in your catalog?

Tests help us decide. We never say we won’t use a particular technology; we are technologically agnostic. We evaluate whether this technology could provide the expected results for us as developers and for the customer for their final solution. This can only be achieved if you’ve worked hard previously with this technology.

As developers, what factors make you decide to use one or another technology in a new project?

Technically, we analyze low consumption, coverage, scope, if it will have movement and at which speed… We also consider geographical factors, since not all territories have access to the same technologies, or the costs of hardware and subscription, if any. Ultimately, we have to evaluate the use case thoroughly to meet the customer’s specifications at the level of device features and costs.

Does the client arrive at Accent Systems knowing which technology to use in its project? Or does Accent act as a consultant?

We have all kinds of customers. Some have a more industrial profile and know what they want at a technical level, while others know they want a connected product but do not know how. In this case, we act as consultants, review our portfolio, and recommend which technology or technologies are most appropriate for the device they want to develop.

Why is it so important to choose the right technology for a device?

There are many technologies, each with its strengths, which will allow you to evolve a product in one direction or another. It is also important to make the right choice to have a successful product.