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How to test an IOT-enabled smart-kitchen concept without building the product?
I've been toying with an idea for sometime which allows auto reordering of kitchen essentials using IOT and a consumer app.
Spoke to few people and there seems to be many solutions possible. All expensive to prototype, all time consuming as it involves hardware and a beautiful userx.
I am trying to figure out how to proceed on this and looking for suggestions around feasible solutions and ways to do a MVP/prototype in 1-2 months.
One thing I had in mind was a digital design and render of the IOT product along with app mockups and a demo video.
What do you do guys think about this? Is it possible to test market this even without an MVP?
Jai
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Michael Flux
What’s the high level concept/use case? Hard to advise on such a vague description.
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I'm quite the cook myself. "auto reordering of kitchen essentials using IOT and a consumer app." - I'm thinking what the hell does this even mean.
@philipsnyder @michaelflux hi,
Let me explain a bit -"auto reordering of kitchen essentials using IOT and a consumer app."
Kitchen containers with weight transducer and comms module which connects with the app on wifi/bluetooth. When container is near empty, the connected app adds stuff to cart, orders stuff to be delivered next morning.
On my question posted here..
I am thinking more like a small video or some landing page with a few product mockups/3d renders, some micro animations, app pages, and a pre-book link. Sell it like the real thing, get enough bookings to validate the idea or refund to move on.
Hope this clarifies a bit.
@philipsnyder @jaithakur
Gotcha, so you're talking exactly the 'Amazon Dash' concept.
TL;DR - Few years ago Amazon launched the concept of "Dash Buttons" which allowed the user to re-order some predetermined product (though you could customise the buttons to whatever product you wanted). e.g. you're running out of laundry detergent, you tap the 'Tide' button, and it automatically orders it for you
As an extension of that concept, to eliminate even the button pressing and automate the restocking, Amazon came out with a concept of "inventory sensors" where the various products could self report and be added to the cart - e.g. a washing machine automatically reordering detergent, or a coffee pod system automatically reordering more coffee pods.
https://web.archive.org/web/2019...
They managed to get quite a few very large companies to sign up for that service, but eventually just merged parts of it into the bigger Alexa ecosystem where I haven't seen it gain much traction while killing off the Dash Buttons entirely.
Fundamentally it's not a bad concept, but the biggest use case challenge that you have to overcome is the same one that is faced by any of the diet tracking apps such as MyFitnessPal, Lifesum, PlateJoy etc. The challenge being that for the app to be truly useful, they do require a significant amount of input from the user.
So in your case, the challenge is that of convenience vs cost - e.g.
1) these sensors/containers are bought by the user, which is then expected to transfer some product to that container, open the app, input the type of product they just placed in it, specify at what threshold they want it to be reordered etc --- more affordable but far more effort to the user which at some point gets to be more effort than it's worth
2) disposable sensors which are built directly into the products being sold - which is marginally more convenient for customers (though they still have to pair/authenticate every product) while it also adds a ton of overhead cost for the manufacturers while creating more ewaste afterwards.
I think it would be a very interesting problem to solve, but the challenge isn't the making of an MVP/demo. The challenge comes when you start breaking down the hundreds of scenarios that a user will encounter where the costs/effort required starts increasing in orders of magnitude which is why so far every company, including those who poured tens of millions of dollars into it, haven't been able to come up with a real solution to the problem.
I think it's important to think about practicality and repeatability. For example, what do you need most often in the morning, or when you want to cook, what household appliances or equipment do you need. In general, creating a smart kitchen is not an easy process. I already found some solutions here.
Testing an IoT-enabled smart-kitchen concept without building the full product is possible through a variety of methods that focus on prototyping, simulation, and concept validation. Here are some practical approaches:
---
1. Use Prototyping Tools
a. Software Simulations:
IoT Simulators: Use IoT simulation software to create virtual models of smart devices (e.g., kitchen appliances, sensors). These tools simulate device behavior and data flow without the need to build hardware.
- Example tools: **ThingSpeak**, **Blynk**, **Fritzing**, **Tinkercad Circuits**.
b. Software Prototypes:
- Develop a **mock-up** or **user interface prototype** using tools like **Figma**, **Sketch**, or **Adobe XD** to simulate the app experience. Focus on how users will interact with the system rather than building the hardware itself.
- Create interfaces for controlling appliances or viewing smart kitchen data like temperature, energy consumption, etc.
---
### **2. Use IoT Development Kits and Platforms**
Use existing IoT kits that provide pre-built modules to simulate smart kitchen devices:
- **Raspberry Pi** or **Arduino Kits**: Use these microcontroller kits with sensors, actuators, and modules (e.g., temperature sensors, motion sensors, smart plugs). Build simple, testable systems that simulate actual kitchen appliances.
- Platforms: Use **Particle.io**, **Node-RED**, or **ESP32** to quickly prototype IoT devices without building a full system.
---
### **3. Conduct User Research**
- **Surveys and Interviews**: Speak to potential users to understand their pain points and needs for a smart kitchen. This will help validate the concept before any technical implementation.
- **Customer Journey Mapping**: Use this to map out the flow of activities within the kitchen and identify where IoT could provide value.
---
### **4. Prototype Using Smart Devices**
If you don’t have the exact appliances, you can test with off-the-shelf smart home devices:
- **Smart Plugs & Lights**: Use smart plugs to simulate smart kitchen appliances.
- **Voice Assistants**: Test integrating devices with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control.
- **Smart Thermostats and Sensors**: Use existing devices to simulate temperature control or environmental sensors in the kitchen.
---
### **5. Digital Twin Models**
- Build **digital twin models** to simulate the kitchen environment and the flow of data. This allows you to test the interactions between devices, their data exchanges, and user interfaces. You can model behaviors like lighting control, appliance usage, or cooking times.
---
### **6. Create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)**
If you’re aiming for more tangible validation:
- Build a **scaled-down MVP** that integrates IoT features without the full product. For example, start with a smart appliance like a smart oven or fridge simulation.
- Use platforms like **IFTTT** or **Zapier** to automate tasks between devices to simulate kitchen processes.
---
### **7. A/B Testing**
- **Prototype Testing**: Create a concept or design for the kitchen and test it with users through A/B testing. Try different interfaces or smart features and gather user feedback.
---
### **8. Focus Groups**
- Conduct focus group discussions with people who cook regularly. Share your concept, show wireframes, or let them interact with prototypes, and gather insights on features, preferences, and pain points.
---
### **9. Use Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR)**
- **AR/VR simulations**: Use AR or VR to simulate the smart kitchen experience. You can create virtual kitchens where users interact with the design and features of the IoT-enabled kitchen without physical hardware.
---
By using these strategies, you can effectively test your smart kitchen concept, validate ideas, and refine your approach without the need to build a full physical product. Let me know if you need specific resources for any of these methods!