How to Take Your New Product with Electronics to the Market?

How to Take Your New Product with Electronics to the Market

So you have a novel idea for a new product with electronics? How would you realize your product idea and take it to the market? Well, develop a product prototype, get it bulk-manufactured, and start selling! It sounds very simple, isn’t it?

The reality: nothing is simple or easy about introducing a new product into the market. And, it is even more challenging and arduous when it comes to introducing a complex product, like a new product with electronics, to the market.

Most budding innovators have the false impression that they can take a new product from concept to consumers in a short time, like within a year. That is not true for most products – even untrue for simple products.

Taking a new product with electronics to the market is expensive. Most innovators and startups do not have enough money or risk tolerance to create a definitive product in one step. If they, however, take several small steps, they can get success with their new product. Here is what an innovator or startup should do in order to realize their product and take it to the market.

Validate the Product Concept

In order to prove your product concept, the best thing you can do is create a product prototype. You will need to have a functional prototype of your conceived product. While developing a prototype, ensure to keep the cost of development as low as possible. Since your conceived idea is for a product with electronics, you will need to use breadboards as well as certain electronic modules.

A breadboard helps create an electronic prototype without the need of a specific or definitive PCB (printed circuit board). A breadboard is generic and reusable, so you can create any circuit on it again and again. It is an excellent board for creating and experimenting electronic prototypes.

To create a prototype for a product with electronics, you can also use Arduino. Arduino is a popular electronic development kit, which helps create advanced prototypes for products with electronics. Arduino is a microcontroller-based kit, and the best thing about it is, it is very inexpensive.

Electronic modules are those components that are designed to perform specific functions. For instance, electronic modules may be used to execute functions like video capture, GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi among many others.

While a product prototype is not something that you can sell into the market, it is certainly the “Thing” that helps you prove, your conceived product idea actually works.

Validate that the Product Will Sell

In order to prove that your conceived product can actually be sold in the market, you will need to create a definitive prototype – a close substitute for the final product. This close substitute or definitive prototype needs to be produced in a small quantity so that they can be sent to the market for testing and getting valuable feedback.

Innovators will never know what the customers precisely want. They can assume, but will not know what the potential users actually want. The best way to know what the customers want, however, is with their feedback!

So to create a close substitute or definitive prototype for your product with electronics, you will need to look farther than electronic development kits (breadboards and Arduino). What you will need is actual printed circuit boards, specifically designed for your conceived product. On this PCB, you will need to integrate actual electronic components. This prototype should perform all the functions that are expected in the final product.

Unlike initial prototypes, creating definitive prototypes is challenging. Therefore, partnering with a product prototype development company that has experience with the development of products with electronics is a good idea. Such a product prototype development company has the knowledge in the field of electronics, and will help create definitive product prototypes that can be put on the market for testing and getting feedback.

Now the Profit

In order to make the profit, you need to create a perfect final product or an archetype, bulk manufacture it, and send the bulk-manufactured product to the market to the actual customers. An archetype of a conceived product is created after eliminating defects and improving certain functions based on feedback received on the definitive prototype.

Once the archetype is ready, the next step is to partner with a manufacturer. Since it is a product with electronics, it will need a plastic casing. Therefore, you need to partner with a unique plastic product manufacturer who not only specializes in plastic product manufacturing but also in handling electronics. If the unique plastic product manufacturer has the experience in helping take the bulk-manufactured products with electronics to the market, then it is an added advantage. Else, you will need to find professionals who can help bring your new product to the market.

If you have a unique idea for a new product with electronics and want to realize the product and bring it to the market, then professional help is available! GID Development Corporation, an eminent product design company in California, helps innovators in designing, prototyping, and developing a wide range of products, including products with electronics, electromechanical products, products with imbedded software, sports products, medical device products, and more. Aside from product design, product prototype development, and new product development, GID Development Corporation also specializes in plastic product manufacturing. With its plastic product manufacturing specialization, GID Development Corporation can help bulk manufacture a wide range of products. The professionals at GID Development Corporation also assist innovators to take their new products to the market.

To learn more about GID Development Corporation, a leading product design company in California, visit https://www.gidcompany.com/.

You can now have a free 15-minute telephonic conference with one of the professionals at GID Development Corporation. Just call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

Product Design – The Design-To-Cost Aspect

Product Design – The Design-To-Cost Aspect

When it comes to product development, most inventors fail to recognize or overlook the importance of product design. While every phase of the new product development is important, the product design phase is something that requires a little bit more consideration. After all, the outcome of the conceived product predominantly depends upon its product design. Product design also affects the manufacturing costs, and eventually the final price, of the product. For that reason, new product design is one very important stage that every inventor should heed to without fail.

New product design has many aspects, but in this blog, we will shed some light on Design-To-Cost aspect. Design-to-cost or DTC is a methodical approach to designing a product in such a way that the cost of product development and manufacturing is minimum. DTC has many components, but we will list only the main ones and explain how to deal with them during the new product design phase.

Materials

Overuse of material has three severe penalties – increase in material cost, increase in production cost, and increase in ecological footprint. Using the wrong type of material also has the same penalties. For that reason, one has to be very cautious with choosing and using the material. One also needs to be cautious with over-engineering – designing a product to be more complicated than necessary. Over-engineering leads to the overuse of material. Smart product design, computer analysis, and performance tests help choose the right type of material and eliminate the overuse of material, minimizing the overall cost of manufacturing.

Manufacturability

Designing a product by adhering to the principle of “Design for Manufacturability” can drastically reduce the cost of the final product. Design for Manufacturability or DFM in simple terms is designing a product in such a way that it is easy to mass-manufacture. In order to design a product that is easy to manufacture, inventors should involve the manufacturer in the product design phase itself. A product manufacturer’s advice during the product design stage can save drastic design changes as well as money later on.

Labor

For certain products, usually the ones requiring manual assembly, testing, packaging, etc., the cost of labor can be a major overhead. Inventors should not overlook this labor cost. The number of laborers, as well as the labor-time, should be clearly defined and calculated during the product design phase, and the product design should focus to minimize both the number of laborers and labor time required.

Maintenance

Certain products demand regular maintenance, and it costs a lot. A product design company can reduce such a maintenance cost in two ways:

  1. Create a robust product design – the one that demands less maintenance.
  2. Create a maintenance-friendly product design – the one that is easier and faster to maintain.

Quantities

Production quantities have a drastic impact on both the production efficiency and cost. Designing a new product without considering the required quantities might adversely affect the production efficiency, and it also increases the costs. Estimating the product quantities beforehand during the initial research and product design stages can factor towards the reduced final cost of the new product.

Accessories

Most new products have some accessories, like packaging, components, spare parts, user manuals, and so on. All these accessories add costs to the final product’s cost. Inventors should not overlook these accessories and their costs. Some of these accessories directly complement the final product; hence, accessories should be the part of the main product design.

Logistics

If the new product is targeted for the global market, the product’s logistics costs can be significant. The new product’s size, dimension, weight, fragility, storage, and so on could increase the logistics costs. This logistics aspect needs to be considered during the product design phase so that a definitive design and the proper arrangements can be made beforehand.

New product development is challenging, and one of its stages, the new product design, requires considerable consideration. Numerous aspects are involved in new product design, and it is radically tough for inventors to tackle them all on their own. Fortunately for inventors, there are some new product design companies, like GID Development Corporation, that can help address all the product design challenges and assist in launching a new product into the market.

GID Development Corporation is one of the experienced and leading product design companies in California, USA. Utilizing advanced technologies, like Dassault Systèmes’ 3D EXPERIENCE Platform, which includes SIMULIA, SOLIDWORKS, CATIA V6, and other product design and engineering apps, and their in-depth knowledge accumulated over the years, the veterans at GID Development Corporation help inventors with definitive product designs for their conceived products.

Along with new product design, GID Development Corporation also provides a complete product development service, which includes product prototype development, product prototype testing, production tooling development, production setup, manufacturing setup, and everything in between and beyond. Whether it is product design and development of products with imbedded software, products with electronics, medical device products, electromechanical products, generic products, or special-purpose products, GID Development Corporation will definitely “GET IT DONE!”

To learn more about the leading product design company in California, GID Development Corporation, just visit https://www.gidcompany.com/.

GID Development Corporation is currently also offering a free telephonic conference to help answer various product design and development-related questions. Any inventor who is interested can just call Jim Grimes, one of the veterans at GID, at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

Steps in the New Product Development

Steps in the New Product Development

New product development may seem as simple as forming an idea for a revolutionary product, manufacturing it, and putting it on the market, bringing it to the customers. Well, the reality is that new product development is a complex process, which involves contributions from many skilled individuals. New products should not only be useful inventions that can be mass manufactured and sold for profit, but they should also be safe to use, protected by intellectual property rights, and more importantly, be easily marketable.

Here are some steps, explained by GID Development Corporation, a product development company in California, USA, which are involved in new product development.

Germinating Ideas

The primary stage of a product development is coming up with a fantastic idea for a new groundbreaking product. Oftentimes, new products are introduced in the market by first recognizing a specific need in the market and then developing a product to satisfy that need. Sometimes, revolutionary product ideas also occur just by chance or an unusual incidence that triggers the concept in the mind of the innovator.

Researching Plausibility of the Idea

The next stage of the product development is finding out the plausibility of the idea. In other words, the innovator needs to find out the degree of acceptability, usability and the value of the conceived new product. Knowing how well the potential customers will receive the new product is vital. It prevents a lot of time, money, resources and efforts on the development of products that are worthless to the potential customers.

Concept Development

Development, or rather, enhancement of a concept is the essence of new product development. It includes, but not limited to getting a grip on the basics, such as market research, material selection, material costs, product design costs, prototype development cost, overall manufacturing costs, potential profit, target regions, target customers, and so on.

Actual New Product Development

Actual new product development is the stage where the conceived idea and all the researched and concept development data are amalgamated and put into action. A product development company starts with the creation of new product design, using researched data. After the creation of a definitive product design, the company moves on to the development of prototypes. Then, the prototypes are tested, and changes are made until an idealized new product is realized.

Bulk Manufacturing

After realizing an ideal new product from the conceived idea, the product is bulk manufactured. Usually, it is affordable to outsource bulk manufacturing. If the budget is not the constraint, your own production facility can also be set up to bulk manufacture the new product.

Commercialization

The commercialization stage of new product development involves packaging, branding, logistics, warehousing, as well as rolling out the advertising and marketing campaigns. In short, commercialization is a stage of bringing new products to the market and to the potential customers.

New product development is a complex, time-consuming, and arduous process. An innovator cannot tackle the new product development process on their own. Luckily, product development companies, like GID Development Corporation, are established that can help innovators with the entire product development process.

GID Development Corporation is an American product development company based in California. Utilizing their vast experience and the most advanced technologies, like Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which includes product design and product development apps, such as CATIA V6, ENOVIA, 3DVIA, SOLIDWORKS, and more, the veterans at GID Development Corporation assist innovators in every stage of new product development. Whether it is the development of medical device products, mechanical products, electrical products, electromechanical products, products with imbedded software, or any other types of products, GID Development Corporation will always thrive.

To learn more about GID Development Corporation, visit https://www.gidcompany.com/.

GID Development Corporation is currently offering a free 15-minute telephonic consultation. Anyone who is interested should just call Mr. Jim Grimes, one of the pros at GID, at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

5 Important Steps for the Development of New Products with Electronics

5 Important Steps for the Development of New Products with Electronics

Development of products with electronics is as equally challenging as the development of generic, non-electronic products. New product development, whether electrical, mechanical, electromechanical, medical, or generic, is a tough task. Materializing a mere new product concept into reality involves several steps. For products with electronics, however, in addition to the standard product development steps, there are several more steps involved. Here in this blog, we shed some light on 5 important steps that entail the development of new products with electronics.

Step 1. Design the Circuit Schematic

Designing the circuit schematic for products with electronics usually involves early research so as to identify and select the ideal topology (circuit diagram) and most affordable, yet efficient components.

The step may also include running software simulations as well as bread boarding. Speaking of bread boarding, it is nothing but the creation of basic prototypes for products with electronics.

Designing the circuit schematic requires lots of thinking and considerable years of experience in the field of electronics engineering. In order to design the circuit schematic for new products with electronics, industry experts use some sort of computer software application. There are many such software applications available, but SOLIDWORKS, a part of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from Dassault Systèmes, is the most versatile and popular.

Step 2. Develop the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Layout

Utilizing the same software application as in Step 1., the experts now develop the PCB layout for the new product with electronics.

While some portion of the PCB layout may be auto-routed, the remaining portion would normally be routed manually. Usually, the PCB layout is very sensitive, for power components as well as RF components, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc.

Once the final layout is ready, the software application will let the expert know, whether the PCB matches with its schematic. The software will also check wire lengths, wire widths, spacing, and so on, to ensure that the PCB layout meets all the guidelines for the specific PCB fabrication process being used.

Step 3. Create, Assess and Debug the Prototype

Based the circuit schematic and PCB layout, a prototype PCB of a new product with electronics is fabricated and assembled with all the right electronic components. With the prototype ready, it is thoroughly assessed, and if any issues or problems are found, it will be noted and rectified.

Most inventors expect to go everything right on the first try, but this is not possible. No product prototype, whether for generic, electronic, or mechanical product, is perfect or flawless on the first go. There are always some issues with the first prototype, which need to be rectified. Rectifying a prototype PCB is a difficult step because identifying the precise problem in the field of electronics is not something easy. Even after the precise identification of the problem, coming up with a right fix can take some time.

Step 4. Program the Microcontroller

Today, almost all products with electronics have some sort of microcontroller, a small computer in the form of a chip, which acts as the brain of the product.

These microcontrollers are programmable, and they are often programmed using “C” programming language. If the program needs to be fast and efficient, other high-level assembly languages may be used.

Often, the microcontroller is programmed by the expert who has designed the circuit; however, sometimes a specialist is brought to do the programming.

One a side note, because the products with electronics use a programmable microcontroller, they can also be called products with imbedded software.

Step 5. Looks and Ergonomics

This step is always handled by other professionals. An expert who is proficient in 3D modeling is needed to create the adequate looks and ergonomic (user-friendly, comfortable and functional) designs for the new products with electronics.

Creating the packaging, i.e. the outer body or casing, for the products with electronics is a challenging task. Electrical products are susceptible to various damages; thus, when designing and developing the packaging for the products with electronics, the experts need to consider the following factors:

  1. Protection from electrostatic discharge
  2. Protection from mechanical damage
  3. Protection from electromagnetic interference
  4. Protection from heat
  5. Ease of maintenance
  6. Cost

As mentioned before, the development of products with electronics is challenging. Therefore, it will be a great idea to hire an eminent product design and product development company that, along with the design and development of generic products, also specializes in the design and development of products with electronics.

If you happen to be an innovator and need help in the design and development of the new products with electronics, then GID Development Corporation is here to help. A leading product design and product development company in California, USA, GID Development Corporation specializes in the design and development of products with electronics, electromechanical products, medical device products, and other generic as well as special-purpose products. They use the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from Dassault Systèmes, which assists them in designing and developing accurate product prototypes at reduced cost and time. No matter what the new product concept is, GID Development Corporation can “Get It Done.”

To learn more about GID Development Corporation, just visit https://www.gidcompany.com/.

Currently, GID Development Corporation is offering a free 15-minute telephonic consultation with one of the veterans, Jim Grimes. You can call Jim Grimes at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

Outsourcing: The Best Approach to Introduce a New Product in the Market

Introduce a New Product

A couple of decades ago, entrepreneurs and small companies had to do everything themselves when they wanted to introduce a new product in the market. These days, as the technology advances and people demanding more and more revolutionary products, doing everything in-house may not prove to be possible, at least, economically.

Hiring the right resources, that is, product design experts, product development engineers, prototyping geniuses, marketing gurus, sales whizzes, etc., on a full-time basis, is incredibly expensive, especially for entrepreneurs and small companies. Fortunately, these days, there are several good American product design and product development companies established to whom these small companies and entrepreneurs can turn to when it comes to introducing new products in the market. Outsourcing most of the requirements is a prudent solution, allowing entrepreneurs to get the very best, and only pay the outsource partner when they need its assistance. Here are some of the functions that an entrepreneur can outsource:

Product Design & Product Development

Unless you are a skilled engineer, experienced with creating new products, you will certainly want to outsource the processes of product design and development of your potential product. Even if you are a good engineer, many projects need multiple engineers with multiple skill sets. For instance, any electromechanical product typically needs, at least, a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer, and an industrial designer who can create a suitable casing or enclosure for the potential product. If your concept is for a product with embedded software, you will definitely need a software engineer.

Further, if a certain portion of an electrical product, mechanical product, electromechanical product, medical device product, or any other product, is complex, you may need multiple engineers with different skill sets. Having such engineers permanently is expensive and not impractical, as you will not need them frequently. For that reason, outsourcing product design and product development is the best approach.

Product Prototype Development

Product prototype development is another important function that you may want to outsource. Similar to product design and product development, product prototype development is a difficult process, which requires experience, multiple skill sets, and adequate product prototyping software and equipment. Having full-time product prototyping experts with vast experience and multiple skill sets is again very expensive. Further, acquiring product prototyping software and equipment is also costly. For that reason, outsourcing product prototype development makes sense.

Bulk Manufacturing

Bulk manufacturing is one of those important functions that you should certainly consider outsourcing. Bulk manufacturing a new product means establishing a suitable-size facility, procuring expensive manufacturing equipment, setting up an assembly line, hiring different personnel, and so on. This involves a colossal investment, which may simply prove impractical or impossible for small companies and entrepreneurs. Outsourcing bulk manufacturing drastically reduces expenses as well as risks.

It will be in the best interest to outsource bulk manufacturing to a USA-based company that is capable of small production runs. Once things start to flow smoothly, you can turn to an Asian manufacturer to raise your profit margins.

Marketing

Marketing should be the least likely function to be outsourced. No one can do better marketing of your product than yourself. This function should be performed in-house. You can hire several marketing consultants who may perform some research and offer good marketing guidance. Having an in-house marketing team will also provide you a good control over your marketing efforts. Still, if you are a startup with limited capital, you can consider outsourcing the marketing to a specialized agency.

Sales

Similar to bulk manufacturing, this is another crucial function that you should consider outsourcing. Sales representatives or manufacturers’ representatives are an important component in just about every industry. They typically work on a commission, so you do not have to pay them anything until they truly generate sales. It is really a prudent decision to outsource sales.

Outsourcing sales function not only saves money, but it also helps you establish and connect to the wide sales network channels. Selling a new product to distributors and wholesalers usually requires a strong connection, which you will certainly gain by outsourcing to sales representatives.

Well, these are certain functions that are worth outsourcing. Some product design and product development companies in the USA can carry out all the functions on your behalf. For instance, check out GID Development Corporation. A vastly experienced product design and product development company in California, USA, GID Development Corporation provides complete A – Z services, from new product design to product fulfillment and everything in between. Whether you want to take a new medical device product, new electromechanical product or any other type of product to the market, GID Development Corporation will assist in every phase. Learn more about GID Development Corporation.

Currently, the leading product design and development company in the US, GID Development Corporation is offering a free 15-minute telephonic consultation with one of the veterans, Jim Grimes. You can call Jim at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

Common Mistakes During New Product Development

Common Mistakes During New Product Development

The success of a business enterprise entirely depends upon its products and innovations. Good products and innovations arise from efficient product development strategies. Numerous new products hit the market every week, but not many actually yield the kind of return that the enterprises had expected. So what seems to be the problem?

Most businesses often miss out on several important aspects of the product development process, which ultimately factors to the failure of the entire project. Consequently, they end up overspending and missing the predetermined launch date only to introduce a new product that isn’t precisely the best. In order to avoid this pitfall, what can businesses do? Well, they should avoid the following common mistakes:

Not Performing the Market Research

Prior to the new product development, failing to carry out thorough market analysis and research is one of the biggest mistakes that businesses make.

Not performing the research leads to the failure of the entire project, as businesses have no vital information about what the consumers actually want, how they can meet their demands, and how they can address the prevailing problems.

While every business has deadlines to meet, it is essential to make a habit of performing extensive market research before moving on with the new product development process. This way, businesses can escape any likely mistakes and create a decisive plan that will lead the way for better future product developments.

Not Planning for the Future

A new product development is all about bringing new innovations for the future. Product designers and product developers spend a considerable amount of time in creating solutions that will not only give a respectable return in the present, but also in the future. Not planning for the future factors directly toward bad product development. It will also affect future product development endeavors.

In order to avoid this, ensure to design your new product for the present as well as for the future. This way, you will be able to devise simple, yet useful products with superior features that can also address the future needs. Therefore, when you have a solid idea, ensure to analyze and visualize how it will function and perform in the future with the advent of new technological advancements.

Not Focusing on Product, But on its Benefits

Most businesses believe that a successful new product should offer a number of benefits to its potential consumers. While it is an excellent approach to product development, it may raise several issues and problems in situations where the new product actually cannot provide what was suggested or quoted. Remember, the focus of the product development team has to be on the development of the product itself instead of the benefits offered. Eventually, the consumers will purchase the product for its benefits, but if you do not focus on the limitations of the product, the final result would be an exceptional new product that maybe no one would want to buy.

Pricing it Too Low or High

One of the main objectives of every business is to gain maximum return on the new product they bring in the market. Nevertheless, if the price of the new product is too high, the consumers will not buy it and if the price is too low, the business will fail to make the profit. Therefore, the price of the new product has to be on par with the advantages or benefits it offers. The business also needs to consider the purchasing power of the target market while setting the price for its new product.

Remember, if the price is high, the consumers will probably ignore the new product, and the product will remain on the shelves, leading to a big loss. Therefore, a business needs to ensure to price its new product based on the price its competitors charge.

If you want to learn more about new product development or if you want to create a successful new product, GID Company can help. GID Company, a new product design and product development company in California, USA, has vast experience in designing and developing successful new products for its clients. Utilizing the latest technologies, like Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the professionals at GID Company even help develop new product prototypes at reduced costs. Aside from new product design, product development, and product prototype development, GID Company also helps with product branding, product packaging, manufacturing, inventory management, and more. To learn more about GID Company, just visit https://www.gidcompany.com/.

Currently, the new product development expert in the US, GID Company is also offering a free 15-minute telephonic consultation with one of the veterans, Jim Grimes. You can call Jim at 714-323-1052 between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.