# Maximizing Value from IoT Pilot Programs | Pelion's Mikko Saarnilaava

- Show: [IoT For All Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast)
- Published: 2021-09-27
- Length: 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iot-for-all/episodes/Maximizing-Value-from-IoT-Pilot-Programs--Pelions-Mikko-Saarnilaava-e28bmp3

## Summary

Mikko Saarnilaava, CTO of Pelion (an ARM company), discusses best practices for IoT pilot programs and digital transformation. He emphasizes that pilots are critical for validating product requirements and user needs, not just technology. Saarnilaava warns against common pitfalls like deferring security, over-customizing hardware for initial use cases, and ignoring 'table stakes' features like secure lifecycle management. He also explains how IoT infrastructure is foundational for AI, enabling secure data collection and model deployment.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [3:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava#t=184) Pelion's IoT Platform and Market Position
- [11:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava#t=713) Common Pitfalls in IoT Deployment
- [14:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava#t=890) Partner Selection and Pilot Strategy
- [18:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava#t=1093) The Role of Pilots in Validation
- [22:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava#t=1354) IoT and AI Integration
- [27:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-09-27-maximizing-value-from-iot-pilot-programs-pelions-mikko-saarnilaava#t=1651) Closing and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Pelion (company)
- ARM (company)
- Stream Technologies (company)
- Sense Technologies (company)
- Wigwag (company)
- CincyNote (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#017 - How *not* to think about IoT, with Michael Vladimer of Orange IoT Studio, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-03-15-017-how-not-to-think-about-iot-with-michael-vladimer-of-orange-iot-studio-usa) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [#014: Why Your IoT Project Still Hasn’t Taken Off — And How to Fix It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-08-05-014-why-your-iot-project-still-hasnt-taken-off-and-how-to-fix-it) (Coredump Sessions)
- [IoT Strategy: Firing Bullets Instead of Cannonballs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-09-28-iot-strategy-firing-bullets-instead-of-cannonballs) (Over the Air)
- [Building Customer-Focused IoT Applications Easier with Charlie Key, Co-founder and CEO of Losant](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-08-04-building-customer-focused-iot-applications-easier-with-charlie-key-co-founder-an) (Over the Air)
- [Interview with Phillip Johnston Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2022-11-15-interview-with-phillip-johnston-part-1) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)

## Citing this page

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