# Roadblocks of IoT Adoption | INLIGN's Rachel Richter & Russ Shumaker

- Show: [IoT For All Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast)
- Published: 2022-02-22
- Length: 33m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iot-for-all/episodes/Roadblocks-of-IoT-Adoption--INLIGNs-Rachel-Richter--Russ-Shumaker-e28bmov

## Summary

Rachel Richter and Russ Shumaker, co-founders of INLIGN, discuss why digital transformation and IoT initiatives often fail despite technological advancements. They argue that the primary roadblock is a lack of organizational alignment between strategy, people, and technology, rather than technical execution. The guests highlight 'silent killers' such as insufficient touchpoints between leadership and ground staff, and the failure to address user adoption through empathy and trust. They emphasize that successful IoT requires meeting specific business needs and ensuring that the 'informed' and 'empowered' are connected through actionable feedback loops.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=0) Introduction: Rachel Richter and Russ Shumaker of INLIGN
- [1:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=112) Background and the transition from Smart Rex to INLIGN
- [5:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=319) The critical role of executive champion time and alignment
- [9:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=569) IoT must meet business needs, not just technical specs
- [14:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=887) The three silent killers: Alignment, Touchpoints, Feedback
- [22:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=1359) User adoption barriers: Fear, trust, and workflow disruption
- [27:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=1664) The danger of late user involvement and shadow IT
- [30:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-22-roadblocks-of-iot-adoption-inligns-rachel-richter-russ-shumaker#t=1808) Case study: Enterprise digital transformation pillars

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- INLIGN (company)
- Smart Rex (company)
- McKenzie (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#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)
- [Digital Transformation Explained (Over a Beer) | Live from Automation Fair 2019](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2019-12-02-digital-transformation-explained-over-a-beer-live-from-automation-fair-2019) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Start With the Problem, Not the Technology w/ Jonathon Hensley](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2020-10-06-start-with-the-problem-not-the-technology-w-jonathon-hensley) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Why IoT Has Been So Slow to Evolve with Don DeLoach, Co-founder of Rocket Wagon Venture Studios](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-29-why-iot-has-been-so-slow-to-evolve-with-don-deloach-co-founder-of-rocket-wagon-v) (Over the Air)
- [155: Down to Earth Digital Transformation Advice with Vatsal Shah](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-26-155-down-to-earth-digital-transformation-advice-with-vatsal-shah) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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