# Embracing a Consumer-Centric Approach to Product Development

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2021-06-08
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Embracing-a-Consumer-Centric-Approach-to-Product-Development-e2l43sf

## Summary

Doug Roberson, CTO of Alterco Robotics (maker of the Shelly IoT brand), explains how the company uses a consumer-centric approach to product development by listening to customers via social media and forums. He discusses the importance of versatile hardware form factors, such as the Shelly 1 relay, and the critical lesson that a working prototype does not guarantee a profitable product due to Bill of Materials costs. Roberson also emphasizes data privacy by offering local control options and advises founders to build experienced teams and say 'no' to superfluous features to avoid failure.

## Chapters

- [0:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=52) Introduction and Alterco Overview
- [2:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=131) Consumer-Centric Development and Customer Feedback
- [5:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=358) Product Versatility and ESP32 Platform Strategy
- [8:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=535) Filtering Vocal Minorities and Product Viability
- [11:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=694) Lessons from a Failed Security Sensor Project
- [18:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=1084) The Importance of Saying No to Superfluous Features
- [23:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=1419) Data Security, Privacy, and Local Control
- [28:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development#t=1707) Coolest Products and Advice for Hardware Founders

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Alterco Robotics (company)
- Shelly (product)
- Shelly 1 (product)
- Shelly 3 EM (product)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Home Assistant Blue (product)
- Nest (product)
- Google (company)
- Apple (company)
- ZigBee (other)
- Z-Wave (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [128: Creating an App for Your Hardware Device](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-06-08-128-creating-an-app-for-your-hardware-device) (Product Startup)
- [Maximizing ROI for IoT Prototyping and Development | Blynk's Pavel Bayborodin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-08-31-maximizing-roi-for-iot-prototyping-and-development-blynks-pavel-bayborodin) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [The EEVblog Sparkgap Generator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-20-the-eevblog-sparkgap-generator) (The Amp Hour)
- [#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)
- [Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf IoT Solutions | Brash Inc.'s Richard Beranek | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-02-27-custom-vs-off-the-shelf-iot-solutions-brash-inc-s-richard-beranek-internet-of-th) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-06-08-embracing-a-consumer-centric-approach-to-product-development. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Over the Air.