# IoT Lessons: How Software Opened the Door to Smart Locks

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2021-12-07
- Length: 28m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/IoT-Lessons-How-Software-Opened-the-Door-to-Smart-Locks-e2l43r5

## Summary

Jason Williams, President of August Home and Yale Real Living, discusses Yale’s transition from a 180-year-old hardware manufacturer to a leader in smart locks through the acquisition of August Home. He details the strategic pivot from relying on third-party software partners to building an in-house platform, highlighting the cultural and technical challenges of integrating Silicon Valley software engineering with traditional mechanical hardware disciplines. Williams also shares lessons on product-market fit, noting how smart locks expanded beyond single-family homes into vacation rentals and multifamily housing, and advises executives on the importance of patience and knowing when to abandon failing technologies like early NFC implementations.

## Chapters

- [0:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=47) Introduction and Yale's History
- [2:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=168) The Early Partner Strategy and Software Failures
- [7:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=446) Acquiring August Home and Cultural Integration
- [10:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=640) Leadership Lessons and Learning the Software Language
- [12:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=761) Product-Market Fit and Market Expansion Signals
- [17:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=1034) Knowing When to Pull the Plug on NFC
- [23:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=1385) Future Roadmap: Smart Security and Delivery Boxes
- [25:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-12-07-iot-lessons-how-software-opened-the-door-to-smart-locks#t=1502) Partner Spotlight and Closing

## 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

- Yale (company)
- August Home (company)
- Alarm.com (company)
- Control4 (company)
- SmartRent (company)
- Yale Connected by August (product)
- Yale Smart Delivery Box (product)
- August App (product)
- NFC (other)
- Bluetooth (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Key Considerations for IoT Software | Interlogica's Alessandro Fossato](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-05-17-key-considerations-for-iot-software-interlogicas-alessandro-fossato) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [All-in-One Hardware, Software, & Connectivity | Particle's Zach Supalla | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-11-17-all-in-one-hardware-software-connectivity-particles-zach-supalla-internet-of-thi) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [The Impact of Embedded Technology | Losant's Brandon Cannaday](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-08-16-the-impact-of-embedded-technology-losants-brandon-cannaday) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [063: Hardware Startup Tips from a 22 Year Apple Exec](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-17-063-hardware-startup-tips-from-a-22-year-apple-exec) (Product Startup)
- [S3 E1: Mastering Tech Adoption and The Hardware Development Workflow with Jon Hirshtick](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2025-09-30-s3-e1-mastering-tech-adoption-and-the-hardware-development-workflow-with-jon-hir) (The Builder Circle)

## Citing this page

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