# Navigating the Transition from Service-based to Product-Based Company with Ollie Smeenk, Co-CEO at SODAQ

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2022-09-15
- Length: 27m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-15-navigating-the-transition-from-service-based-to-product-based-company-with-ollie
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Navigating-the-Transition-from-Service-based-to-Product-Based-Company-with-Ollie-Smeenk--Co-CEO-at-SODAQ-e2l43sj

## Summary

Ollie Smeenk, Co-CEO at SODAQ, explains the company's strategic pivot from a service-based engineering firm to a product-based business focused on low-power IoT asset tracking. He details the organizational challenges of this transition, including the need for dedicated procurement, sales teams, and a shift in executive roles to co-CEO structure. Smeenk highlights the development of their flagship solar-powered tracker and future smart label products, emphasizing the importance of energy harvesting and avoiding lithium-ion batteries.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-15-navigating-the-transition-from-service-based-to-product-based-company-with-ollie#t=0) Introduction and SODAQ Background
- [5:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-15-navigating-the-transition-from-service-based-to-product-based-company-with-ollie#t=304) Challenges of Transitioning from Services to Products
- [10:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-15-navigating-the-transition-from-service-based-to-product-based-company-with-ollie#t=648) Hiring and Organizational Structure Changes
- [14:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-15-navigating-the-transition-from-service-based-to-product-based-company-with-ollie#t=874) Product Strategy and Market Opportunity
- [17:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-15-navigating-the-transition-from-service-based-to-product-based-company-with-ollie#t=1062) Product Specifications and Engineering Challenges
- [21:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-09-15-navigating-the-transition-from-service-based-to-product-based-company-with-ollie#t=1314) Company Culture and Future Roadmap

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- SODAQ (company)
- Very (company)
- Williot (company)
- Plant E (company)
- Narrowband IoT (other)
- LTEM (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Energy Harvesting and Future of Sustainable IoT | SODAQ's Ollie Smeenk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-01-10-energy-harvesting-and-future-of-sustainable-iot-sodaqs-ollie-smeenk) (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)
- [T-24-004 : Tom George - Hardware Startup Engineer to Google Product Lead](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2024-11-13-t-24-004-tom-george-hardware-startup-engineer-to-google-product-lead) (TRADEOFFS)
- [OEM Servitization with IoT | Sensorfy's Gijs Meuleman | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-05-30-oem-servitization-with-iot-sensorfys-gijs-meuleman-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [An Interview with Scott Miller (2nd)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-07-22-an-interview-with-scott-miller-2nd) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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