Accelerating time to market for a plug-and-play cellular connectivity device
Organization: OptConnect
Industry: Technology / IoT
Region: Utah, USA
Use Case: Cellular connectivity for ATMs, kiosks, and digital signage
Executive Summary
OptConnect accelerated the development and launch of its Neo cellular connectivity device by leveraging an embedded cellular modem platform from Airgain. As a provider of managed wireless connectivity services for ATMs, retail kiosks, digital signage, and other connected assets, OptConnect wanted to create a compact, cost-effective, plug-and-play device that could be rapidly deployed and easily integrated with its existing software platform. By utilizing a pre-integrated connectivity solution rather than developing hardware from scratch, OptConnect reduced development complexity, accelerated time to market, and successfully launched a purpose-built product aligned with customer requirements and pricing expectations.
OptConnect provides managed wireless connectivity for tens of thousands of devices, including ATMs, retail kiosks, and digital signage. To expand its addressable market, the company set out to develop a low-cost, plug-and-play cellular device that customers could deploy quickly.
The goal was to create a compact, reliable front-end device that could integrate OptConnect’s existing management software while remaining simple enough for rapid deployment in the field.
To bring this product to market, OptConnect needed a solution that could:
OptConnect leveraged an embedded cellular modem platform to provide the foundational connectivity capabilities required for its new Neo device.
Rather than building a complete cellular hardware platform internally, the company used a pre-integrated architecture that provided core connectivity while allowing its development team to focus on differentiation, software integration, and the customer experience.
This approach enabled OptConnect to:
By building on a proven connectivity foundation, the company was able to focus resources on innovation rather than infrastructure development.
OptConnect was able to develop and launch its Neo device in a significantly compressed timeframe. By leveraging a pre-integrated modem and router platform, the team avoided the need for ground-up hardware development and reduced time to market.
Rather than adapting to an off-the-shelf product with unnecessary features, OptConnect delivered a right-sized, cost-effective device tailored to its specific use case. This enabled the company to offer a solution better aligned with customer requirements and pricing expectations.
The architecture allowed OptConnect to integrate its existing remote management software directly into the device, preserving its core service offering while simplifying deployment for customers.
OptConnect successfully launched the Neo device with strong initial interest and early orders, supported by a targeted go-to-market campaign.
With a purpose-built, easy-to-deploy device, OptConnect was able to expand its reach and grow more quickly in the rapidly evolving IoT connectivity market.
| Objective | Result |
|---|---|
| Product development | Accelerated development timeline |
| Software integration | Existing management platform integrated successfully |
| Product design | Purpose-built device aligned to market needs |
| Time to market | Faster launch compared to ground-up development |
| Customer adoption | Strong initial market interest and early orders |
| Business growth | Expanded participation in the IoT connectivity market |
As organizations increasingly deploy connected devices, speed to market has become a major competitive advantage. Product teams must balance innovation, cost control, engineering resources, and customer requirements while bringing new solutions to market quickly.
This deployment demonstrates how embedded cellular technologies can help companies accelerate product development, reduce complexity, and focus resources on creating differentiated customer value rather than rebuilding foundational connectivity infrastructure.
