Hardware or the world of equipment is capable of offering solutions in multiple sectors: industry, medical, finance, agriculture, leisure, etc.
Each sector has its own needs and constraints. In this article, I offer you a reading of the most popular sectors in hardware.
Fintech, discreet but making its way
In recent years, we have seen more and more hardware projects develop around the financial sector. For what ? Particularly thanks to the rise of cryptocurrency or the dematerialization of means of payment. These project leaders include companies such as Money Walkie with its connected wallet for children or Status and Ledger, with their tangible wallets to secure blockchain transactions.
Medtech, curious but framed
Hardware developments in the medical device sector exist but require real expertise, both in compliance with regulations and in adoption by users. Withings perfectly illustrates this trend with its connected scales and watches which allow daily medical monitoring. Bioserenity takes this logic even further by integrating sensors directly into clothing for neurological monitoring. Players like LifeAz are working on public health issues with connected defibrillators. Innovations that reflect a strong conviction: medical hardware is no longer limited to hospital devices, it is now part of our daily lives.
Smart home, established but innovative
Home automation has been around since the 1970s. Through a computer, it was possible to control the opening and closing of the shutters. Today, the devices are wireless and perfected to provide functions linked to comfort, energy management and home security in particular. The major smart home brands share the market with, among others, Somfy, Schneider, Legrand and smaller but innovative ones such as NodOn.
Leisuretech, multiplied but specialized pleasure
There are many LeisureTech companies and they all have one thing in common: seeking to offer a enhanced experience to their users. As an example, we can cite Unistellar with its telescope based on dynamic signal amplification, Expressive E and its digital synthesizer keyboard which was used for the soundtrack of the film Dunes 2 or even Aveine with its wine aerator to perfect the taste experience. Others obviously exist linked to sport, gastronomy or even soft mobility.
Industry, efficient but constrained
Creating a hardware product for the industrial world is a challenging process faced with numerous environmental constraints, between extreme conditions in terms of temperature, dust, humidity and even connectivity issues due to interference and metal warehouses. Safehear, a start-up from Lyon, took on this challenge by creating intelligent hearing protection allowing operators to communicate in very noisy environments. Moïz also made this choice of industry by developing an autonomous measurement module to power any type of sensor (temperature, pressure, CO2, etc.)
While these sectors offer real opportunities, they also impose rigor that many underestimate: long development times, regulatory constraints, production challenges on scale. As an industrial manufacturer, we observe these realities on the ground every day. The hardware is not very forgiving of errors. This is precisely what makes it a field of innovation that is as demanding as it is exciting.
