IOT Solutions Architect

When a business wants to launch new products or improve their efficiency, they consult the IT department or an IT Consulting firm to recommend solutions for their plans. For example, a five star hotel may want to implement an online payment system. Or let's say a university wants to make their entire admission, student management and examination processes online.

System Architects work in the Information Technology (IT) department of companies or with IT Consulting companies and are technology experts. When a company has a plan to find a business solution through usage or information technology, Systems Architects understand the business requirements and advise the company on the use of the right kind of IT harware and software to achieve those goals. They help in the design and development of any IT software development project.

So in case of our example above for the five star hotel, System Architects will understand the business requirement and then design the overall system consisting of hardware requirement, operating software specifications, application software specifications, cyber security protocols and specifications, computer server requirement, payment gateway systems through a bank, and so on. They will define the programming language to use, tools and technologies to use and the procedures for software testing and software quality analysis.

Take a simpler example. Suppose a personal computer has to be designed for people with hearing impairment and speech impairment. Then it would be the System Architect’s responsibility to design the user friendly interface, the kind of hardware to be used, software to be used, etc. In short, a System Architect has to design in details about a machine and its operations which would suit the user requirements.

A Solutions Architect works closely with a Systems Architect. Solutions are a part of the solution development team of a company. They build specific computer systems and integrate information to meet the company needs. Through this, their role is to focus on technical decision-making and how it will impact the business. They may also participate in programming, testing software, and other associated devices. A solutions architect is present during the entire process, even during the systems development cycle.

Systems and Solutions architects together understand the company needs, suggest a solution with respect to technology, and execute the solution processes.

Key roles and responsibilities

A system and solution architect have similar roles and responsibilities, which are the following:

• Understanding the company’s strategy and requirements and identify the key areas to work on.
• Preparing documents according to the key areas stating the main features of the process, and its functionalities.
• Understanding different parts of the solution such as interfaces, hardware, and software solutions and integration of information, and stating if there are any more resource requirements.
• Picking the right IT architecture by accounting for various factors like the existing IT structure and the latest available technologies, return on investment, customer needs, and IT support.
• Coordinating with the project teams and ensuring smooth implementation of the system design and making sure it is aligned with the business needs.

Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually, there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Personality Traits:

• Time management
• Negotiation
• Persuasion
• Social perceptiveness

Skills:

• Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
• Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Abilities:

• Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.