Occasionally hardware startups ignore product compliance and focus on product launch. In a way it makes sense, as startups need the product launch in the shortest time while keeping expenses under control, after all you do have investors to please. But, have you stopped for a second to think of the implications of neglecting product compliance and how it might affect your business in the long-term?
Or better, think about being acquired by a big company, what then? Suddenly your goal markets are way more than initially targeted, you need your product to be aligned with company product’s certification or at time even internal procedures. That all resolves in the inevitable, which is product redesign. Can you even imagine what it can do to your product, budget and lead-time?
Your company can save so much in the long run by just dedicating approximately 10 hours (depending on product complexity) of product compliance consulting at the very beginning stage of product design. A product compliance expert will consult on how to design an electronic board, choice of materials, mechanical strength, electrical shock hazard, fire hazard, battery protection, user interface, color scheme, and many more.
Designing for compliance raises your product quality and reliability up to a different level, as it requires taking into account the different worldwide markets entry requirements as well as domestic. It makes your customers feel more confident about the product, puts you in a better position in front of potential investors and saves precious time and cash in later stages.
Some entrepreneurs think it’s a waste of money, as their target market is domestic only, and ‘nobody really cares as long as the product works and looks good…’ And yes, that’s true, when everything goes well.
Here’s the thing - sometimes things happen and without the right product compliance approvals your company can go down the drain simply because you chose to skip a few hours of consulting at the beginning of the design process. There’s a reason why these product compliance regulations exist - to keep the end user safe from innocent mistakes as well as companies neglecting electronic safety due to cost restraints. Apple makes sure all of its products are compliant. Your startup should as well.
Think of the cost of time, energy and money your company would suffer due to bad design for compliance. Think about melting plastic parts after production while your product is at a customer and the negative publicity it would bring. All of this might lead to the early death of your product and/or your company.
The product aspects you might want to consider before designing it are pcb layout, use of materials, routing, battery use and protection, capacitance discharge duration, packaging, industrial design, labeling, electromagnetic interference, sharp edges, industry related (ITE, Medical, Military, etc.), mechanical strength, temperatures and ventilation, outputs protection and more.
As you can see designing for product compliance is not just something for big companies, it has a great value for your startup as well. It’s not worth the risk of going without it.