Guide to Embedded Software in Business

Although embedded software’s biggest contribution remains unseen, as it is most likely invisible to regular users’ eyes, it enhances automation, customer experience, and safety. The way this type of software links to hardware to create wired and high-functioning systems is truly revolutionary for the modern tech world. And data proves it!

The global embedded software market reached USD 15.26 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to USD 29.51 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 7.6%. The notable growth was prompted by breakthroughs in technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence and IoT, and the quick expansion of solutions, such as smart homes. The growth is evident and partially connected to the global digitalization of businesses.

North America currently leads the embedded software market, with the biggest demand for driver assistance systems and infotainment systems that heavily rely on embedded SW.

There is more to embedded systems than meets the eye. In this article, I will be discussing the concept itself, talking about embedded software types and features, as well as real-world applications of these systems, and the challenges associated with it.

What is Embedded Software?

Embedded software runs the hardware system it’s linked to. The software and hardware linked together are called embedded systems, and this is how they differ from embedded software alone. And since embedded software is being linked to so many hardware devices, it’s spreading across the market.

To better understand what is embedded software, let’s look at the example. The best representation of an embedded system lies at the reach of your hand – it’s a smartphone. It’s a small hardware device with limited calculating capabilities and memory. The embedded software, in this case, is the operating system it runs on.

Unlike types of embedded finance or gamification, embedding software does not simply include software parts in hardware function. Embedded systems are tied together in a fashion that renders one unable to function without the other.

Among the key characteristics that define what is embedded software are the following:

1. Operates in real-time.
2. Incorporates reliability engineering for long-term operations under any circumstances.
3. Has a compact software size and modular design to fit into the smallest hardware.
4. Incorporates memory management to ensure efficient operation of the hardware it’s linked to.

Components of Embedded Software

There are different components to embedded software that make it possible to blend soft- and hardware together into a seamless system. The ones I encountered the most in my practice are as follows:

1. Firmware controls the hardware’s operations and basic functions and is embedded in non-volatile memory, such as ROM.
2. Device drivers act as an intermediary between the OS of two devices, connecting them. For example, it connects a mouse or printer to your computer.
3. Middleware is a layer between the OS and the application. Its main goal is to simplify interoperability between multiple applications. This type of embedded system is responsible for caching.
4. Real-time operating systems (RTOS) prioritize timely responses to assigned tasks and are most often used in medical devices and industrial automation.
5. Embedded Linux is designed for use in embedded systems to efficiently manage limited resources. Most often can be seen used in automotive systems.

Types of Embedded Systems

As I mentioned, there are different types of embedded software app development inherent to different types of systems. For your convenience, I decided to break them apart into different classifications based on their qualifications.

Performance and Functionality-Based Requirements Classification

#1 Real-time embedded systems

They respond to events within a strict deadline. They can also be divided into two subtypes: soft and hard embedded software. The former might have a slight delay in obtaining the information, while the latter will be critically precise. Hard real-time embedded systems include flight control systems, industrial automation, and medical devices, while soft ones can be used for temperature monitoring tools.

Apps for these embedded systems monitoring can be used in transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare.

#2 Standalone embedded systems

These systems operate independently without needing to connect to a network. We encounter them in digital watches, calculators, and GPS.

Best for gadget manufacturing.

#3 Network embedded systems

Network embedded systems are connected to a network, interact with other devices, and are represented by smart home devices, industrial IoT sensors, and ATMs.

If your business creates devices based on general-purpose processors, you need an app to be able to manage embedded systems.

#4 Mobile embedded systems

They are portable and often powered by batteries. Examples include smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices.

They are best suited for OS development.

Microcontroller Performance-Based Classification

#1 Small-scale embedded systems

These systems use low-performance microcontrollers and are often used in simple applications such as remote controls and basic sensors.

If you create devices with basic functionality, you need an app to monitor this system.

#2 Medium-scale embedded systems

They are used in more complex applications as they use more powerful microcontrollers.

They are best for digital cameras and home appliances.

#3 Sophisticated embedded systems

These systems use high-performance microcontrollers and are used in demanding applications.

Best suited for automotive electronics and industrial robots.

Features of Embedded Software

Embedded development changed the way we perceive hardware, making everyday use items smarter. It became possible due to the list of inherent features that explain the way embedded software functions in technical and business contexts. Let’s take a look at it.

Among them are:

1. Real-time management and operations control allow embedding software to monitor and control the systems for immediate response to issues and changes and prompt prevention of security problems.
2. Data analytics enables embedded software to collect and analyze data, which in turn produces more detailed predictions for future trends and areas of improvement.
3. Automation frees up resources for other important tasks and enhances the operations’ effectiveness.
4. Integration with business systems improves the seamless flow of data and informed decision-making.
5. Remote management increases the accessibility of those systems, making it possible to manage them from anywhere in the world. It can also enable proactive monitoring for security threats and vulnerabilities.
6. Predictive maintenance enables proactive problem-solving before issues occur, which also helps to protect the budget from unpredictable expenses.

Now that we have covered the concept’s features, types, and definitions, I think it’s crucial to see how all of this can be implemented in the real world.

Real-World Implementation of Embedded Software

Embedded software is used in many aspects of modern technology, from automotive to medical devices. In this blog post section, I will discuss real-world embedded systems and their applications in everyday life.

Embedded Software In the Automotive Industry

Embedded development is a big part of the automotive industry nowadays. It helps to control the hardware present in most cars, turning them into advanced machines. A good example of such software is the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

ECUs are usually used to perform crucial activities in vehicle management, such as optimizing engine performance, fuel emissions, and efficiency. They are controlled by embedded SW, turning the car into an embedded system.

The automotive industry often implements control centers in vehicles. These centers can help with parallel parking, navigation, and even media. They also help connect smartphones to the vehicle, and all of this is managed by embedded software.

Internet of Things (IoT) and Embedded Software

Embedded systems in IoT are the means of communication between one IoT system and the other. In IoT, there is also a term for a dedicated device; it signifies a device that has been created for a specific purpose alone. For example, such a device can be a POS terminal.

In this case, the POS terminal communicates with both the buyer’s and the seller’s bank accounts to ensure a safe money transfer from one source to another. It happens when the POS device connects to the payment gateway as soon as the card touches the scanner.

Embedded Software in Industrial Applications

Embedded software is used for automation in industrial applications. It helps automate assembly lines, quality control, and equipment monitoring. In many cases, industrial applications resort to embedded software to ensure real-time updates.

This helps reduce risk in manufacturing, enabling real-time monitoring and predictions. Embedded SW can also manage emergency systems, making them more reliable without manual labor.

Emergency systems, such as fire suppression or gas leak detection, can deliver timely and fully automated responses in manufacturing that might be considered hazardous. Our software development company can create an app for an embedded system that connects such software to hardware seamlessly.

Embedded Software in Consumer Electronics

Embedding software in consumer electronics helps provide influential capabilities for the devices to perform their designated functions and ensure seamless operations. Among the best examples of such devices are smartphones we use daily.

In these devices, embedded software manages app connectivity, battery charging, camera functionality, and other features.

Embedded systems are present in our homes in many other smart devices, such as refrigerators, watching machines, drying, and other smart consumer electronics.

Embedded Software in Medical Devices

Medical devices often employ and develop an app embedded software to help improve the patients’ experience. For example, embedded software in medical devices can be seen in hearing aids or heart monitors.

Medical device manufacturers develop an app for embedded software solutions to control heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate monitors. In certain cases, embedded systems can also control airflow, pressure, and oxygen levels, which would be uniquely tied to the patient’s needs.

Challenges of Embedded Software Development

Despite being frequently present in many users’ everyday lives, embedded software still has its own implementation and creation challenges. In this segment, I will review some of them.

Resource Constraints

Embedded systems most often would have limited hardware resources as they’re tied to a certain device. The constraints are often connected to processing power, memory, storage, or other hardware capabilities. Embedded software must maximize the capabilities of the hardware it is being tied to and, hence, requires planning, optimization, and testing. This would entail more financial spending, as it would also lead to more time spent on the development process.

How to solve: Resource management with precise resource planning could help you build a solid business plan and roadmap to ensure that you’re not wasting resources in vain. Roadmap and resource planning practice would also help you ensure that you are not facing any constraints with time and budget planning.

Security

Embedded software is tied to a specific device, making security paramount. The connection is unbroken and quite intimate, given that the software can control certain features and aspects of the hardware it’s being connected to. If there are any vulnerabilities present in embedded software, they can lead to data leaks or enable fraudulent activities with device operations access.

How to solve: Implement encryption and multifactor authentication to enable extra security. Limit access to critical functions and ensure that your software is regularly updated.

Integrations and Compatibility

Integrations with embedded software require high compatibility with the hardware they’re tied to. Sometimes, ensuring this might be challenging and would take extra time, prolonging time-to-market.

How to solve: The first sure method would be compatibility testing to ensure that the software you’ve created is compatible with the hardware you’re planning to tie it to. Secondly, you could explore and research versioning and documentation strategies to ensure that you’ve implemented your solution to the maximum of its potential.

These challenges can be solved by working with qualified software engineers with practical experience in embedded software development. Their niche knowledge would allow them to spend less time working and perfecting the software, implement better security, and solve resource concerns.

Conclusion

Embedded software is an inherent part of digital evolution, and it seems to be so for the foreseeable future. So, as business owners and people connected to the digital field, we have to ensure our ability to create software that helps control hardware in ways that enhance customer experience and automate processes to reach the businesses’ maximum potential.

To avoid risks connected to the development, you can hire professionals with experience in the chosen niche and a high level of executive expertise. If you’re interested in cooperating with a team that launched over 500 projects and has 14+ years of experience, let’s have a chat. Together, we can bring your dreams to reality and ensure that whatever you have planned for your business comes to fruition.