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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Feeling a bit confused by all the tech talk, or interested in knowing more about what it´d be like to work with us?
Welcome to our FAQ section!
We´ve gathered the most frequently asked questions to guide you, and we have grouped them in three sections below: SADE Booster IoT Asset, SADE as a partner, and SADE as a workplace. We hope you find this useful!
FAQ
SADE Booster IoT Asset
In short, what is SADE Booster?
SADE Booster is a collection of tested software and hardware building blocks for connected products: secure device connectivity, provisioning, over-the-air updates, an AWS-based cloud architecture, APIs, data storage, user management and application foundations for web and mobile.It is the part of an IoT system that is the same in every project. Some of it is invisible plumbing and some of it is very much on screen — sign-in, user and organisation management, device lists, basic data views — but none of it is what makes your product different from anyone else's. Because it already exists and already runs in production device fleets, your team starts above it rather than beneath it.The licence includes source code access. That is the part most ready-made platforms will not give you: your developers can read the foundation, extend it, and take the solution forward in-house without waiting for anyone — including us.In short, what is SADE Booster not?
SADE Booster is not• A fixed dashboard product• One-size-fits-all SaaS platform• Closed system that dictates your roadmap• Replacement for customer-specific product development• Promise that every project has the same price or scope• Substitute for knowing what your users need — Booster shortens the build, not the thinkingWhat does ”IoT” mean, really?
”IoT” as a term may be one of the most diversely understood concepts today! It is an abbreviation for ”Internet of Things”, and even translating it can be challenging, let alone understanding it unequivocally. For some, it´s solely about devices; for others, it´s solely about software, and for yet others, it´s something completely different 😊. The way we understand the term, and the way we want it to be understood, is that it encompasses software, electronics, and cloud services. Everything is needed. And you can get it from us: the device, the cloud, the mobile app, the web app. And all in a way that the entire system works together, meaning that it really works! 😁
In simple terms, IoT, the Internet of Things, refers to a system where a device or devices (a ”Thing” or ”Things”), such as sensors, are connected to a cloud service. These devices send data to the cloud – for example, a temperature sensor measures and sends temperature data to the cloud. The cloud service then typically stores the data and can also respond to it, such as by sending an alert if the temperature gets too high. Often, there is also a web and/or mobile application that allows users to view data and control the devices (like, to adjust a thermostat). Together, these components (the device, cloud, web app, and mobile app) make up an IoT system.What is the true cost of building an IoT platform: Build vs. Buy?
Navigating IoT costs can feel like a maze. Traditionally, companies have faced a tough choice. You can either build a custom solution from scratch, which is incredibly expensive, slow, and prone to early-stage bugs. Or, you can buy an off-the-shelf ”plug-and-play” SaaS platform. While the latter seems cheaper initially, the licensing costs often skyrocket as your device volume grows, and you quickly hit a wall when you need custom features that the standard platform simply doesn´t support. At SADE Innovations, we realized neither of these options is ideal for a growing tech company. That’s why we created a third option: a hybrid model that gives you the speed of an off-the-shelf product with the limitless flexibility of a custom build. SADE Booster.What does it mean that SADE Booster is the ”basis” for any cloud-connected device concept?
We use the word ”basis” because SADE Booster is not a ready-made product for anyone; instead, it is a ready-made ”basis”. In practice, SADE Booster is a software and electronics solution that includes all parts of IoT, which we customize for each customer. We also configure it for each customer. All parts of Booster are in use and under development at SADE, and for new customer deployments, we always select a pre-tested version. If needed, we can also either patch or upgrade it for the customer later on.What is the SADE Booster IoT Asset, and how does it save us money?
Think of SADE Booster as the ultimate head start for your R&D project. It is a highly refined, pre-built technological foundation that includes everything you need: cloud architecture, web and mobile app frameworks, and embedded device connectivity. Because we don’t have to reinvent the wheel for every new client, using the SADE Booster IoT Asset cuts your project´s time-to-market in half and reduces overall development costs by up to 50% - or sometimes even more. You only pay for the custom features that make your product unique, not the basic plumbing. Our licensing model is designed to be fair and scalable — we want your business to grow, so our model ensures that the more you use it, the more cost-effective it becomes.How does Booster differ from off-the-shelf platforms?
Standard IoT platforms are great if your needs are generic and you just want to configure existing features. However, the moment your business requires a highly specific, tailored functionality, standard platforms become a roadblock. SADE Booster is fundamentally different. It is not a rigid ”black box.” It is a robust foundation that our senior engineers mold specifically to your exact business needs. You get a solution that fits your product like a glove, without the dreaded vendor lock-in. We build it, we tailor it, and it works exactly the way you and your customers need it to.How does Booster differ from using AWS directly?
Booster is built on AWS, so the question is really whether you assemble the foundation yourself or start from one that already exists. Using AWS directly means designing and building device identity, provisioning, OTA, data models, user management, monitoring and application scaffolding from first principles — the same 80% of every IoT project. Booster is that work, already done and already running in production. You still get AWS underneath, with its scalability and its ecosystem, and you can still use any AWS service the product needs.What are the benefits of SADE Booster? Why not use the AWS cloud ”directly”, i.e. without Booster?
SADE Booster uses AWS cloud services. While it for sure would be possible for a customer to use AWS cloud services without Booster, it would be slower and more expensive. Since Booster provides a pre-tested basis, using Booster eliminates the need to build an IoT system from scratch, incl. all connections, security measures, user management, etc. Booster provides these out of the box, working immediately.
A good example of this is a customer project, where our customer accelerated development time by over half using Booster — and this was naturally reflected accordingly in the project costs: take a look at the project on the Booster page.What is the relationship between SADE Booster and AWS (Amazon Web Services)?
SADE Booster is a cloud solution based on AWS (Amazon Web Services). Therefore, every customer using SADE Booster is also a user of AWS cloud services.
For example, SADE Booster´s security interfaces and user management solutions come directly from AWS, and this ensures that they are always up-to-date. SADE´s customers do not need to worry about AWS updates, as SADE takes care of them. Especially it is worth noting that SADE uses AWS´s Serverless architecture in SADE Booster, meaning that operational costs for cloud services are very economical, while the necessary scalability is always seamless — up to any connected device quantity.
On the front end, all of this is managed through SADE Booster´s web and mobile interfaces, made by SADE Innovations, naturally. To summarize, SADE Booster is a ready-made and tested end-to-end basis that uses AWS services.What does it mean that SADE is an AWS (Amazon Web Services) ”Select Partner”?
SADE Innovations has been delivering AWS-based solutions to its customers since 2017, and nowadays, we are also a ”Select Partner” on the AWS Services Partner Path!
Achieving Select Partner status requires an AWS Partner Network (APN) partner to have not only in-depth expertise in AWS solutions but also a required number of completed certificates and accreditations, as well as a requisite number of delivered AWS-based solutions to customers.
For our customers, this partnership level means not only even better service but also the opportunity to benefit from easier billing and discounts on AWS cloud costs for our customers through our AWS distributor.Can we migrate from another cloud or IoT platform?
Yes. We have completed multiple migrations from other clouds and platforms to AWS-based solutions, including consolidating scattered systems into one. The usual drivers are cost, scalability limits, or a platform that has started to constrain the product. A migration is planned around keeping the installed base running: devices in the field cannot be paused while the backend changes, so the transition is staged rather than switched.Who owns the final solution?
The customer-specific solution built on top of Booster is yours. The shared Booster foundation remains SADE's, and you licence it — including access to its source code, so nothing in your product is a black box you cannot open. Exactly where that line falls, what is your IPR, what is licensed and on what terms, is agreed explicitly in the contract before development starts. We would rather have that conversation early than have it become a surprise at the point where you want to take the product somewhere new.Who owns the data, the code, and the IPR?
You do. We strongly believe in transparency and fairness. When you partner with us and utilize the SADE Booster, you aren’t just renting a service — you are investing in your own company’s technological assets. You retain control over your data, and you get ownership (incl. intellectual property!) of the custom code we build for you. We don’t hold your technology hostage; we empower it.How many SADE Booster customers do you have?
We have dozens of company customers, worldwide, and the combined number of connected devices is already over one hundred thousand! It can indeed be said that SADE Booster is a proven and functional solution.How much does it cost for us to take Booster into use, and how long does it take?
Deploying Booster is not only fast but also cost-effective. Exact time & cost depend on customer requirements, of course. But setting up a (fully E2E-functional, of course!) solution for a customer is essentially just configuring SADE Booster IoT Asset. In that hypothetical case where the customer has practically no or very minimal requirements, the customer´s system would be up and running in a week or two. In terms of costs, this phase would be in the range of ~20 k€.How fast can we get a working prototype?
Faster than from a standing start, because the foundation is not being invented during your project. In a typical engagement a demonstrable end-to-end prototype — device to cloud to interface — is one of the early phases rather than a late milestone. The exact timeline depends on hardware readiness, integrations and how well-defined the requirement is at the outset. We give a specific estimate after the scope and architecture phase, once we can be accountable for the number.What happens if our device volume grows?
That is the case the architecture is designed for. The cloud is serverless and AWS-based, so it scales with the fleet rather than needing to be re-platformed at a threshold. Commercially, volume growth is handled through whichever licensing shape was agreed — typically volume tiers or a per-device model with steps. If the growth changes the economics substantially in either direction, that is a conversation, not an automatic penalty.How much does Booster cost when it is in use? How does the Booster licensing go?
The usage of SADE Booster is very cost-effective for our customers. We have a few licensing models, and we agree on the specific model with each customer.
In simple terms, there are two options: a) one-time payment per active devices in specific steps, or b) monthly recurring payment per active devices. Licenses are determined per content package, of which there are four available: cloud, web application, mobile application, and device (including firmware). Typical starting point is ~€10k–€30k to get through R&D and pilot phases (depending on content packages and scope), and after that, production pricing varies depending on the model (lifetime/monthly).
More details ▶ The Fast Lane to Custom IoT: SADE Booster Guide.So, is SADE Booster a front-end solution or a back-end solution, or something else?
Both 😊. And more.
SADE Booster IoT Asset is an end-to-end (E2E) solution that includes mobile and web applications, cloud services, electronics design, and embedded and IoT solutions.
It is a collection of software and hardware modules, which provide all the basics for any IoT system. By using these ready-made and carefully tested software and hardware assets, we can get quickly into speed with your development project and deliver a customized full IoT solution, matching exactly your needs, fast and efficiently. So SADE Booster is not ”just another connected device”, but a collection of technologies which can be used to make your own customized IoT solution efficiently.
A Booster video lasting just over three minutes illustrates how all Booster components work together! Click here to see the video on SADE YouTube! (Direct link). Highly recommended viewing! 😁Can Booster be integrated into an existing product?
Yes, and this is a common starting point. Many customers arrive with hardware already in the field, an ageing cloud, or a system that works but cannot grow. Booster components can be introduced incrementally — for example bringing device management and OTA under control first, or replacing a cloud backend while keeping the existing devices. The migration path is designed as part of the architecture phase so that existing installations keep working throughout.How is information security handled?
Security is built into the foundation rather than added afterwards. Every device has its own identity, provisioning is controlled, updates are signed and verifiable, and access is governed by roles. The cloud uses AWS security services and follows least-privilege principles. Because these are Booster components rather than per-project improvisation, they benefit from being reviewed and maintained across every solution built on the foundation. Where regulation applies it is named rather than implied: the EU Cyber Resilience Act, the RED cybersecurity requirements and, for industrial systems, IEC 62443 place obligations on the product, and the foundation — device identity, signed and verifiable updates, an encrypted data partition, an audit trail — is built to carry them. Which of them apply to your product is settled during scoping, alongside your own policies. We do not claim certifications we do not hold.Does Booster support cellular connectivity?
Yes, alongside Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Ethernet. Through our partnership with Onomondo, cellular deployments can use a single IoT SIM globally with centralised connectivity management, which removes the country-by-country negotiation that usually slows international rollouts. The right connectivity choice depends on power budget, data volume, location and cost, and it is a decision we work through with you rather than assume.Is Booster suitable for defence or dual-use applications?
It is being extended for exactly that. SADE received a €50,000 ELY Centre development grant, co-funded by a European regional development programme, to extend Booster for defence and public safety requirements. SADE is NCAGE-registered and a member of the Digital Defence Ecosystem, and SADE-developed technology was tested during NATO Innovation Range 2026. Suitability for a specific programme depends on that programme's requirements, and we will not claim blanket military certification that we do not hold.
FAQ
SADE as a partner
Why do you say you want to be a partner? Aren’t you a subcontractor?
We are a subcontractor, yes, but not an ordinary one! We take pride in being a true partner to our clients: we want to succeed together and help our clients’ businesses fly. We are at our best in customer projects where we can be involved from a very early stage, even brainstorming together. This way, we can contribute right from the concepting phase, so during product development, there is no need to spend valuable time re-evaluating architectural questions; we can then focus on execution. This saves the client both money and time, accelerating the schedule: a true win-win. In short, we not only do the challenging technical development but also work with the customer to determine what kind of challenging technical development is truly worth doing. 😁What do you mean when you say you are the ”R&D Partner of Your Dreams”?
This ties closely to the question & answer right above, i.e. that we are much more than just a typical subcontractor. This also shows really clearly in the feedback that we receive from our clients. For example, one client representative explained why they gave us a perfect score in the NPS survey: “(SADE has) a deep understanding of the client’s situation; not just regarding the ongoing project, but also understanding our business situation and needs.” In all our activities, we emphasize absolute transparency in our development work. We never hide issues; instead, we share the project status and plan with our clients exactly as if it were internal communication within our own company. As another client rep put it, explaining why they also gave us a perfect score in the NPS survey: “Solution-oriented approach, smooth operation, and direct communication channels”. And of course, we excel at what we do 😁 (A third client’s feedback for a perfect NPS score: “Expertise, flexible attitude.”). We have conducted NPS surveys with our clients for the past four years, and our NPS scores have been almost unbelievable: always between 80% - 94% !! – these are exceptionally high numbers!When looking at the ”SADE competences” image and your services, it seems like you can do just about everything? Is that really so?
Yes! Or well, not everything! But when it comes to conceptualization, R&D, and productization, then yes 😊. This versatility is explained by the fact that before SADE, most of us had already worked together, at Nokia & Microsoft & NUVIZ, and from those days we have a solid background and loads of experience in every aspect of R&D / product development. And if there’s something that we don’t yet know, we use our network of collaborators and/or learn! This way, no matter how complicated or multi-faceted the requested solution, our clients always receive a full & functional solution from us. (Link to SADE Competences/Services picture).So we need an End-to-End (E2E) solution. Can you handle the whole package?
Absolutely. Very few companies can genuinely offer a complete end-to-end solution under one roof. Whether you need embedded software for the physical device, electronics and mechanics design, secure cloud architecture (AWS), or user-friendly mobile and web frontends, our team has the deep technical expertise to deliver it all. You won’t need to juggle multiple vendors; we take care of the entire ecosystem.How large customer projects are you able to handle?
We are capable of handling quite large customer projects. Of course, the larger the project, the more challenging it is to get all the needed team members started with the new project quickly. Our largest customer projects to date have been in the range of 40-50 person months. And additionally, many projects lead to follow-up projects, so the figure can increase further on a per-client basis.How small customer projects do you undertake?
We also handle relatively small projects, or parts of them. However, one-person projects are not necessarily our favorites, as they typically don’t allow us to provide as much added value to our clients as we would like and as would be most beneficial.What kind of customer projects are you at your best?
We are at our best in projects where we can get involved very early on. This allows us to contribute right from the beginning, even in the concepting phase, eliminating the need to spend valuable time during product development on re-evaluating architectural questions, for example. Instead, we can then focus on execution. This saves the client both money and time, accelerating the schedule: a true win-win. In terms of size, such projects can actually be of just about any size!Why choose SADE Innovations as our R&D partner?
Beyond our technical skills, our biggest competitive advantage is our people and our culture. SADE Innovations is 100% employee-owned. When a developer has been with us for a year, they become a partner. This means the people writing your code, designing your architecture, and solving your problems are actual owners of the company. This creates a warm, highly committed, and almost family-like atmosphere where everyone genuinely cares about the quality of their work and the success of your project. We don’t just want to be a vendor; we aim to be the R&D Partner of Your Dreams. Our world-class Net Promoter Score (NPS) proves that our clients feel that dedication every single day. We are fast, we are honest, and we are ready to build something amazing together.
FAQ
SADE as a workplace
Where do you work, in the office, remotely, or at the client’s site?
It depends on the person and the customer project. Sometimes at our own office, sometimes at home, and of course at the client’s location when needed. Very few people work five days a week in the office; the main thing is that the work gets done and the customer is satisfied 😊.Where are your offices located?
We have our own offices in Salo and Turku, Finland, and we are also thinking about expanding to the Helsinki metropolitan area at some point.Where are your clients located?
Most of our clients are Finnish, with their main offices in Southern Finland. In addition to our Finnish clients, we also have a few European and American clients.Do you have any favorite technologies or tools?
We develop SADE IoT Booster Asset with React and use Typescript to a high degree, and our cloud service uses AWS Serverless architecture. The Booster mobile app uses React Native, so we don’t need to create separate code for iOS and Android, and we can also share code between the Booster web app and the mobile app. We have explained this also in more detail, in our blog (direct link), highly recommended reading! 😁 Naturally, due to customer needs, we have worked and continue to work with many other technologies and tools as well!Who owns SADE?
All the employees! This means that every time a new person joins our team, they also become a future shareholder of the company. In practice, new employees receive their first shares after one year of working with us. Watch our video where SADE members Mari, Juho, Marko, Janne, Ville, and Anne talk about what it´s like to work at SADE and own a slice of the company! Link to the video.Wait what, so, you don’t have a single major shareholder?
No, we don’t! No one owns more than 4% of the company; we are all owners. This is a very essential part of SADE’s DNA.So, do all employees really become shareholders? What if someone leaves the company?
Yes, all of them. However, it takes a year before new employees receive their first shares, based on the hours worked, so it’s not immediate upon signing the employment contract 😊. And if someone decides to leave the company, they must sell the shares they earned back to the company. At a fair price, of course. On the other hand, no one has left yet (or ok, well, to be accurate, one person did but even he came back 😉), so we don’t really have much experience with this!Does SADE pay well?
Quite competitively. We don’t pay quite the same salaries as in the Helsinki metropolitan area, but on the other hand, good employee benefits and bonuses usually make the overall compensation quite comfortable.What kind of people are you looking to hire?
Competent people! And of course, nice ones 😊. The best way to get an idea of our open opportunities is to check out the Careers page on our website: https://sadeinnovations.com/careersWhat kind of growth objectives do you have?
Our goal is a controlled growth. In other words, we are not aiming for growth ”at any cost”. Since we don’t have a single major shareholder, we don’t need to grow just to maximize profits for major shareholders! More important is meeting our clients’ needs and maintaining a good atmosphere at our workplace. 😊
Ready to get started?
We provide a full set of competences for your R&D projects. We´d love to hear about your needs and see what we can do for you. Get in touch to hear more.
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