The lifecycle of a module follows the traditional product lifecycle. Starting with inception, design, build, and configurations. The lifecycle of modules may depend not so much on the materials but more on the technological life cycle.
When newer technology comes out, older modules may slowly decline in use. However, it can take years before they become completely obsolete.
Another aspect to consider is maintenance, including upgrading firmware for specific hardware. Manufacturers may upgrade the firmware from time to time to extend the lifetime of the technology and allow it to catch up with the latest applications.
Therefore, it’s difficult to estimate the exact lifecycle of a specific module.
As for the move to newer SKUs, this is not a problem unique to companies in the IoT sector or any other technology sector using modular parts provided by other manufacturers.
SKU proliferation is a problem often faced by distributors and, more commonly, by retailers who end up with old or obsolete stock while consumer demand shifts toward newer products.
While SKU proliferation is more impactful on other industries, it may not significantly impact companies designing electronic systems and devices. It may take a while for them to incorporate newer technology in their products.
To ensure newer SKUs don’t negatively impact development or cause older SKUs to go to waste, companies need an effective SKU management strategy. Using analytics to predict usage and demand, companies can ensure their SKUs do not sit idle and, instead, complete the development cycle.