As companies incorporate sensors and other connected devices into their operations, the challenges associated with managing large amounts of internet-connected hardware are coming to the fore. Amazon Web Services Inc. today introduced a new solution to make the task a little easier.

IoT 1-Click, which was first teased late last year at re:Invent, differs from most of the Amazon.com Inc. subsidiary’s other offerings. It’s not a cloud service, but rather an iOS app.

IoT 1-Click is designed to speed up the process of setting up a company’s connected devices. It provides an interface for connecting devices, or endpoints, to Lambda functions, code snippets that run on AWS’ serverless computing service of the same name. A Lambda function executes one specific task, such as transmitting sensory readings to the cloud, whenever certain predefined conditions are met.

A user can associate endpoints with the Lambda function best suited for the situation at hand. IoT 1-Click enables workers to access their company’s custom functions, as well as the ready-made snippets that AWS includes with the service.

The app has the potential to save a lot of hassle. A hotel employee assigned to set up AWS IoT Buttons in guest rooms, for example, could handle the process without help from the information technology team. They would simply have to select the appropriate function, for example a Lambda snippet that automatically puts in a request for a certain item when a patron presses the associated AWS IoT button.

IoT 1-Click can come also handy after a device’s initial installation. If a company wishes to repurpose an endpoint or move it to a different location, workers may use the app to update the settings accordingly. The interface provides insight into Lambda function failures and usage trends that can be useful for maintenance purposes.

IoT 1-Click is currently available in preview. AWS said the app initially supports the enterprise edition of its IoT Button and AT&T Inc.’s LTE-M button, with more connected devices set to be added further down the road.

Photo: Robert Hof/SiliconANGLE