Looking back over my 25 years in smart technology, it’s remarkable how far we’ve come. When I started working with connected devices in 1999, terms like “IoT” and “M2M” hadn’t even been coined yet. Today, these technologies are transforming industries worldwide, and Rufilla has been at the forefront of this evolution every step of the way.
The Early Days
Back in 2009, when I founded Rufilla, I had a different vision for technology consulting. Inspired by Jason Fried’s “Rework” and the 37 Signals philosophy of radical transparency, we set out to create something unique: a consultancy that would share knowledge freely, document thoroughly, and focus on enabling clients to innovate independently.
This might have seemed counterintuitive at the time. Why teach clients everything we know? But this approach has proven remarkably successful, with many clients staying with us for over a decade.
Pioneering IoT in the UK
Our journey into IoT took an interesting turn when we founded Transfabric, securing a US patent for device interoperability. While this venture was ahead of its time, it deepened our expertise in connected devices and laid the groundwork for what was to come.
A significant milestone was the creation of IoT Oxford, which became the UK’s second IoT meetup group after London. These events regularly drew crowds of 130+ people, attracting speakers from global tech companies and creating a vibrant community of innovators. It was here that we first connected with Phil Steele, now a key figure at Octopus Energy, demonstrating how building communities can lead to transformative partnerships.
The Embedded Linux Revolution
Around 2012, we identified a critical gap in embedded Linux development. Most solutions were custom-built for each company, creating issues with security and updates. We became early adopters of Yocto, developing the UK’s first Yocto training course and implementing it in sophisticated projects like Oxford Instruments’ nanoanalysis systems.
This expertise led to us becoming official Yocto participants and established us as leading UK consultants in embedded Linux. Our platforms now include:
Full security hardening
Over-the-air upgrade capability
Extensible architecture
Complete technical support
Industry-standard development practices
Evolution and Growth
2019 marked another milestone as we expanded into hardware design. Working with carefully selected UK manufacturing partners, certification experts, and enclosure designers, we now offer genuine end-to-end product development. This capability has allowed us to deliver complete solutions for major energy providers and household names.
Our project portfolio showcases this evolution:
Smart energy monitoring systems for Octopus Energy
Precision instruments for Oxford Instruments
Smart motorway signage systems
Advanced telecare devices
Connected factory solutions
Recent Innovations
Today, we’re working on groundbreaking projects like the DESNZ smart energy initiative, developing next-generation solutions for home energy management. We’re also pioneering secure boot implementations and comprehensive security solutions for connected devices.
Looking Forward
As we look to the future, our commitment to innovation remains unchanged. We continue to:
Push the boundaries of smart product development
Share knowledge and build client capabilities
Maintain our position at the cutting edge of technology