Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Team Consulting (4.3/5) edges ahead of S3 Connected Health (4.2/5) overall. Team Consulting is the better choice for Inhalers, injectors and human-factors-heavy devices. S3 Connected Health is the stronger option for pharma companies adding connectivity to drug delivery. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Team Consulting | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 2001 |
| HQ | Ickleton, Cambridge, UK | Dublin, Ireland |
| Team size | 140–190 | 200–300 |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery | Combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, phased fixed project | Fixed project, time and materials, managed service |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | SolidWorks, Mechanical simulation, Usability engineering | BLE, Embedded C/C++, iOS |
| Industries served | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health: overview
Team Consulting
Team Consulting began in 1986 as a general product development consultancy started by five former colleagues and has worked mainly in the medical sector since the early 1990s. It is employee-owned and based in a converted barn in Ickleton, near Cambridge, with somewhere between 140 and 190 staff depending on the source. Its best-known work is in inhaled and injectable drug delivery devices, where it combines industrial design, mechanical engineering and human factors.
S3 Connected Health
S3 Connected Health is the connected health business of Dublin's S3 Group (Silicon & Software Systems), which dates to 1986; the connected health unit itself is listed as founded around 2001. After the group sold its semiconductor unit to Adesto, it concentrated on this business. It works with pharma and medtech companies on connected drug delivery, SaMD, IoMT platforms, wireless connectivity and data security, and partnered with Ypsomed on connected injection devices. Employee figures range from about 200 to 300.
Services and capabilities: Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health
| Capability | Team Consulting | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics & PCB design | ✗ | ✗ |
| Firmware & embedded software | ✗ | ✓ |
| SaMD & companion apps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connected devices & IoT | ✗ | ✓ |
| Industrial design & human factors | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mechanical engineering | ✓ | ✗ |
| Device cybersecurity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Regulatory & QMS support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manufacturing & scale-up | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health
| Framework / platform | Team Consulting | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded C/C++ | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | N/A |
| BLE | N/A | ✓ |
| Cloud (AWS/Azure) | N/A | ✓ |
| IEC 62304 | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 14971 | N/A | N/A |
| ISO 13485 QMS | ✓ | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health
| Criterion | Team Consulting | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Consulting, Fixed project, Time & materials | Dedicated team, Fixed project, Time & materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health
| Dimension | Team Consulting | S3 Connected Health |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices | Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring |
| Best use cases | Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector, Formative and summative usability studies | Adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector, Building a patient adherence app and backend |
| Typical project type | Consulting | Dedicated team |
Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health: pros and cons
| Team Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | Medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years |
| + | Human factors engineering is one of the strongest in the UK for drug delivery |
| + | Employee ownership supports long-term client relationships |
| + | Industrial design quality is high, which matters for patient-handled devices |
| - | Electronics and connected-device software are a smaller part of its work than mechanics and design |
| - | No manufacturing; transfer to a CM is required |
| - | UK rates and location may not suit US startups on tight budgets |
| S3 Connected Health | |
|---|---|
| + | Long experience in wireless and embedded software from its S3 Group background |
| + | Works directly with pharma on connected injectors and inhalers, such as the Ypsomed partnership |
| + | Covers apps, cloud and the device connectivity module |
| + | Delivery team includes a site in Poland, which helps with cost |
| - | Founding date and history are tangled with the wider S3 Group, so check which entity you contract with |
| - | Not a mechanical or industrial design firm |
| - | Pharma focus means pure medtech hardware projects are less common |
Who should choose Team Consulting?
A typical fit: designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector.
Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices, Diagnostics & lab devices.
Who should choose S3 Connected Health?
A typical fit: adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector.
Combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Drug delivery, Digital health, Wearables & remote monitoring.
Decision matrix: Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Team Consulting |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | S3 Connected Health |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Team Consulting (Not disclosed) vs S3 Connected Health (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Team Consulting |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health
| Use case | Team Consulting fit | S3 Connected Health fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designing a dry powder inhaler or autoinjector | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| Formative and summative usability studies | Strong | Limited | Team Consulting |
| Adding Bluetooth connectivity to an autoinjector | Limited | Strong | S3 Connected Health |
| Building a patient adherence app and backend | Limited | Strong | S3 Connected Health |
Verdict: Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health
Team Consulting (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Medical Device Development projects. Three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery.
S3 Connected Health (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need building a patient adherence app and backend. If your situation matches that, S3 Connected Health is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Team Consulting vs S3 Connected Health FAQ
Is Team Consulting better than S3 Connected Health?
Team Consulting (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Team Consulting's strongest advantage: medical and pharma work has been its main business for over 30 years. S3 Connected Health's strongest advantage: long experience in wireless and embedded software from its S3 Group background.
How do Team Consulting and S3 Connected Health differ in pricing?
Team Consulting uses time and materials, phased fixed project pricing. S3 Connected Health uses fixed project, time and materials, managed service pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Team Consulting or S3 Connected Health?
S3 Connected Health is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Team Consulting and S3 Connected Health?
Team Consulting's primary differentiator is: three decades of medical-only industrial design and human factors, especially for drug delivery. S3 Connected Health's primary differentiator is: combines embedded wireless engineering with patient-facing apps and data platforms for pharma programs. They also differ in team size (140–190 vs 200–300), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Drug delivery, Surgical & therapeutic devices vs Drug delivery, Digital health).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.