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The Internet of Things used to be rare, but now it is basically everywhere: at home, in the office, on the street, at the supermarkets, and even in the countryside. Every second person has at least one smart device — from fitness trackers to robot vacuums, TVs, toasters, and the whole system with sensors and gadgets. The demand for such devices is only growing, so IoT app development seems to be a promising business idea for a startup. Let’s find out what IoT is, which businesses use these technologies, how to develop IoT apps, and how much it costs.
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The definition is simple: IoT, or the Internet of Things, is a network of interconnected “things” — mobile devices, lightbulbs, ACs, and animal trackers. They measure environmental parameters, generate data, and exchange it with other devices through the Internet.
Imagine you have a smart thermostat connected to your smartphone, the cooling, and the heating systems so you can manage the temperature inside from the comfort of your bed. When you wake up, and it is hot and sunny — you can turn the AC on and get the room cool before you get up. When the forecast is cold and rainy, you can turn the heating on in advance and make your home warm and cozy. Sounds like a dream, right?
Hardware can include smartphones, control panels, motion sensors, measuring tools, and many other devices. It is the base of the Internet of Things system. Usually, startups work with third-party companies that provide ready-made and customized IoT hardware, so you do not have to worry about it so much.
Smart TVs, fridges, and speakers have become an irreplaceable part of our lives. And IoT apps are what make it happen
Simply put, a cloud is a network of servers with databases that can be accessed remotely. Smart devices send all data to the cloud where it is collected, processed, and stored. The good thing about cloud-based platforms is that you don’t need any physical space to store the user’s information.
Think about it as a dashboard that presents all information and lets you manage it. Usually, the user end of it is represented by an IoT app that can be web, mobile, or cross-platform.
It establishes communication between all connected devices. The connection can use different data and network protocols: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LAN for stationary devices, HTTP, or others, depending on use case scenarios.
The IoT market is currently booming. There are over 14 billion connected devices globally, and the number is projected to grow every year.
Overall, the forecasts are positive about fast market recovery. Even though the production of connected devices has seen a decline, the increase in user demand and investments shows that IoT application development is a budding area for new startups.
The Internet of Things can be applied in any industry, but in some areas, it is more in demand than in others. Here are 5 popular fields for IoT application development.
Automated homes and houses let you control appliances remotely, from plugs and outlets connected to your phone to Smart TVs, toasters, lightbulbs, ACs, heating systems, locks, speakers, and other IoT solutions.
One of our clients approached us with the idea of making everyday life easier for citizens. They came up with EnerGO, an IoT app that provides portable chargers for hire in public spaces such as metro stations and shopping centers.
The app features an anticipation design that predicts the users’ needs and guides them towards the next move. For example, the app informs a user of the nearest station to either pick up or return a power bank after charging.
Now, there are over 4,000 charging stations in different cities and >1 million active users in the EnerGO IoT apps.
You can check the EnerGO case study here.
It is the future of the cities, similar to smart homes but on a bigger scale. The IoT technology serves a certain urban area with one goal — to make life more efficient and comfortable there.
In healthcare app development, IoT is used to monitor patients and devices. For example, insulin pumps, wheelchairs, defibrillators, oxygen pumps, and others.
An IoT platform can help with transporting people and goods. It can be used remotely to control trucks, warehouses, and cargo via GPS or satellite.
Banks and financial institutions use IoT systems to monitor and safeguard their physical premises, like ATMs, through real-time data from cameras, sensors, and IoT devices.
IoT devices also enable smart payment systems, allowing customers to make contactless payments securely using their smartphones and wearables.
If you’d like to learn more — our IoT consultation service can help.
The IoT system helps insurance companies assess risk more accurately by collecting data from connected devices, such as telematics in vehicles, which can lead to more personalized and cost-effective insurance policies.
IoT devices connect machines and devices for efficient production. Sensors on factory equipment collect real-time data, enabling predictive maintenance to reduce downtime. This data-driven approach optimizes supply chain management, automates inventory tracking, and enhances the overall production efficiency of manufacturing companies.
IoT in manufacturing is widely used in the automotive sector and oil and gas industry.
The use of smart sensors and IoT devices in retail is improving the shopping experience. It helps locate items and provides cashierless check-outs.
Our team developed an IoT retail application called Vendify. It’s a mobile app for smart vending machines that sell refrigerated food. The process is straightforward: users scan the QR code on the fridge, select a meal, and it detects the items taken. The payment is processed automatically when the fridge door is closed.
We realized that Vendify customers are hungry, so we made grabbing a bite as easy as possible. Users don’t need to sign in — linking the bank card is enough to start utilizing the app.
Our main goal in this project was to make the whole user journey as concise and convenient as possible
To help users quickly understand how to use the app, we added animations that demonstrate the steps.
You can explore the full development process in the case study.
Google Home is an IoT app that controls, organizes, and manages compatible IoT devices connected, etc. They use Wi-Fi to change the settings of the heating, lighting, and noise levels of TVs or speakers.
The home screen is the dashboard that contains data from connected IoT devices, shortcuts, and personal routines. The second screen displays the history of actions. There, users can see every request, command, response, or adjustment done in the app or through Assistant.
Clean interface and color accents on the control elements — is Google’s MO through and through
Latch is an IoT app that is popular in the United States. It controls smart locks in apartment buildings: a front door to elevators, a lobby entrance, a terrace, and a mailroom.
The interface is simple: users see the list of spaces that they have access to, choose the door they need, and click the unblock button. The app uses Bluetooth to connect to the latch and open it. Also, users can share access with the guests and see the history of “unlocks.”
Latch provides detailed information about every IoT device a user has access to
SpotHero is a parking IoT app that gathers data about available parking lots and garages nearby and then displays it on the map with prices and directions. You can reserve a spot in the app and add your license plate number to the booking. When you arrive, the scanner will read your plate, find the reservation, and open the gates. Also, some lots from the app have sensors that detect when a particular vehicle enters or leaves the parking area. Then, you can see this info in the activity history.
SpotHero uses Apple Maps APIs in order to save money and keep the experience familiar
A stun gun manufacturer asked us to design and develop a desktop app that analyzes data collected from stun guns. The app should track each shot fired and provide statistics on usage intensity. This can be helpful in case someone complains of authority abuse by a police officer.
Designing the dashboard was the trickiest part. We needed to cram as much info as possible without making it clunky and unintuitive
The challenges of developing this app included:
We divided the interface into three sections: device description, shot details, and power graph. We also designed three color versions to differentiate between the models: blue and green for Gard and Lumos brands and blue for Magen.
Even though it’s just a color scheme change, we had to make sure that the info was readable in every scenario
Check the full case study here.
One of the popular examples of IoT apps is Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based voice service launched in 2014. Now, it is available on Amazon-produced devices and different third-party devices. Amazon Alexa utilizes IoT technology and machine learning to enable voice-activated smart interactions with a user.
When a user speaks to an Alexa device or a mobile application, the built-in microphones capture the voice command, which is then processed and sent to the cloud for analysis. In the cloud platforms, Amazon’s vast network of servers uses natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to interpret the requests.
IoT devices in the user’s environment, such as smart lights, thermostats, or low-energy sensors, receive the instructions from the cloud and execute them. This seamless integration of IoT technology allows Alexa to control and connect with various devices, making it a central hub for home automation and voice-assisted tasks.
The Alexa app is available for iPhone and Android users, so it’s crucial to make sure everyone has the same level of experience
IFTTT, short for “If This, Then That,” is an IoT solution for automating and connecting various devices and services. Users create applets or custom rules that trigger actions based on specific conditions. IoT devices, like smart thermostats, motion sensors, or fitness trackers, generate data and signals that are processed through IFTTT’s IoT platform.
When a predefined condition is met, such as reaching a specific temperature or completing a fitness goal, IFTTT coordinates the communication between different IoT services and enables seamless integration. This allows users to orchestrate a wide array of IoT interactions, making their connected devices work together harmoniously for increased convenience and efficient customer experience.
American flight operator United uses the IFTTT platform
The set of features can be very different, depending on the industry you work in, end goals, and user’s needs. We put together a list of some must-have and nice-to-have features for an IoT app.
🙆♀️ User profile is an essential feature for the Internet of Things systems. Smart apps are all about personalization, and to provide a top-notch customized experience, you need to get familiar with your user. Ask for all the information you need: personal data, notification preferences, presence sensing, security, and privacy settings. Don’t forget to add all smart devices to the app. This feature will be beneficial for your marketing team as well — when you know your audience, you can send them triggering emails and push notifications.
📈 Dashboard does the important job of displaying all collected data — available parking spots, inside the room temperature, approaching buses — depending on the type of your IoT application.
Again, the trickiest part here is showing all the valuable info without the unnecessary clutter
📱Notifications help users stay up-to-date and receive real-time updates on any changes. For example, smart doorbells use motion sensors and send a notification to a user’s device when there is a movement around the door.
🔒 Security features can include app locks such as FaceID or PIN-code, access control, and secure communication channels to transmit data. When you store a lot of personal data and sensitive information, security features cannot be missed.
💌 User feedback is the way for the IoT application to collect opinions from customers and find opportunities for improvement. Traditionally, mobile apps have a form for submission where users can provide details of the issue and attach a screenshot.
🧭 Onboarding is essentially a series of screens that guide users through the app’s interface and main functions. It is well-desired for a positive user experience.
📓 Activity history shows what devices were turned on or off, how they moved, and what actions were taken in the app.
This screen makes all the troubleshooting so much easier, and can even be useful during the testing phase of the project
⚙️Customization can include shortcuts, routines, and saved IoT devices for faster access to getting things done. The more things can be customized, the better the user’s experience will be.
The process of developing IoT applications requires various tools and technologies. Let’s take a look at these 5 levels of the Internet of Things, IoT, and architecture and discuss what they bring to the ecosystem.
The multi-layered architecture of IoT system
Layer 1 consists of cloud applications that push and pull the data or commands to and from IoT platforms.
Layer 2 is an IoT platform that connects every device in an ecosystem.
Layer 3 includes IoT protocols that are standardized communication rules. They enable IoT sensors and devices to transmit data.
Layer 4 is IoT gateways that act as intermediaries that bridge the gap between these devices and the broader network or cloud by translating and routing data.
Layer 5 includes IoT devices: sensors, actuators, and various endpoints that collect data or control physical objects. They can range from simple temperature sensors to complex industrial machines.
The first step is to create a strategic plan and define the vision of your IoT app development process. To start, you need to decide if you want to build the platform from scratch or use similar ready-made solutions as a base. Moving on, choose your goals and target audience. Then, define the key functions and specifications of the future IoT solution with the development team.
Start with looking at other solutions on the market for two main reasons:
The market research will be a basis for defining project scope and prioritizing features during the development process.
IoT app developers are not rare, but good and experienced IoT developers are quite uncommon. The thing is, the IoT industry requires a lot of skills, such as:
The list can go on and on. For tips on how to find a reliable partner for Internet of Things development services, check out our guide below.
Firstly, we need to understand the specific requirements and constraints of IoT application development, such as the type of devices, data volume, and communication protocols. Next, we select appropriate hardware components, firmware, and communication protocols.
Additionally, we choose a backend platform for data processing, storage, and analytics, as well as a front-end framework for user interfaces, which should align with the project’s scalability, security, and compatibility needs. Finally, we evaluate the long-term support and ecosystem of the chosen technologies to guarantee sustainability for future IoT application development and scaling up.
The design has a big impact on user experience, and when it is poor or under-worked, it can be a downfall for your app. Therefore, make sure you pay enough attention to this stage and actively participate. At this step, your IoT app development team will map a user’s journey, create the flow, and come up with several options for interface design. After you pick the screens you like, designers will build a UI (user interface) kit with UI elements, fonts, colors, and styles for the platform.
MVP, or minimum viable product, helps startup owners test the idea with real-world customers. Do not confuse it with a prototype or a mock-up — MVP is a completed and fully functioning solution. Essentially, it is the first version of your mobile application with a limited set of must-have features for the platform to provide planned services.
Development services include different types of tests to check how the IoT system handles different volumes of data and uneven loads. At this step, we want to make sure you release a ready-to-go and seamless solution to the market.
After you release your MVP, you will need to gather customer’s opinion on the solution and improve or pivot it. The simplest way to get the answers is to ask, so there’s no surprise that the most popular approach to this step is an in-app survey.
After you collect feedback, analyze the data, and perfect the product — it is time for a final launch. But the work of the software development team doesn’t end there. They help with post-release support, app updates, and scaling up.
How to build an IoT app on a budget? We know the answer. Here is the budget you need to plan for each type of Internet of Things application.
🚨Disclaimer: This is our estimation for the development of IoT, and we don’t guarantee other companies have the exact costs or timelines. The following quote is valid only if you decide to develop a product with us.
The exact project budget and development time will depend on the details: your idea, preferences, number of functions, and design additions. The final price can be named after consultation with the development team.
At Purrweb, we believe that the development of the Internet of Things is the future. We develop IoT apps that connect various devices into an automated ecosystem, focusing on modern and robust UI/UX design while adhering to the cost-efficient software development approaches.
From our experience, we know that IoT development has various types of challenges that you need to pay attention to.
➡️ Have an idea for an IoT application but don’t have a team of professionals who will turn it into reality? We can help.
Some facts about us:
Fill in the form below, and we will make a detailed proposal, including timelines, budget estimates, and project milestones.
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On average, the IoT app development will take from 2.5 to 3.5 months, depending on the type of platform you choose.
It can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $60,000 to develop your own Internet of Things application.
Plan your framework ➡️ Design the app ➡️ Develop an MVP ➡️ Collect feedback ➡️ Launch and support.
IoT is a network of interconnected devices that measure environmental parameters, generate data, and exchange it with other devices through the Internet.
To make the IoT tech work, you will need 4 key components: a device, a cloud to store the data, software to manage it, and a network to exchange information with other devices.
The network can use different data and network protocols: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LAN for stationary devices, HTTP, or others, depending on use case scenarios.
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