7 crucial tips for successful IoT app development

The Internet of Things (IoT) market is incredibly crowded.

With over 17.08 billion connected devices out there in 2024 and the number expected to grow to an incredible 29.42 billion by 2030, standing out from the crowd is essential.

The best way to stand out is building a top-notch IoT app, which isn’t easy by any means. So, how do you do it?

That’s where we come in.

Here, we’ll give you some key tips to help you build a stunning IoT app that can succeed in the market.

Let’s dive in!

What is an IoT app and how does it work?

Before we start, let’s quickly cover the basics – what is an IoT app and how does it work?

An IoT app is a software application through which users interact with and control IoT devices.

They can be mobile, web, or desktop apps – depending on your specific use case.

IoT apps are the primary point of contact between your users and your device. In the typical four-layer IoT architecture, they’re a part of the application layer.

source: Jelvix

So, how do this work?

Your IoT device has sensors and embedded software that let it share data and communicate with other systems.

This data is then transmitted through the support and network layers to the application layer where users can see it – and this works in both directions.

Other than that, it looks and works just like any other app.

Top tips for successful IoT app development

Here, we’ll give you the most important tips for building successful IoT apps.

Write clear requirements

Writing clear requirements is crucial for successful IoT app development. 

A well-defined requirements document will be the blueprint that will guide your development team.

Getting your requirements wrong is a great way to kill your project. Ambiguous requirements lead to unnecessary delays, increased costs, and a product that doesn’t meet user needs.

In fact, that’s one of the top reasons for project failure – 37% of projects fail because of unclear or wrong requirements.

So, writing a top-notch software requirements specification (SRS) document is an absolute must. Here’s what it should include:

You don’t have to include every category, of course, but 2 are non-negotiable – your app’s functional and non-functional requirements.

In simple terms, functional requirements cover what your app does and non-functional requirements cover how it does it.

Also, it’s a good idea to include user stories so your team understands user expectations and to help them put users first.

Let’s say you’re making a smart lighting system. Here’s what your requirements might look like:

• Functional requirement – The app must allow users to remotely turn lights on or off.
• Non-functional requirement – The system should respond to user commands within a maximum of 2 seconds for a seamless experience.
• User story – As a user, I want to set a schedule to turn on the porch light at sunset and turn it off at sunrise.

In short, a well-written requirements document will help you avoid ambiguity and keep your whole team on the same page.

And that’s exactly what you need for successful development.

Why writing clear requirements is important

Choose the right IoT platform

IoT platforms are a key part of every IoT ecosystem.

An IoT platform is a suite of tools and components that helps you manage and connect devices in your IoT ecosystem.

You can think of them like the glue between the hardware (sensors/devices/actuators) and application layers in your IoT system.

source: Kaa IoT

Here are their key functions:

• Device management – Helping you manage, configure, and maintain your IoT device fleet
• Data collection and processing – Collecting, processing, and analyzing data from your IoT devices
• Connectivity – Ensuring reliable communication between your device and app (and vice-versa) through different network protocols
• App development – Providing tools like frameworks and IDEs to build apps that use IoT data

Choosing the right platform can speed up development, improve scalability, and ensure your IoT app is secure.

So, making the right choice is essential. Here’s what you need to consider before making it:

• Scalability – Ensure the platform can handle an increasing number of devices and data volume without a drop in performance
• Security –  Prioritize platforms that offer end-to-end security features, including data encryption, secure authentication, and regular security updates
• Supported communication protocols – Choose a platform that supports multiple communication and network protocols like MQTT, CoAP, Bluetooth, LoRaWan, and Wi-Fi.
• Cost – Make sure their pricing model aligns with your budget. Some platforms offer pay-as-you-go models, which are cost-effective for startups and small businesses.
• Ease of integration – Opt for platforms that can easily integrate with a variety of different hardware and software.

This way, you’ll pick a platform that not only meets your initial requirements but also supports your app’s future growth.

If you need help choosing the right IoT platform, our experts have written a detailed guide on the subject.

Why choosing the right IoT platform is important

Ensure scalability

Scalability is essential for successful IoT development.

As the number of connected devices and the volume of data they generate grow, your IoT app needs to handle increased loads without sacrificing performance.

But, ensuring scalability is easier said than done.

It comes with a number of different technical challenges you’ll need to deal with, like network congestion and increased computational strain

So, how do you make sure your IoT app is scalable?

Here’s a few things you should do:

• Use cloud platforms – Cloud platforms like AWS IoT or Microsoft Azure IoT offer on-demand resources that can scale automatically, including device management and data analytics.
• Implement a microservices architecture – A microservices architecture breaks down your app into smaller services that work independently of each other. And you can scale them independently based on demand.
• Integrate load balancing – Distribute network traffic over multiple servers so no single servers become overloaded. Load balancers can dynamically adjust to traffic patterns so you always have optimal performance.
• Use edge computing – Edge computing means you can process data on-device and only send essential data to central servers, which reduces latency and bandwidth usage.

But, technical scalability is just one piece of the puzzle.

You need to think about operational scalability, too.

source: Losant

Operational scalability is your business’ ability to scale business processes and systems as demand for your IoT app grows.

It’s just as important as technical scalability – you’ll need to invest in business process automation (BPA) to scale your business as demand for your product grows.

So, make sure you pay attention to it from the start.

Why ensuring scalability is important

Prioritize security

Security is one of the biggest challenges in IoT app development.

On average, there are 5,200 attacks targeting IoT devices every month with over 7 million data records compromised daily. And the cost of a successful breach? Around $330,000 in damages.

So, it’s no surprise business leaders consider cybersecurity as the biggest obstacle to wider IoT adoption:

source: McKinsey

And there’s a good reason for that – IoT apps are uniquely vulnerable.

Each connected device in an IoT network is a potential vulnerability and a possible entry point for data breaches.

Here are the top IoT security vulnerabilities you need to know about:

source: Cardinal Peak

But, you can solve most of these problems if you prioritize security during development. 

Here’s what you should do:

• Implement strong authentication – Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure only authorized users can access your IoT system. MFA adds another layer of security beyond just a password.
• Encrypt data transmissions – Implement end-to-end encryption to protect data as it travels between your device and servers.
• Regularly update firmware and software – Make sure to keep device firmware and app up to date to patch known vulnerabilities and protect against new threats.
• Adopt a zero-trust model – Assume every device and user is a potential threat. Implement strict access controls and continuously monitor for suspicious activity.
• Do regular security audits – Proactively search for potential threats and vulnerabilities in your IoT system.

When you prioritize security, you don’t just protect your users’ data – you also build trust.

And that’s key to long-term success.

Why prioritizing security is important

Optimize for low power and connectivity

In IoT development, making sure your device and app can work even with limited power and with a poor connection is crucial.

Many IoT devices have limited power sources and experience connectivity problems, regardless of the connectivity protocol they use.

source: Intuz

So, you need to make sure your device and app are optimized for low power consumption and connectivity.

But, this isn’t easy – especially in areas with a poor connection, like remote industrial sites or rural areas.

So, how do you solve this problem?

For starters, your device needs to be both energy efficient and efficiently designed.

Also, your app has to have offline functionality, so it can still work even without a reliable connection.

And that’s how you build a great IoT app.

Why optimizing for low power and connectivity is important

Don’t neglect user experience (UX)

A great user experience (UX) can mean the difference between success and failure.

Your app needs to be intuitive and easy to use – even the best IoT solution will fail if users can’t use it without friction.

So, what do you need to do to build an IoT app with a great UX?

The answer is simple – thorough UX research.

source: Justinmind

You just need to make sure you use the right UX research methods, like:

• Field studies – IoT apps are often used in unique real-world contexts and field studies will help understand how users actually interact with it as you observe them in their natural environment.
• Usability testing – IoT systems have complex interactions between devices, apps, and users. Usability testing will help you find major issues and bottlenecks and ensure your app is intuitive and easy to use.
• Diary studies – Long-term usage often reveals issues that aren’t immediately obvious. Diary studies will help you get insights into long-term usage patterns, pain points, and issues you can’t get with other methods.
• Surveys and questionnaires – To build a successful IoT app, it needs to meet user needs. Surveys and questionnaires will give you a broad view of user preferences and expectations.
• Task analysis – IoT apps control complex processes, which you need to simplify as much as possible for end-users. Task analysis will help you improve user flows and your app’s overall UX.

But, UX research is just the start.

Here’s a few other things you should do:

• Simplify your UI – No matter how complex the system it controls is, your app should have a clean interface that’s easy to use. Focus on key features and functionalities and use minimalistic design principles.
• Ensure consistency across devices – Use the same design elements and user interactions across various devices (mobile, web, desktop) to avoid confusion and usability issues.
• Give immediate feedback – Your app should give feedback immediately after every user action. For example, if a user turns on a smart light, your app should show a confirmation message.
• Let users personalize settings – Users should be able to customize settings according to their preferences, which will improve user satisfaction and retention rates.
• Keep up with UX design trends – Make sure you keep up with the latest design trends to build a modern and appealing app.

If you focus on UX, you’ll build an app that not only works well but is also enjoyable to use.

And that’s key for long-term user retention and satisfaction.

Why user experience is important

Rigorously test your app before launch

Thorough testing is crucial in IoT app development.

It will ensure your app is functional, secure, and reliable before it even reaches your users.

Neglecting it will lead to serious problems post-launch, especially since IoT systems have a lot of moving parts that need to work well together.

So, here’s a few testing methods you need to use:

• Functional testing – Make sure each feature works as intended. For example, ensure a smart lock app correctly locks and unlocks doors remotely.
• Performance testing – Test how well your app works in different conditions. Pay close attention to latency, data speed, and resource use.
• Security testing – Identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Do penetration tests to simulate cyberattacks and make sure your security.
• Compatibility testing – Make sure your app works well across different devices, operating systems, and network configurations. This is especially important for IoT apps.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – there are a bunch of other testing methods and metrics you should use, too. Here’s our testing cheat sheet if you’d like to know more.

We’ll give you another important tip – you should integrate QA from the start.

And there’s a good reason for that. Fixing bugs in the early stages can be up to 100x cheaper than fixing them after launch.

So, rigorous testing won’t just help you build a better IoT app – it will also save you a lot of time and money.

And that’s why you can’t skip it.

Why rigorous testing is important

IoT app development tips: FAQs

Need an IoT app development partner?

Are you looking for a reliable IoT app development partner but can’t find the right fit?

Well, you’re in the right place.

Over the last 12+ years, we’ve built a wide range of IoT companion apps for everything from smart lights to Bluetooth vitamin trackers.

So, you can be sure we’ve got what it takes to build a great IoT app.

If you want to learn more, feel free to reach out and our team will be happy to get back to you and discuss your needs in more detail.