Developing an App That Works with IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been growing in popularity for years, in large part because of tools like Alexa. Being able to control devices and appliances remotely from nearly anywhere is a convenience that is incredibly attractive. Not all apps need to work with IoT, but there is a growing demand for more connectivity with better remote controls.

IoT is what will help power smart cities, agricultural fields, some manufacturing jobs, and probably a majority of homes in the future. With so many ways to connect and so many logical applications, the use of IoT is likely to become increasingly popular as it becomes more of an expectation than a nice addition.

While the demand is growing, there are not that many developers in the industry who can really develop an app that will work with IoT. If you want to build an effective app with IoT connectivity, here are the things you need to know to ensure that your app works properly.

Why IoT Compatibility Helps

We all carry our mobile devices around with us, to the point that people actually take dedicated breaks occasionally to escape the ever present smartphone. Mobile devices definitely have their drawbacks, but there are so many more benefits that they have become essential to most of us. The idea of not having a phone is at least unsettling, especially for those of us who can remember what life was like before mobile phones became a staple of everyday life.

IoT may not be perceived as being essential like mobile devices, but the demand is growing because mobile devices are thought to be essential by many people. Between 2016 and 2018, the sale of smart devices for the home went from $1.3 billion to $4.6 billion. Today, there are many more applications than just in the home. For example, there are smart devices in agriculture, vehicles, and healthcare products.

If it makes sense to develop an app for IoT, it is best to at least plan for the development in the near future, even if there isn’t currently a demand for it in your industry. Apart from a few industries, it is very likely that IoT is going to be as important for many industries within the next few decades as apps have become over the last decade.

Of course, if it doesn’t make sense to develop for IoT, don’t put the time into it. There are plenty of other things that are more important when IoT won't really benefit users. For example, the gaming industry doesn’t really have much need for IoT, nor do many of the service industries where people will not be able to control anything remotely.

The Primary Components of IoT Development

Developing a functional and useful IoT app requires considering the four primary components.

• Hardware is perhaps the easiest, and includes things that work on a mobile device’s Bluetooth. Consider what hardware you will want to connect to as a part of your app, and yes, that does include the mobile devices themselves.
• Software will include any other apps you may need to access that are in the cloud. Your app’s dashboard will likely interact with these other apps.
• The cloud is going to be very important as it is really what allows people to access things remotely.
• The user’s network is what opens communication between their mobile device and things within their home.

All of these components will need to be considered during the development or update of the app.

The Problem with Developing for IoT

On the one hand, the challenges with IoT will be familiar. On the other hand, those challenges apply to all four components.

Security is probably the biggest problem because there are security risks for all four components. Because there are no real standards regarding security for any of the four components, security is the biggest concern. You don’t want hackers to be able to use your app to harm your users.

The lack of standards in other areas causes other challenges that will be difficult to navigate as well. There are so many technological inconsistencies that you will have to consider as you go through the development process. Different devices – even brands – will have their own standards and will possibly not work well together (if at all). If you are focused on a single product or brand, this will be a bit easier, but you will still need to consider the inconsistencies between networks, ISPs, and other components.

Outlining the IoT App Creation Process

Many of the steps are the same, but you do have a few additional considerations when you develop for IoT.

1. The first step is to consider the IoT platform where you will develop the app. There are several that are made to help streamline the process by taking many of the inconsistencies into account. This can be incredibly helpful, especially as you make your first IoT app.

• Android Things
• Azure IoT Suite
• Apple HomeKit
• IBM Watson
• Kaa
• Oracle IoT
• Ubidots
• Xively

1. Determine the hardware you want to use. If you are a manufacturer and you want people to use your hardware, this is a lot more straightforward. If you are planning to work with other companies’ hardware, you will need to identify those products. Make sure that the hardware is reliable before you offer connectivity towards it.
2. Security is going to be the biggest challenge, and you need to carefully consider all potential points of entry for hackers. When you know those points of entry, you must make sure to close them. You will also need to establish a regular check of all components to ensure that known vulnerabilities are quickly covered through patches and other updates.
3. It’s never too early to think about scalability. As more smart products are offered to consumers, they will want to add more to their existing apps.
4. Speed is always going to be a factor that will make or break the app. People want to interact with the app in a matter of seconds, then close it. If their interaction isn’t quick, they aren’t going to keep using it.

Developing for IoT is more time consuming and challenging than with other apps because it has so many moving parts – literally. However, there is a greater demand for apps than there are developers and available apps. This makes it a great time to start really getting ahead in the field and to really offer your users something that can really help them.