IoT Mobile App Development: Powering the Billion-Dollar Wireless Future

Explore how IoT mobile app development is transforming industries with real-world case studies, breakthrough tech, and smarter, faster mobile experiences.

Traditional mobile apps operate in silos, limited to user input, cloud requests, and pre-defined workflows. Implementation of IoT mobile app development transforms that.

In the era of IoT, apps get the power to connect with multiple hardware endpoints. As a result, they get the authority to collect real-time data streams and functions efficiently, even in network instability.

But there’s a challenge!

It is tough to ensure low-latency data transmission, optimize energy consumption for edge devices, and secure a rapidly expanding cyberattack surface.

Despite these challenges, the IoT app development market is rising at a CAGR of 15% between 2023 and 2033. 

How?

We will answer that and more such interesting questions in this blog. 

So, stick around!

Impact of IoT App Development on Industries

IoT has spread its wings across industries. So, in our attempt to identify IoT’s potential, we skimmed through these industries and identified how IoT is contributing.

Here are our findings.

IoT in Healthcare

The role of efficiency, user experience, and IoT security in Healthcare has become more than just an accessory of innovation. Between 2023 and 2028, the tech is expected to rise at a CAGR of 17.8%. Integration of IoT emphasizes improved remote care of patients by on-premise medical professionals. Beyond that, IoT sensors help gather accurate real-time data.

Mobile apps help healthcare professionals and patients monitor this data with ease.

Case Study

PsiBorg Technologies, a name well-known among the top IoT app development companies, developed a real-time health monitoring system for one of its clients. The goal of the project was to ensure no delays happen in the whole diagnosis process. 

The final product included sensors to collect data like ECG, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate, SPO2, body temperature, and body posture. The whole architecture was delivered in the form of a web app, cloud API server, and mobile apps as well.

IoT in Retail

In the retail industry, IoT isn’t transforming one segment but many!

The tech is influencing the whole supply chain management process, enabling automated checkouts, modernizing inventory management software, and making POS systems smarter. Such advantages are why people believe in its potential and trust the integration of IoT in retail more than ever.

A report by Fortune Business Insights provides the evidence of this statement. The report suggests a 25.4% CAGR for IoT adoption in the retail industry between 2024 and 2032.

Case Study

IKEA’s major challenge has always been onboarding customers. With a heavy footfall across its stores, assigning IKEA representatives to each customer is something near impossible. That is where Appinventiv came into the picture.

The project started with the road-mapping of users’ intentions as soon as they entered the offline store. Integrating ERP helped IKEA smoothen the customer journey. 

But that’s not it!

Appinventiv also integrated an IoT-powered project catalog into an IKEA app, displaying the real-time data of available products and any possible discounts on them.

IoT in Logistics App Development

The process of developing logistics apps is not how it used to be. 

With the integration of IoT, the logistics industry can gather and provide more accurate data. IoT sensors are transforming supply chain management by deploying sensors for real-time data gathering. 

This helps not only in the precise tracking of the shipment but also in the real-time status of its health, possible roadblocks, and more. Therefore, modern business owners can use a single app to keep track of their shipments from anywhere.

As more logistics businesses are recognizing IoT’s potential, the market is running to the top at a CAGR of 14.2% between 2024 and 2032.

Case Study

Celestial Infosoft, another IoT app development company listed on MobileAppDaily, helped a Canadian company with a vast fleet of trucks and drivers spread across multiple countries. The client faced significant challenges in tracking shipments. Experts at Celestial Infosoft developed and deployed a solution to solve this in real-time, ensuring timely deliveries and optimizing fleet efficiency. 

The app built for the client used IoT sensors and GPS tech to gather real-time fleet tracking information. Implementation of AI along with IoT also helped with additional advantages such as route optimization, traffic data analysis, etc.

IoT in Education App Development

The growing size of digital technologies is making education more accessible, even in markets where digital education used to be a thing of imagination. IoT in the education sector is enabling smart classes, remote data gathering, attendance verification, personalized learning, etc. 

Beyond that, IoT sensors help gather data for fitness students or athletes in training. Additionally, integrating AI into education ensures students have the best personalized training possible. These sensors enable a more impactful learning experience by making apps smarter.

As the edtech industry is recognizing the potential of tech, more and more institutions are adopting it. Allied Market Research has a report to prove that fact. It says the IoT in education market is rising at a CAGR of 18.6% between 2023 and 2032.

Case Study

Osmo is a perfect example of an IoT mobile app development service in the education sector. The app uses a camera to recognize physical objects and help users learn. IoT helps Osmo recognize shapes in real time. 

But beyond just recognizing simple alphabets, the tech also recognizes if puzzle pieces are placed incorrectly. 

Here’s the more interesting part!

Osmo keeps students' data on cloud servers to recognize their weaknesses and strengths for a more impactful learning experience.

IoT in Agriculture

Modern agriculture isn’t limited to heavy machines anymore- it has learned to take advantage of AI, IoT, and other such technologies. 

In the agriculture industry, IoT enables precision farming. Modern farmers are using sensors and drones to collect data on crop health, soil conditions, and weather conditions. Having a mobile app makes it easy to stay in a loop with such data in real-time.

As the rising advantages of developing IoT applications for the agriculture sector expand, the market of IoT devices to power agriculture is rapidly growing. Allied Market Research has a report that highlights a CAGR of 12.6% between 2022 and 2031. 

By the end of 2031, the market is expected to be over $84 billion strong. That says something about IoT’s popularity in the agriculture industry.

Case Study

Nano Ganesh is an automated irrigation system controlled by an app. In India, where the electric supply is still very erratic, Nano Ganesh helps farmers check and control irrigation water pumps remotely. 

They can check if the electricity is available or not in their pumps and turn them off or on from their smartphones. This way, they can avoid going to farms in the middle of the night.

IoT in Smart Cities

Demand for IoT mobile applications is driven by advantages such as smart traffic management, smart parking solutions, waste management optimization, smart public transportation, smart water and energy efficiency, public safety, etc. 

IoT sensors integrated with cameras, AI, traffic sensors, etc., are enabling the whole infrastructure of smart cities. As opportunities occur, as Allied Market Research suggests in another report, the market size of IoT in smart cities is rising at a CAGR of 20.5% between 2023 and 2032.

Case Study

Barcelona has become an example of the smart city ecosystem by launching an app called SMOU. The app connects multiple transportation options that are locatable and accessible from the app itself. While in the city, you can take the bike from the app, pay for the meter, recharge the electric vehicle, and even locate sharing options. 

Tech Stack of IoT-based Mobile Apps

The tech stack of IoT mobile app development services starts from the hardware level.

Here are the stages in which the tech stack of IoT-based apps is divided.

Hardware Layer (IoT Devices and Sensors)

The hardware layer is made of microprocessors like Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ESP8266, etc. Then, depending on the use case of the IoT infrastructure, sensors vary in temperature, humidity, GPS, and motion. 

Beyond that, the hardware part includes where the IoT app will be deployed.

It can be that fancy smartwatch of yours or a smartphone. Whatever the case is, the tech infrastructure will vary.

Connectivity Layer (IoT Protocols & Communication)

The majority of this part is also covered by hardware, but technologies that power up the communication part. Wireless technologies used to make IoT devices communicable include WiFi-8, Bluetooth, LoRa, NFC, Zigbee, etc. 

The connectivity layer also covers additional cellular technologies like 4G LTE, 5G, NB-IoT, and communication protocols like MQTT (lightweight messaging), CoAP, HTTP/HTTPS, and WebSockets.

Cloud and Backend Technologies

Cloud-based IoT applications have existed for a while now, especially as IoT has expanded its wings across the globe. Thanks to the cloud, the limitations of IoT-based apps aren’t limited to physical locations.

Some popular cloud technologies that are an active part of the industry are AWS IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT, MongoDB, Edge Computing, GraphQL, RESTful APIs, etc.

Mobile App Development (Frontend & UI)

The tech stack to build a mobile app can vary depending on the kind of app you’re creating. The choice between native apps or hybrid apps varies depending on the type of experience you want to deliver. 

As you might have guessed, native apps target specific operating systems like Android or iOS. On the contrary, hybrid apps are for multiple operating systems.

To be specific:

• Android app development frameworks include Android SDK, Android NDK, Jetpack Compose, etc.
• iOS development frameworks are SwiftUI, UIKit, Core Data, Combine, etc.
• Cross-platform frameworks cover Flutter, React Native, Kotlin, and more.

Security Layer

Integration of IoT-connected devices makes security a priority. Any connected devices can be a vulnerable point from which cyberattacks can penetrate. That is why IoT app developers prefer focusing on security technologies as well. 

These technologies can be:

• AES, TLS/SSL for secure transmission by decrypting it.
• OAuth, JWT, and Biometric authentication for tight authentication practices.
• Firmware updates and anti-tampering mechanisms for overall device protection.

How to Develop an IoT Mobile App?

Now that you have an understanding of the tech you need to build an IoT app, you can start with the development. Here’s the thing, though: developing a mobile app demands a series of steps to secure the ultimate goal, which is delivering seamless integration between IoT hardware and software. The moment you’re ready to go ahead with developing IoT applications, here are the steps you need to follow:

Define the Purpose of Your IoT App

Start with market research, depending on the kind of service you envision through your app. The first step of the process covers the identification of the problem, followed by steps like determining the target audience, outlining core features, and setting objectives.

Remember, answer all the questions needed, clear doubts that need to be addressed, and then make a final plan. The ROI you are going to get depends on the kind of plan you decide to go ahead with. 

While preparing the plan, prepare an app monetization strategy, too. Your plan will revolve around this strategy.

Prepare an IoT Hardware Strategy.

The planning of IoT hardware components will depend on the kind of IoT app you have envisioned. Here, you will choose IoT sensors, chips, actuators, and communication modules that best align with the app’s purpose. 

The choice of hardware that goes into the IoT structure can be anywhere from speed sensors to temperature monitors. Again, depending on the collective objectives of the app, the choice of sensor(s) will vary.

Beyond sensors, you will need to plan power sources, data collection components, etc.

Prepare a Budget

Once the above two steps are done, you are required to move to the budgeting step. 

Here’s what your budget will require:

• App development cost you can afford;
• Your app marketing budget;
• The app testing budget;
• And the cost of publishing an app.

Tip: Pick the development methodology carefully, as it will influence your budget as well. For instance, if you pick between the waterfall or agile methods, the first will require a linear budget as it divides the project into a sequence. 

While the latter necessitates a dynamic budget because of its iterative nature, accommodating changes and refinements throughout the development process.

So you know, make the choice wisely!

But that’s not where you breathe with peace. 

Here comes the bigger decision: 

In-house or outsourcing app development?

Outsourcing app development is known for saving money. 

In contrast, in-house development has a reputation for being more transparent. 

However, your choice should depend on how well you can manage teams and how much of the headache you want to carry. It will not just be about passing instructions to a team; there will be continuous monitoring, meetings, and, of course, regular expenses like salaries and stuff.

Before you decide, perhaps this short comparison between in-house and outsourcing app development will be helpful.

Once you have made up your mind, it is time to move to the hardware strategy.

Select a Network Protocol

The demand for IoT mobile applications is causing a race where speed matters as much as the number of features in an app does. 

So, while strategizing a network protocol for your IoT app, here’s what you will have to do.

• Assess data transmission needs to determine the frequency and amount of data that will be exchanged periodically.
• Choose protocols that satisfy the power needs of your IoT architecture.
• Ensure the network protocol supports your communication requirements, such as range, speed, etc.
• Prioritize security as well by opting for protocols that offer robust security features.

Start with the App Development

This is the point from where you can’t go back. So, hopefully, you have planned everything out well and are finally ready to put the plan into motion.

If yes is your answer, break down the app development process into phases that begin from the designing part. Here’s how the whole process looks!

• Design the app’s UI/UX. Take mobile UI design trends as your inspiration and keep the interface as user-friendly and intuitive as possible. You also have the option of outsourcing the designing part to expert app design companies.
• Build backend systems by setting up servers, databases, and APIs. Focus on smooth data processing so the entire IoT mobile app development process remains as impactful for your business as possible.
• You must have planned some features during the first stage; it’s time to code them the way you imagined their placement in designs. Remember, test each and every feature as you’re placing them. Also, don’t forget to check for bugs in earlier features, as new ones may cause issues later.
• Focus on implementing the best cybersecurity standards while building the app. Remain focused on improving your app security with each line of code you write. There must be no vulnerabilities that can give cyber attackers access to your app’s structure.

Test Hardware and App Compatibility

Once the app is developed, put the best mobile app testing practices in motion. Do not forget to check hardware compatibility with the app you have created. There are tons of app testing tools in the market that offer dummy devices for faster-automated testing. 

But if you have resources, going for manual testing is also not going to hurt beyond consuming some of your extra resources like the workforce.

You can still make changes if you find any issues with the app’s performance- an app with glitches is bad for branding, after all!

Launch the App

Once testing and fixing are done, you can launch the app. Submit the app to the app store of your choice, whether Google or Apple and start your app’s journey. These app stores have strict filtration criteria, so again, make every check and ensure the app isn’t banned by any of them. 

Keep Maintenance and Upgrades on Standby

Once you submit an app to the app store, that doesn’t just automatically finish your job.

In fact, that’s just Phase 1.

Phase 2 is the Marketing Stage. Use app marketing strategies to inspire your app’s promotional strategy and let it flourish across your target markets. 

There’s a Phase 3, too, a permanent phase that just never ends: maintenance and upgrades. As tech trends evolve, your app has to keep up. So, you need to launch patches to keep the experience fresh occasionally and maintain the app.

How Much Does IoT Mobile App Development Cost?

That’s a tricky question. However, we will still answer this question by conducting a situational analysis.

To better understand, it will be the best option to find costs around real examples. Let’s have a look.

Cost of Building an Alternative to the Cash App

The Cash app remains one of the dominating names in the American market. To build peer-to-peer payment apps like Cash, you need to invest in security, compliance, APIs, etc. All that, beyond the development part.

As for the exact cost, that is very dynamic and can only be figured out when you have a few details at your fingertips that include the number of features, security components of the app, the design, and your selection of mobile app development companies you’re planning to hire. 

To take a tentative, it can fall anywhere between $10,000 and $90,000. It might even go beyond that if your app is demanding. 

Check the in-depth cost breakdown of building an app like Cash here!

Cost of Building an IoT App Like Waze

Among the navigation apps that function as an alternative to Google, Waze is a prominent name. An app like Waze is centered around GPS tech. After all, it offers maps, routes, landmarks, and much more. 

All that data is synced using GPS sensors supported by the Waze app. Beyond all that, it also leverages algorithms to calculate the best traffic route alternatives, hazards, etc.

Then, the interface is enriched with creative icons and intuitive navigation. 

So, to calculate the overall IoT mobile app development cost for an app like Waze, you will have to consider all the above factors. Add the price of the team you’re hiring, taxes, permits, and everything else that demands money to get an exact idea.

For a tentative, the overall cost of Waze can be anywhere from $300K+ to $1M+. 

How did we come to that conclusion?

Here’s our in-depth analysis of the cost of building an app like Waze!

Cost of Building an App Like Uber

In the transportation industry, the Internet of Things is like the soul, and Uber is a perfect example of that. Uber uses IoT to prepare a network of drivers and passengers. 

Apart from supporting secured network protocol and critical payment protection systems, Uber also offers the ability to track rides in real time.

Apart from covering real-time rides, the ride tracker includes estimated arrival times and fares. 

The overall cost can go to as much as $100K.

If you’re more interested in knowing how we calculated the cost, check out:

Costs to Build an App Like Uber

Future of IoT Mobile App Development

To look into how IoT shapes the future of app development, we need numbers. Some of these numbers will show you a direct impact on the need for improved app development strategies, while others will have more of an indirect effect.

Let us show you what we mean!

• A Statista report suggests that between 2024 and 2033, the number of IoT connections is rising at a CAGR of 9.16%, expected to reach over 39 billion. This highlights the importance of wireless data transfer devices in the evolving tech world.
• China is expected to dominate the IoT revenue with over $296 billion by the end of 2033. The country is investing in almost every small and large implementation of IoT, whether it’s a simple app to control air conditioners or a driverless car.
• The integration of AI and IoT is rising rapidly to empower smarter wireless solutions. Between 2025 and 2033, the AI-in IoT market is growing at a CAGR of 19.8%.

These were just some highlights. 

If you’re interested in knowing how the future of IoT looks, check out in-depth IoT trends.

Wrapping Up

IoT isn't just the future—it's the right now. 

From smart cities to precision farming, every industry is plugging in, leveling up, and getting real-time smart. 

Can't deny the fact that there are challenges too: for instance, security and energy efficiency. IoT devices need power and might come up with vulnerabilities that are sensitive enough to impact the whole network. 

Despite these worries, the market is skyrocketing! 

How?

Well, as worries are rising, their countermeasures are getting stronger and stronger.

So, whether you're an entrepreneur eyeing IoT app development or just someone fascinated by tech's unstoppable evolution, one thing is clear: 

IoT apps aren't a trend; they're the new normal. 

Now, the question remains: whether you're starting now or going to wait for everyone to catch up with the IoT hype. The clock is ticking!