Top 5 Most Important Considerations for IoT App Development

Forward-looking companies are increasingly investing in IoT app development to innovate on the fly and stay ahead of the competition.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) confirms the growing popularity of IoT solutions. IDC predicts that there will be 55.7 billion connected IoT devices (or “things”) by 2025, generating almost 80B zettabytes (ZB) of data.
 

However, building a secure and scalable IoT application portfolio is not straightforward. To capture the true potential of the Internet of Things, tech leaders and decision-makers must build an IoT strategy, set up an internal IoT team, and hire the best IoT app development company. It is also vital for businesses to take into account the following five things to embark on a seamless IoT app development journey. 
 

Top 5 Considerations for Successful IoT App Development

1. Selection of an IoT OS

The IoT operating systems work well with IoT devices' distinct limitations and properties, often characterized by limited memory and processing power. And though there’s a range of operating systems available for developers, the in-house team or the third-party IoT app development company must analyze the pros and cons of every operating system and select the one that meets the unique needs of the IoT app. Some of the most popular IoT operating systems include: 
 

• Contiki: Created by Adam Dunkels in 2002, Contiki is an open-source operating system (OS) based on the C language. It is an immensely popular OS for IoT app development and easily  connects tiny and low-powered microcontrollers and IoT devices to the internet. 
   
• MicroPython: MicroPython is another powerful yet highly compact OS platform for developing robust industrial IoT applications. It strives to be as close as possible to the Python language, so it’s easy for Python developers to build apps using MicroPython. Surprisingly, it fits and runs within just 256k of code space and 16k of RAM. 
   
• Mbed OS: ARM Mbed OS is a free, open-source IoT platform for rapid device development. It’s been designed to provide a highly developer-friendly environment with a wide array of connectivity options, superior security, storage, and machine learning. From smart street lighting to smart city bike lights to industry asset monitoring, professional IoT engineers leverage Mbed OS to unlock innovation and create new possibilities in IoT app development.  
   
• FreeRTOS: Downloaded every 170 seconds, it’s a reliable and easy-to-use real-time operating system (RTOS) for microcontrollers and small microprocessors. With a tiny footprint (only 6-15kb) and wide device support, FreeRTOS helps developers innovate on the fly and get to market faster. 
   
• RIOT OS: It’s a free, friendly, open-source operating system that supports most low-power IoT devices, microcontroller architectures, and other external devices. A globally distributed community makes RIOT a fantastic choice to build an Internet of Things that is connected, secure, and durable. 

2. Scalability is Critical for the Success of the IoT App 

Depending on the nature of the app and the potential user base, the app can connect and communicate with a few or a few hundreds or maybe hundreds of thousands of devices, servers, people, and processes. So, scalability must be at the center of the IoT app design. 

Other scalability aspects also need to be considered, such as data storage and processing. For example, the traditional legacy systems may fail to deliver it if the app is built with the intent to serve a global audience or workforce. In such a scenario, IoT developers can consider tapping into the other new-age data storage and processing solutions such as cloud technology. 

 
3. Start With the Right Protocols 

Protocols are essential ingredients or pieces of an IoT technology stack. They make up the common language that each piece or element in the IoT ecosystem uses to communicate and make the whole IoT stuff connect and achieve meaningful results. 
 

The most common IoT protocols include the following: 
 

• Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)
• Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT)
• WiFi
• ZigBee
• Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP)
• Bluetooth
• Data-Distribution Service (DDS)
• Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP)
• Lightweight M2M (LwM2M)
   

4. Embed Security Into Every Phase of the SDLC

Since an IoT system may comprise many devices, the system is at a greater risk of data infringement. Bain also found that security is the top concern for enterprise customers. 
 

So, to build secure IoT apps, the IoT software development company must make security a top priority from day one. Some of the essential steps that a business or its tech partner can take to ensure maximum IoT app security include: 
 

• Building the app on a trusted IoT platform 
• Using only high-quality hardware such as sensors in the IoT deployment 
• Using a highly secure network 
• Leveraging data protection methods such as data encryption and two-factor authentication and applying IoT authentication methods such as Secure Boot and Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
   

5. Speed and Performance 
     
IoT technology is immensely used in building smart cities. For example, the IoT app is used to find the best routes depending on the road traffic. However, if the app is not fast enough, the data delivered may lose relevance. The same goes for automotive IoT, where app performance and speed are critical to the smooth functioning of connected cars. 
 

To make the consumer and industrial IoT applications deliver high performance and speed, organizations and their tech partners should be highly strategic about their selection of IoT operating system (IoT OS), hardware vendors, data storage and processing infrastructures such as cloud computing, and IoT security.
 

Build Future-Proof IoT Applications with Kellton 

Successful IoT app development requires strategic planning and execution. However, most organizations might not possess the necessary infrastructure and expertise. In such a scenario, hiring a reliable IoT application development company is recommended.
 

At Kellton, we provide our clients with end-to-end IoT services, including IoT advisory services, IoT product engineering services, IoT platform integration services, IoT application services, IoT testing, and connected operations services. So, contact us if you need a reliable partner for IoT app development, need consultation on IIoT app architecture, or want expert advice on your existing IoT app portfolio.