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Over the last decade, technology has grown leaps and bounds, in all possible fields. For example, if you take a look your current smartphone and the one you had just a decade ago, the differences are enormous. As time goes on, connectivity will continue to improve significantly, due to the industry focus on smart devices.

Cloud computing, sensors, wireless communication, and other areas that have witnessed significant growth, has led to the development of Internet of Things (IoT). These are devices which connect to the internet, allowing communication between it and the user. In the mobile world, iOTs are revolutionary devices, as they allow smartphones to control them.

According to Business Insider, by 2020, there will be 24 billion IoT devices will be online. Business Insider also says that organizations will spend almost $6 trillion for just IoT solutions over the next few years. The main reason why businesses want to get into the world of IoT is that it decreases the cost of operation, it improves productivity, and allows them to create new products.

Developing mobile applications for IoT devices is a trend that has a lot of potential as it allows you to take advantage of this emerging market. On top of that, once IoTs take off, you will be in the right position to make the most of it. Here are some important tips for developing mobile applications for IoTs:

Be aware of various IoT app levels

Since you are building a mobile app, you must be aware of the various IoT app levels because you get to understand how these devices work. It will also help in building the right application, which will ensure high rates of success.

The first level is the IoT device itself and the controllers, such as actuators and sensors. The second level is known as the ingestion tier, which is the software and infrastructure which organizes and receives the data. In other words, it involves data management. The third level is analytics, which processes the given data after proper organization. The last stage is what will be seen by the end user. To put in different words, it is the app you will be developing for the users of IoT devices.

Data security is important

IoT devices will need large amounts of user data to be effective in the real world. As a result of this, IoT devices collect data regularly from the end user. As all these devices connect to the internet, they become easy targets for hackers and other malicious users.

Since you are going to develop apps for IoT devices, you must give utmost importance to data security to prevent cybercrimes from taking place. After all, you don’t want to be held responsible for data leaks or anything related to that. Make sure that you always use features such as authentication and encryption for your mobile app.

Scalability is important

You should always be looking at the bigger picture as IoT devices are bound to take off in the recent future. If you look at all the technological trends, they see exponential growth after being the market for a short time. IoT devices are no different and will witness tremendous growth during the next decade.

Even if the IoT device doesn’t have a large user base doesn’t mean that it won’t change over time. Always expect a large number of users to use your app in the future. Also, develop your app in such a way that it can handle significant amounts of user data without slowing down. Your app should be able to handle different types of IoT devices as they will require interconnection to work effectively and efficiently.

Use an established platform

As a developer, you will have to pick the right platform for developing mobile apps for IoT devices. Although it is enticing to try new ones, you will spend a lot of time in developing as you have to start from scratch. As IoT devices are expected to take off, you can’t waste vital time in development. You must use established platforms such as Thingworx, Xively, and Ubidots to name a few. Due to the establishment of these platforms, it is easy to design world-class apps

These are four important tips that you can use to build apps for IoT devices. Remember that you must pay extra attention when developing mobile apps for IoT devices as it is a tricky and challenging process. If you are finding it difficult to build a mobile app for an IoT device or you want to outsource the job to a third-party, why don’t you get in touch with Robust Tech House? Our experienced developers and designers will go the extra mile to ensure that you get the right mobile app which meets all your specific requirements!

Brought to you by RobustTechHouse

Also published on Medium.