Imagine sitting in your office and controlling everything with a single tap, from smartphones to machines and more. It looked unrealistic in the past. Now, it has become a reality.
This is what the Internet of Things (IoT) is all about.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a revolutionary concept of the 21st century. It connects millions of devices to create a digital network where machines talk to each other and optimize their operations smoothly. This network generates valuable data that enables stakeholders to make informed decisions and stay more competitive.
According to an estimate, the economic impact of IoT would be nearly $4 to $11 trillion by 2025. The demand for IoT-based mobile apps is predicted to skyrocket as companies look forward to delivering enhanced user experiences.
As a tech entrepreneur, therefore, you must stay updated with IoT mobile app development trends that can shape industries and create new pathways to become more profitable.
This article presents the top five IoT mobile app development trends businesses can leverage to change the way they engage with customers, add value to their products or services, and achieve their corporate objectives.
So, let’s explore these trends.
Introduction to IoT Mobile App Development
Mobile app development has rapidly evolved over the years. Earlier, the initial versions of mobile apps were relatively simple and tailored for specific smartphones only. The built-in capabilities were limited to a few screens and operating systems.
As users’ behaviors change, they demand cross-functional and more robust apps to solve everyday problems. For instance, remote control apps were introduced to manage smart appliances like LEDs, connected devices, cameras, etc. The next versions of these apps were more powerful as they offered advanced features.
All these transformations were possible with the integration of IoT in mobile app development.
Take a look at your devices; smartwatches, robotic toys, healthcare patches, smart ACs, and connected refrigerators, IoT is the driving power behind these appliances.
Five IoT Mobile App Development Trends
Here are the top five IoT mobile app development trends that can help businesses become more vigilant and thrive in 2024 and beyond:
1. Edge Computing
Edge computing, indeed, is a disruptive trend in the development of IoT mobile applications. The IoT ecosystems are scaling at a great scale. Billions of connected devices are producing a tremendous amount of data. Sending this data to a central cloud server may cause latency and network overloads.
To address this issue, it seems appropriate to process the data closer to its origin, i.e. near the edge of the network, rather than centrally in cloud servers.
This is a paradigm shift for mobile app developers as it allows them to embed the capabilities of computing directly into IoT devices or local nodes. This means that IoT applications can better perform real-time analytics and work less dependent on internet connectivity.
Autonomous drones are a very good example of the use of edge computing in IoT. It enables the drone to analyze image data on the actual drone rather than sending it to a cloud-based server.
As a result, they can quickly make decisions and provide users with a smooth experience through controlling apps.
2. Cross-platform Compatibility
IoT ecosystems are naturally characterized by multiple devices having diverse operating systems, protocols, and APIs. This diverse nature often challenges developers to create mobile applications that can interoperate with all connected devices.
Why cross-platform compatibility is important in IoT?
Using cross-platform mobile development frameworks such as Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin, empowers developers to build apps that run well on different devices and operating systems. These frameworks save time, reduce the costs of development, and present uniform experiences to users for both Android and iOS users, as well as a combination of other platforms.
For example, an IoT app may have to control the lighting, HVAC systems, or security cameras; all of which might be on different platforms or protocols from Zigbee, and Z-Wave, to Bluetooth. Cross-platform IoT applications make it that much easier for the user to access everything, including different hardware, all controlled from one unified interface.
Hence, cross-platform compatibility proves to be critical, going a long way toward a wider user base, more fluid communication between devices, and effortless updates of apps.
3. AI and Big Data
IoT devices constantly generate humongous amounts of data. AI-driven analytics is the best way to process that information with accuracy at speed.
Therefore, AI and big data in IoT mobile app development allow developers to unlock meaningful insights, and automate decisions.
AI algorithms can analyze sensor data, pick up on patterns, and activate real-time actions. In healthcare IoT, for example, AI-driven mobile applications can monitor patients’ vital signs, predict any anomaly, and alert doctors.
Likewise, in smart homes, AI-based mobile applications can adjust lighting or temperature according to user behavior and preferences.
Tesla’s use of mobile apps entails AI’s ingestion of data from its vehicles and provision of predictive maintenance to users. The system can identify potential mechanical faults before they become alarming for the user.
4. Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity concerns are continuously rising amid the rapid growth of interconnected IoT devices. An IoT network is made of several endpoints, all of which can be potential vulnerabilities. The mobile application for IoT devices may be considered a gateway.
Hence, any security loophole can lead to exposure of sensitive user data or pose threats to critical services.
Most IoT devices don’t have built-in security capabilities. The apps on your mobile connected to those devices must ensure the data transmission is encrypted, access is controlled, and devices are updated regularly with anti-cyber-attack software.
The main challenge that arises through IoT security is the heterogeneous aspect of connected devices – ranging from wearables to industrial machinery. Each device may have different security protocols, and it is a challenge for mobile apps to ensure constant security levels for every element on the network.
Hence, developers should make universal security protocols to cover all devices within the IoT system. Besides, security has to be absolute for a safe and reliable IoT experience.
5. Real-Time Analytics
Real-time analytics plays an important role in IoT mobile app development. All the streams of data that are continuously being generated by devices in the IoT need to be processed and analyzed in real time so meaningful actions can be taken immediately.
Real-time processing of IoT data results in prompt action by the end user to react to change. This is particularly an important requirement for industries such as healthcare, smart cities, and industrial automation because, if there’s any kind of delay, critical failure would happen.
Technologies Enabling Real-Time Analytics Enabling technologies for real-time analytics include Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, and cloud-based platforms, such as AWS IoT Analytics.
With these technologies, IoT mobile apps can process, analyze, and visualize data streams in real-time. Coupled with AI and ML models, IoT apps become much more powerful for specific tasks.
Final Thoughts
Technology makes lives easier. With every passing day, a new development arises in the tech domain bringing more opportunities for growth and innovation.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one such development that can completely change the way we use digital devices. The concept is to connect multiple devices and give users a centralized control to perform various actions.
By integrating IoT in mobile app development, companies can deliver enhanced experiences to their users and better address their needs. Moreover, IoT-powered solutions are scalable and can be tailored to meet the growing needs of users without any hassle.
