IoT App Development Company: IoT Application & Connected Device Software Development

Updated September 2026 · Written and maintained by the Progression Agency strategy team

Progression Agency provides IoT app development: mobile and web apps that pair with, control and monitor connected devices, and the cloud backends that ingest device data, trigger alerts and push firmware and configuration updates. Internet of things app development is the same job people also call internet of things application development. IoT application development differs from ordinary app work because the software has to stay useful when a device is asleep, out of range or running old firmware. As an IoT application development service, our job sits between the hardware and the person holding the phone, so the app, the cloud and the device firmware have to agree on what a reading, a command or an update actually is.

What is IoT app development?

IoT app development is designing and building the mobile, web and cloud software that lets people and businesses connect to, control and monitor internet-connected devices.

We build the software layer around your device and firmware team; for pure embedded firmware we work alongside your engineers.

IoT software we build

Projects we are most often asked to build. Each one below can be bought as a single IoT development service. A full IoT software development services engagement covers the app, cloud and dashboards together, because the interfaces between them are where projects usually slip.

Consumer device companion apps

Bluetooth or Wi-Fi setup, control and history for smart products.

IoT cloud platforms

Device identity, telemetry ingestion, storage and rules.

Managed platform or custom build

This is rarely an either-or choice. A custom IoT app development service still normally builds on a managed cloud IoT offering rather than replacing it. What gets written for you is the device model, the rules, the permissions and the app on top. Before signing, ask what would need rebuilding if you moved to another cloud, because that answer shows how tightly the design is tied to one vendor.

Monitoring dashboards

Real-time status, alerts and history; see dashboard development.

Fleet management

Provisioning, grouping and remote configuration of many devices.

Over-the-air updates

Secure firmware and configuration delivery.

Industrial and commercial IoT

Sensors, asset tracking and predictive maintenance; see manufacturing software.

We build the software layer around your device and firmware team; for pure embedded firmware we work alongside your engineers.

Key features and components

What separates a useful build from a costly one.

Common integrations

Where the value usually comes from.

IoT security

Connected devices are a security responsibility.

• NIST IoT cybersecurity guidance for device manufacturers.
• Unique device identities and certificates.
• Signed, verified OTA updates.
• Least-privilege cloud access and encrypted transport.

Our IoT app development process

We map device capabilities and data, choose connectivity and cloud services, build secure device identity and ingestion, develop the companion app and dashboards, test on real hardware and plan fleet operations.

Custom IoT development, from product to platform

Custom IoT development fits when a ready-made service cannot handle your device, your data or your commercial model. IoT product development starts before any code: what the device does offline, what it reports, and how each unit gets its identity at the factory. IoT platform development then covers identity, ingestion and rules across the whole fleet.

Custom IoT development services should separate those stages in the quote so you can stop after any of them. IoT solution development for an existing device often skips hardware work and begins with the data it already emits. Before commissioning anything, compare a ready-made IoT app development platform, which may get a pilot running sooner and show where its limits fall for you.

How much does IoT app development cost?

As a price band, a companion app for an existing device platform commonly costs $60,000-$130,000, an app plus cloud backend $80,000-$250,000, and industrial IoT platforms more.

Technology we typically use

Mainstream, maintainable choices.

Early prototypes often run on an IoT development board such as a Raspberry Pi or an ESP32 module. IoT development kits from chip vendors also help when developing IoT applications before custom hardware exists.

Mistakes to avoid

Common causes of overruns and low adoption.

• Testing only in simulators.
• Shared credentials across devices.
• No OTA plan.
• Assuming constant connectivity.
• Ignoring battery impact.
• Storing all telemetry forever.

Why choose Progression Agency for IoT app development?

Engineering, design and go-to-market in one team.

• Mobile, cloud and dashboard under one team.
• Security-first device identity and updates.
• Product launch marketing for hardware brands.
• You own the code, data and accounts.
• Headquartered in New York City, working with clients nationwide and worldwide.

Teams comparing IoT application development solutions usually find that one team handling the mobile app, the cloud ingestion layer and the dashboard removes most of the integration gaps that delay hardware launches.

IoT development company or IoT developers?

Hire individual IoT app developers when your firmware and cloud teams exist and one gap remains. Choose an IoT application development company when the app, backend and fleet tools all need building. Ask internet of things developers how they test pairing on real hardware, and ask IoT applications development companies who handles updates after launch. Any IoT app development company, USA or offshore, should also say where its engineers sit.

Related services

See native app development, manufacturing software development, dashboard development and agriculture software development. IoT development consulting can also be scoped on its own, for teams that want a second opinion on connectivity, cloud and security choices before committing to hardware.

Wearable devices

Wearables are IoT devices worn on the body; their apps have their own platforms, sensors and battery limits. See wearable app development.

Frequently asked questions