How IoT Application Development Services Companies Are Powering Smart Homes

The number of smart home devices is growing rapidly in numbers and types. Doorbells, smart refrigerators, smart lights, switches, locks, and smart speakers are only some examples. Smart home technology adoption is projected to reach almost 80% in 2025 and surpass 90% in 2029, according to Statista. While each smart device comes with the manufacturer’s app, controlling each device with its own app can be a nightmare. Some smart home solutions offer integration of smart home devices. However, hub solutions may be too generic, not personalized, limited in terms of offline functionality, or lacking the fine-grained control a person needs. This is where an  IoT application development services company comes in. 

Smart homes represent a growing and emerging market with new challenges. The smart homes industry is experiencing a technological leap. However, it is skewed toward what else the technology can do and how small sensors can get, rather than focusing on the human experience of it. Hub systems work to bring the full functionality set. However, very little is done to simplify and make technology comfortable for consumers. It is akin to the times when only one person in the household could use a TV remote to make TV and connected devices do their job. So, custom IoT application development services have a whole field of focusing on genuinely human smart home experiences.

IoT App Development Services – Introduction to Home Automation

Home automation encompasses a network of connected devices, appliances, sensors, switches, and actuators that are meant to be controlled remotely, automate routine tasks, and make a home more efficient. Manufactured devices always come with an IoT app from a manufacturer. In addition, with devices like Alexa or Google Home, a consumer can get a hub IoT app that can connect with other IoT devices. While Amazon, Google, Apple, and Samsung provide great smart speakers that can integrate and control many smart devices, their functionality can feel impersonal, limited in fine-tuned control, and cluttered. 

An IoT application development services company can help your IoT smart home idea cross the boundary towards personalization and human-like user experience. 

• For one, home automation is mostly driven by the desire of a homeowner to have peace of mind. However, for example, none of the hub apps can run a check before you go to sleep, or when you worry that everything is turned off, no electric appliance is left working, windows are closed, and such. Alexa can implement basic scheduled routines, but it falls short in comparison with the above.
• Plus, Alexa and the like are often useless when not online because they rely on connecting to the cloud for the majority of their functionality. This too can be addressed by a custom app development company. 
• Security is one of the areas where custom smart locks and motion detectors can greatly outperform Alexa and similar devices. Not only you can tailor the hardware to your needs, but you can also enable more offline functionality. Features such as informing on atypical opening of doors or windows, automatic and remote lock/unlock, and automatically arming or disarming a security system are all possible with custom IoT app development. In addition, it is possible to design a system for more detailed reports and specific messages with custom app development.
• With edge computing, IoT development services allow you to design an app that will have little reliance on the cloud. In offline mode, Alexa and similar devices might provide only vague feedback or perform very basic commands. However, with a custom app development, offline functionality which by default leads to greater security and privacy can be accomplished.

All in all, custom application development for IoT in smart homes has huge potential which is enabled by technological advancement, wide adoption, lowering costs of hardware, and emerging ecosystems to ensure interoperability.

Top IoT Trends to Keep an Eye On

The leap in the development of IoT for home automation can be partly attributed to Matter. Matter is the new unifying standard.  According to CSA:

Matter is “.. industry–unifying standard …. It is a seal of approval that devices will work seamlessly together – today and tomorrow. Matter creates more connections between more objects, simplifies development for manufacturers, and increases compatibility for consumers.”

Matter provides developers of an IoT app development company with the native SDK written in C++ as well as JavaScript SDK. The latter is particularly recommended for fast prototyping, development, and compliant-by-default approach. Overall, using standards like Matter strengthens IoT app development services so that they can work for more devices seamlessly..

Other trends include:

• Automated Security Systems with AI. Artificial Intelligence enhances IoT app security capabilities and user’s peace of mind. In this case, home automation is done with custom motion sensors, advanced smart cameras, and smart locks. The functionality extends to detecting uncharacteristic activity, and advanced decision-making be it notifying emergency services, locking doors, or sending other notifications. 
• Machine Learning for Customization. Basically, ML algorithms learn from the preferences users input into the app and the adjustments they make. After a while, the home automation app optimizes capabilities to the learned preferences so that a user reduces effort in adjusting different sensors.  
• Advanced Resource Management. Eco-friendly homes allow their owners to live comfortably but ensure that their homes consume less energy and cost less money to maintain. The latter relies heavily on predictive maintenance.

How Does a Home Automation App Work?

In simple terms, the IoT home automation app is a bridge between the hardware and the user. It connects to the sensors and devices either directly or via interfaces, and provides functionality for interacting with those. Depending on the IoT app development scope, the app can:

• provide a dashboard view of the devices and home system; 
• provide metrics on resource usage and environment indicators;
• control sensors and devices remotely;
• run tasks and fulfill routines.

It is essential to recognize the differences in custom sensors and ecosystem integration paths. They are shown in the table below.