How to create an IoT platform for managing a smart device: from idea to implementation

According to analysts, from 2026 to 2035, the Internet of Things market will show significant growth, in particular in the field of transport and logistics. Real-time cargo tracking, fleet management, route optimization, and predictive maintenance are quickly becoming standard.

Devices are being installed everywhere: by 2026, hundreds of millions of telematics modules and embedded IoT solutions are expected in various fields, including agriculture. 

As data continues to be collected and infrastructure grows, companies are increasingly asking a different question: How can this data be turned into understandable metrics, automated solutions, and business benefits?

In practice, the primary function of the IoT is not to collect information, but rather to facilitate management by linking device readings with employee workflows and financial indicators. 

In this article, we'll examine how to correctly implement IoT applications. We'll cover what tasks they should solve, how to build an architecture, and what to pay attention to in order to automate processes, reduce costs, and assist with management decisions.

What are IoT devices?

An Internet of Things device is a physical object connected to a network that collects data, processes it at a basic level, and transmits it to an IoT platform or application.

As a rule, such a device has several key components:

• Sensors measure something in the surrounding environment, such as temperature, pressure, movement, gases, or light.
• The controller collects these readings and prepares them for transmission.
• Gateway (sometimes separate) collects data from many sensors and sends it to the internet, which is especially important when the sensors are far away or use different protocols.

The Internet of Things has firmly entered our reality, though we don't always notice. Examples include smart homes with smart lighting, smart locks, and smart sockets that monitor energy consumption; wearable gadgets such as fitness bracelets and watches; and remote health monitoring systems.

In an urban environment, IoT manages adaptive traffic lights, air quality sensors, parking spot detection systems, and trash container occupancy monitoring.

Below are typical examples of IoT devices and the tasks they solve in different industries.
 

The IoT platform is the «brain» of the entire system

The IoT platform is responsible for the stable and scalable operation of the entire infrastructure. It manages thousands and even millions of devices: it allows you to connect new sensors, update firmware, temporarily disable equipment and monitor its condition. For businesses, this means system manageability without manual labor or constant facility visits.

The platform collects and stores all data from the devices in one place. We're not talking about dozens of indicators; we're talking about information flows that can amount to billions of events. The IoT platform doesn't just add up this data; it brings it into a convenient format for analysis.

The next key layer is analytics. The IoT platform creates graphs, monitors discrepancies, generates alerts, and identifies patterns in equipment or process behavior. At this level, predictive maintenance scenarios, deviation control, and preliminary management insights emerge.

Through the API, the IoT system integrates with CRM, ERP, monitoring, billing, and mobile applications.
 

A ready-made platform or in-house development of an IoT application?

In practice, an IoT platform can be either a ready-made cloud solution or a custom development. Ready-made cloud solutions (AWS IoT, Azure IoT, Yandex IoT Core, and similar) are suitable for launch or pilot deployments.

The LighTech Experience

For the intelligent video surveillance and video analytics project, we decided to develop a fully proprietary cloud platform from scratch, including the backend, API, device agent, and frontend:

• Maximum versatility (support for any RTSP/ONVIF cameras, work on microcontrollers and IoT gadgets with minimal resource consumption of 9-900 KB).
• End-to-end encryption, high performance (processing thousands of cameras without transcoding).
• Automatic remote connection without port forwarding and deep AI video analytics with custom algorithms.

Such a level of customization, independence from the vendor, and adaptation to enterprise customers (ranging from small businesses to government agencies and infrastructure) would not have been possible with a ready-made platform. Therefore, its own implementation became the optimal solution to achieve the required reliability, scalability, and competitive advantages. We wrote more about the case here.

IoT Apps: How Businesses Manage Devices and Data

IoT devices themselves do not provide value. While sensors can collect and measure information, the packaging of data into solutions begins with applications.

The application displays telemetry, shows the current state of objects, allows you to manage IoT equipment, configure scenarios, and receive analytics.

Types of IoT Applications

Mobile IoT applications are used more often where immediate operational access is needed:

• real-time monitoring of equipment and facilities;
• push notifications about accidents, exceeding thresholds, and failures;
• remote control (enable, disable, restart, change modes);
• access for field staff, engineers, technicians, and managers.

These types of solutions are in demand in logistics, construction, and industry, as well as in any other area where decisions are made outside the workplace.

Web applications and dashboards are the main analytics and management tool at the business level. The whole picture of the IoT system is concentrated here:

• aggregated data from thousands of devices;
• graphs, maps, tables, thermal zones;
• configuring rules, scripts, and users;
• reports for management and operational teams.

Web dashboards allow dispatchers, analysts, and department heads to see the entire process, not just a single sensor.

For complex infrastructures, separate dispatch interfaces are created, often for a specific industry or scenario:

• transport and fleets;
• industrial equipment;
• building engineering systems;
• power grids and distributed facilities.

Such systems operate under high load, support roles, SLA logic, and crash scenarios, and are often integrated with ERP, CRM, 1C, and BI systems.

What the platform can do:

• Automatic decryption of the VIN code: instant information about the brand, configuration and repair history.
• AI analysis of data from diagnostic scanners and sensors to accurately assess the condition of the vehicle.
• Generation of clear reports with repair recommendations, selection of spare parts and the nearest service stations.
• License plate recognition (LPR) through cameras and a mobile app for searching for stolen cars and instant notifications.
• Scalable and secure integration with external systems: insurance, police, suppliers.

Our goal was to automate routine car service processes, reduce downtime, improve diagnostic accuracy, and create an ecosystem of data exchange between services, owners, and partners.

The platform has helped owners save time and money by providing quick access to clear reports and recommendations. Due to its integration with police databases, it is possible to quickly identify stolen cars. The subscription model transforms the service into a smart IoT service with predictive diagnostics, remote monitoring, and sensor and camera connectivity.

IoT platform for agricultural business

Our team has developed an IoT solution for agricultural businesses based on the «pocket farm» concept. This solution allows farmers to track important crop indicators, such as temperature, precipitation, watering, and productivity, in real time. 

The platform collects data from sensors, visualizes them through convenient diagrams, diagrams and dynamic graphs, and coordinates the work of employees for operational management of farming processes.

The result is optimized crop processing, reduced production costs, and the ability to respond to the needs of plants in a timely manner. Integrating IoT data increases the efficiency of farming businesses by enabling them to make accurate decisions and prevent agrotechnological problems.

Security of IoT devices and data

Every device on the network can become an access point for attacks, so it is important to protect data and infrastructure. Key measures include data encryption, device authentication, and regular updates to firmware and platform software, as well as API protection and network segmentation.

Monitoring of abnormal device behavior and secure configuration help prevent leaks, data substitution, DDoS attacks and physical compromise of equipment, ensuring reliable operation of IoT systems in real time.