The remote control for your infrastructure.Platform-native IoT apps.

Bring control to the pocket of your technicians and customers. We develop native apps (iOS/Android) for provisioning, control, and alerting. Optimized for field use, built with React Native.

  • Bluetooth (BLE) & NFC
  • Offline-First Architecture
  • App Store Deployment
Discuss App ProjectSee pricing
Timo Wevelsiep, founder of merkaio

Timo Wevelsiep

Founder

Apps that talk to hardware.

An IoT app is more than just colorful screens. It must interact with the physical world. While standard agencies stop at the API, we go deeper.

Direct Communication (BLE/NFC)

We build apps that configure sensors in the field without an internet connection. Scan a QR code, connect via Bluetooth, set parameters. Done.

Real-Time Data (MQTT)

No "pull-to-refresh". We implement WebSockets or MQTT directly in the app. Sensor values update instantly on the screen as they change in reality.

Critical Alerts (Push)

When a machine fails, an email isn't enough. We ensure critical alarms land reliably as push notifications on the lock screen.

Go deeper: BLE app development with React Native

What we build.

The "Installer App" (Technician Tool)

Target: Service technicians.
Function: Provisioning of new gateways and sensors. Scan QR code → Save geolocation → Register in backend (ChirpStack).
→ Significantly reduces installation time.

The "Smart Product App" (B2C/B2B)

Target: End users of your hardware.
Function: Control room temperature, switch lights, view consumption history. White-labeled with your branding.
→ Turns a "dumb" product into a smart experience.

The "Maintenance App" (Field Service)

Target: Maintenance crews.
Function: Digital checklists. The technician stands in front of the pump, sees live vibration data on the phone via BLE, and checks off maintenance tasks.
→ Paperless documentation and proof of work.

One Codebase. Two Platforms.

We use React Native (or Flutter) to build apps for iOS and Android simultaneously. This saves development time and ensures a consistent look & feel.

Core Framework

React Native / Expo

Connectivity

react-native-ble-plx (Bluetooth), MQTT.js

Backend Sync

WatermelonDB (Offline Sync) or TanStack Query

From Code to Store.

We don't just hand over the code. We manage the entire release process.

Certificates & Signing

We handle the complex Apple/Google signing process.

Screenshots & Descriptions

We prepare the store assets.

Review Process

We communicate with Apple/Google reviewers to get your app approved fast.

Client testimonial

Timo took our IoT requirements and turned them into a clean, white-labeled monitoring platform that just works. What stood out was that he built it to grow with us: each new customer and site slots into the same structure, so onboarding is fast and we're not redesigning dashboards or data flows every time. The foundation lets us expand without rethinking how the platform is put together. Highly recommended for serious IoT projects.
Vernetix

E. Grier

Vernetix LLC

What does an IoT app cost?

Every IoT project is different; the price depends on hardware, interfaces and scope. For honest guidance, here are our typical packages. The binding price follows a short discovery call.

Discovery & concept

Fixed price1.500 €

Discovery call, technical concept, stack and hardware selection, scope and roadmap. You get a solid concept and a binding quote for the build, whether or not you continue with us.

App pilot / PoC

from6.500 €

A working first version with one core function (e.g. a BLE connection to the device or a live dashboard), tested on real hardware. Ideal to validate the idea before you invest in full development.

IoT app MVP

from14.000 €

A focused, production-ready app (e.g. BLE/NFC provisioning or a real-time dashboard), iOS and Android from one codebase, including backend integration and deployment to the stores.

Custom app & field service

from28.000 €

Multiple roles, offline-first architecture, white-label, push alerting, complex hardware integration and ongoing operation. Scope and price after discovery.

Serious estimates only come after a discovery. Anyone quoting a fixed price without a concept is guessing, or pricing the risk in expensively.

Book discovery

All prices are guide values (net, plus VAT) and do not replace an individual quote. Unlike large agencies, you work directly with the engineer, no sales layer, no overhead.

Common Questions

Yes, this is a core requirement for many IoT apps, especially for device provisioning. We use robust libraries to handle the BLE handshake, service discovery, and characteristic reading/writing. We ensure the app handles connection drops gracefully - a common issue in industrial environments.
We build apps that can read and write NDEF records to your sensors. This is often used for "Zero-Touch Provisioning": A technician taps the smartphone onto the sensor to transfer Wi-Fi credentials or LoRaWAN keys securely without even powering on the device.
We support both architectures. Direct Mode (Local): Via BLE/WiFi-Direct for control without internet (e.g., unlocking a door). Cloud Mode (Remote): Via MQTT/API for monitoring from anywhere. We can also build "Hybrid Apps" that switch modes automatically.
Raw tables are hard to read on mobile. We implement high-performance charting libraries to render zoomable, scrollable time-series graphs. We optimize for performance so the app doesn't freeze even when loading thousands of data points.
Yes. We use MQTT over WebSockets within the app. This means when a sensor sends a value to the broker, the number on your phone screen updates instantly. We don't force users to "pull-to-refresh" to see the current status.
We integrate services like Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM). We ensure that critical alerts (e.g., "Freezer temperature critical") trigger a push notification with a sound, even if the app is closed. We can also implement "Deep Linking" to jump directly to the alarming sensor when the notification is tapped.
Yes. If you are an OEM manufacturer, we can build a "White-Label Core". We can then generate multiple branded versions of the app (different logo, colors, texts) for your customers, allowing you to resell the software as your own.
Apple requires proof that the hardware exists during the review process. We are experienced in creating the necessary demo videos and hardware documentation for the Apple Review Team to prove the app's functionality. We guide you through the compliance process to avoid rejections.
For most IoT use cases, React Native is an excellent choice. It allows us to write one codebase for both iOS and Android, significantly reducing development and maintenance effort. It offers native performance for Bluetooth and UI rendering, which is exactly what industrial apps need.
Mobile OS updates (iOS 18, Android 15) can break apps. We offer Maintenance Retainers to ensure your app stays compatible with new system versions and library updates. We also monitor crash reports (via Sentry) to fix bugs proactively.
It depends on hardware, interfaces and scope. As a guide: a pilot to validate starts at 6,500 €, a production-ready MVP from 14,000 €, more complex custom and field-service apps from 28,000 €. The binding price follows a discovery (fixed price 1,500 €), see the pricing above.
A serious fixed price needs a clear scope. Anyone quoting a fixed price without a concept is guessing, or pricing the risk in expensively. Our paid discovery (1,500 €) delivers a solid concept and a binding quote that is yours, even without a follow-up.
A focused MVP is typically production-ready within a few weeks, depending on scope and hardware complexity. We set the concrete timeline in the discovery.

Let's discuss your infrastructure. Digital and on-site.

Whether it's IoT platform development, hardware selection, managed hosting for ChirpStack, ThingsBoard, Grafana or NetBird VPN, or migration from a self-hosted setup - we'll find the right solution for your use case. Book a free 30-minute consultation, no commitment required.

Timo Wevelsiep

Your contact

Timo Wevelsiep

Founder, merkaio

15 minutes, no commitment, directly with Timo.

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