Industries · Smart home and IoT
Smart lamps, clocks, sensors and connected appliances have to set up in minutes, work with the home they join and stay secure for years. We take them from idea to factory: industrial design, electronics and firmware, setup that works on real home networks, security that meets UK and EU rules, and manufacturing with our partner factories in China and Pakistan.
The short answer
Smart home product development turns an idea for a connected home device into a product people can set up and trust. It covers the design, the electronics and firmware, the radio and the ecosystems it works with, such as Matter, Alexa and Google Home, the security and safety rules for home devices, and manufacturing at a price buyers will pay.
Where smart home projects go wrong
One ecosystem shuts out many home buyers.
We plan Matter, Alexa or Google from day one.
Designed for MatterBuyers give up when Wi-Fi setup fails.
We test setup on real phones and routers.
Day & Date Clock, under NDACloud bills grow with every unit you sell.
We keep core features local and costs low.
Environmental system, under NDADefault passwords now block UK and EU sales.
We design to UK PSTI and EN 18031 from day one.
All projects, under NDAEcosystems
Pick an ecosystem to see who can use it, the radio it needs and the steps to its badge.
Who can use it
Apple, Google, Alexa and SmartThings homes.
Radio
Thread for battery, Wi-Fi for mains.
Steps to the badge
Alliance membership, lab test, product fee.
Watch out
Each unit needs its own setup code.
Best for: Most new home devices
Who can use it
People who run their home with Alexa.
Radio
Matter, or Wi-Fi with your own cloud.
Steps to the badge
Matter first, then Amazon's own check.
Watch out
Cloud-only skills stop if your cloud stops.
Best for: Voice-first products
Who can use it
People who run their home with Google.
Radio
Matter, or a cloud-to-cloud link.
Steps to the badge
Matter first, then Google's test suite.
Watch out
Cloud-to-cloud needs a second sign-off.
Best for: Android and Nest homes
Who can use it
iPhone users with Apple Home set up.
Radio
Matter, or HomeKit through MFi.
Steps to the badge
Matter covers the badge; MFi for extras.
Watch out
MFi only for Apple-only features.
Best for: Privacy-minded buyers
Who can use it
Anyone on the home network, no account.
Radio
Wi-Fi, Thread or Bluetooth on the home network.
Steps to the badge
No badge; radio and safety rules apply.
Watch out
No voice control without a hub.
Best for: Privacy and no subscription
Fees are from the Connectivity Standards Alliance's public price list, and each platform decides its own badge. Not sure which to choose? We map it in the feasibility study.
What we build
Lighting
Our projects
Smart Lamp (our project)
What matters most
Smooth dimming, low standby power and app control.
Standards we design for
IEC 60598, EU 0.5 W standby, FCC / RED, Matter
Controls
Our projects
IoT Control Board, Day & Date Clock (our projects)
What matters most
Reliable boards, easy setup and clear displays.
Standards we design for
IEC 62368-1, FCC Part 15, RED, UK PSTI
Sensing
Our projects
Environmental Monitoring System (our project)
What matters most
Stable readings, long battery life and live data.
Standards we design for
IP rating, cellular approval, RED, FCC
Appliances
Our projects
Smart Glass Cleaner (our project)
What matters most
Water, heat and door safety in a compact unit.
Standards we design for
IEC 60335, UL 921, FCC / RED
Certification
Matter (Connectivity Standards Alliance)
What it covers
One standard for Apple, Google and Alexa homes.
What we do
We design device types and setup codes for Matter.
FCC Part 15
What it covers
US rules for radios and digital circuits.
What we do
We use pre-certified modules and pre-scan early.
EN 18031 (EU RED cybersecurity)
What it covers
EU security rules for connected radio products.
What we do
We build unique logins and signed updates.
UK PSTI product security rules
What it covers
UK ban on default passwords, plus update promises.
What we do
We prepare the disclosure policy and statement.
IEC 62368-1 electronics safety
What it covers
Safety of electronics, hubs and power supplies.
What we do
We design isolation and safe power from the start.
IEC 60598 luminaires
What it covers
Safety of lamps and light fittings.
What we do
We size the driver, heat and cord for the lamp.
IEC 60335 appliance safety
What it covers
Safety of household and commercial appliances.
What we do
We design water, heat and door safety in.
Accredited labs, the Connectivity Standards Alliance and platform owners decide. We design to pass and prepare test-ready samples.
Our own work
Smart Lamp Under NDA
An LED lamp you dim and colour from your phone.
IoT Control Board Under NDA
A custom control board for a connected device.
Day & Date Clock Under NDA
A large calendar clock that sets itself over Wi-Fi.
Environmental Monitoring System Under NDA
Indoor and outdoor nodes for air, gas and climate.
Smart Glass Cleaner Under NDA
A countertop unit that washes and dries stemware.
Projects are under NDA, so we show what we built, not who for.
How it runs
Services we use
The IoT device works flawlessly, measuring room temperature accurately
they always deliver what is expected and work with me on smoothing out any details.
FAQ
For most new devices, Matter is the simplest way to work with Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa at once. Each badge still has its own step: Amazon and Google run their own checks after Matter, and Apple's badge needs Matter certification.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance charges an annual membership, from $7,500 for Adopters, plus a fee of $2,000 to $3,000 per product. Lab testing is paid separately to an authorised lab. Building on a certified module can cut the cost.
Thread suits small battery devices such as sensors and switches. Wi-Fi suits mains-powered devices that send more data, like cameras and appliances. Zigbee still works but needs its own hub, so most new products choose Matter. For Bluetooth, LoRaWAN and cellular, see our IoT product design services.
Devices that need the cloud for basic control stop being smart. When Belkin closed its Wemo cloud in January 2026, only devices set up in Apple Home or on Thread kept working. Designing core features to work on the home network protects your buyers.
In the UK, the PSTI rules have banned default passwords since April 2024, and require a way to report security issues and a stated update period. In the EU, connected radio products must meet EN 18031 since August 2025, and the Cyber Resilience Act adds more from 2026 to 2027.
Radio rules (FCC Part 15 and the EU RED), plus product safety: IEC 60598 for lamps, IEC 60335 for appliances and IEC 62368-1 for electronics like clocks and hubs. In the EU, a connected lamp must also use 0.5 W or less on standby.
Often, yes, because several Espressif chips support Matter. We review your prototype in a feasibility study at $1,000 to $2,000, then give you a fixed price for each stage.
Related guides
Free product call
Book a free 30-minute product call. An engineer will tell you which ecosystem fits your product, what it takes to build and certify it, and what it should cost per unit.
Share as much or as little as you like. An engineer reads every enquiry and replies within one business day, under NDA before you share details.