# Best IoT Platforms for Small Business *By [Bijou Barry](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/bijou-barry)* Products classified in the overall IoT Platforms category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business IoT Platforms to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business IoT Platforms category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the IoT Platforms category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business IoT Platforms category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business. ## How Many IoT Platforms Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 131 ## How Does G2 Rank IoT Platforms Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 1,900+ Authentic Reviews - 131+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## What Are the Top-Rated IoT Platforms Products in 2026? ### 1. [TagoIO](https://www.g2.com/products/tagoio/reviews) TagoIO is a full-stack IoT platform that simplifies how teams build and scale IoT applications, freeing them to focus on innovation instead of infrastructure. The platform combines ease of use with enterprise-grade capabilities, enabling businesses to connect, manage, and analyze device data at scale while maintaining full control over their solutions. Trusted by over 20,000 developers across 130+ countries, TagoIO powers IoT solutions in Agriculture, Energy, Buildings, Industrial, and Logistics. The same platform that accelerates a quick proof of concept can scale to millions of data points in global production, without lock-in, and with real human support along the way. Create a free account and start turning your ideas based on sensors, data, and analytics into solutions. For more information, visit www.tago.io. **Average Rating:** 4.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 53 **How Do G2 Users Rate TagoIO?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind TagoIO?** - **Seller:** [TagoIO](https://www.g2.com/sellers/tagoio) - **Company Website:** https://tago.io - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** Raleigh, US - **Twitter:** @tagoio (880 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/tago.io (25 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Industrial Automation, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 77% Small-Business, 14% Mid-Market #### What Are TagoIO's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (22 reviews) - Flexibility (17 reviews) - User-Friendly (16 reviews) - Custom Dashboards (15 reviews) - Easy Integrations (13 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (9 reviews) - High Pricing (8 reviews) - Complexity (4 reviews) - Limited Customization (4 reviews) - Poor Documentation (4 reviews) ### 2. [Pelion IoT Connectivity](https://www.g2.com/products/pelion-iot-connectivity/reviews) Pelion: Global IoT Connectivity Made Effortless What is Pelion? Pelion helps customers rapidly deploy, connect, secure and manage IoT Connectivity for operations of any scale or use case. With Pelion’s market leading eSIM eUICC technology you can experience flexible and seamless multi carrier access with one SIM spanning 600+ networks in over 150 countries. Pelion offers you the best network access and the best data rates, across the most reliable mobile networks globally. Providing greater visibility and control of every single eSIM connection across your estate with our scalable and simple-to-use management platform. By combining the best in connectivity, software and services Pelion empowers ambitious businesses in energy, e-mobility, manufacturing, transportation, retail and healthcare to deploy faster, reduce costs, mitigate risk and simplify operations. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 145 **How Do G2 Users Rate Pelion IoT Connectivity?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Pelion IoT Connectivity?** - **Seller:** [Pelion](https://www.g2.com/sellers/pelion) - **Company Website:** https://pelion.com/ - **Year Founded:** 2002 - **HQ Location:** Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom - **Twitter:** @PelionIoT (184 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/pelioniot/ (126 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Transportation/Trucking/Railroad - **Company Size:** 43% Small-Business, 28% Mid-Market #### What Are Pelion IoT Connectivity's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (51 reviews) - Customer Support (50 reviews) - Network Connectivity (47 reviews) - IoT Connectivity (40 reviews) - Easy Setup (34 reviews) **Cons:** - SIM Issues (36 reviews) - Poor Support (23 reviews) - Technical Issues (21 reviews) - SIM Management Issues (20 reviews) - Technical Difficulties (19 reviews) ### 3. [Google Cloud IoT Core](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-iot-core/reviews) A fully managed service to easily and securely connect, manage, and ingest data from globally dispersed devices **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 29 **How Do G2 Users Rate Google Cloud IoT Core?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Google Cloud IoT Core?** - **Seller:** [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Mountain View, CA - **Twitter:** @google (31,911,199 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1441/ (336,169 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:GOOG **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 47% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market ### 4. [IBM Watson IoT Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-watson-iot-platform/reviews) IBM Watson IoT Platform can help you get a quick start on your next Internet of Things project. It is a fully managed, cloud-hosted service designed to make it simple to derive value from your Internet of Things devices. It provides capabilities such as device registration, connectivity, control, rapid visualization and storage of Internet of Things data. Connect and Manage devices: Connect to the Watson IoT Platform on IBM Cloud with ease, then set up and manage your IoT devices and data to start creating your own applications, visualization dashboards and mobile IoT apps. Build quickly and securely: Find the tools and services you need to create your IoT applications including cognitive APIs, Weather Company data, blockchain and more. Extend with Watson Cognitive APIs: Create a better experience with a natural voice interface or image recognition. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 21 **How Do G2 Users Rate IBM Watson IoT Platform?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) **Who Is the Company Behind IBM Watson IoT Platform?** - **Seller:** [IBM](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ibm) - **Year Founded:** 1911 - **HQ Location:** Armonk, NY - **Twitter:** @IBM (709,223 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1009/ (324,553 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** SWX:IBM **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 50% Small-Business, 27% Enterprise ### 5. [SAP Business Technology Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/sap-business-technology-platform/reviews) SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) is a multi-cloud platform-as-a-Service optimized to work with SAP solutions. It is a unified platform of technologies SAP uses for its own innovation, to extend and integrate business applications, and to infuse artificial intelligence and context-aware business data. SAP BTP brings together intelligent enterprise applications with database and data management, analytics, integration and extension capabilities into one platform for both cloud and hybrid environments, including hundreds of prebuilt business content and integrations for faster time-to-value. It can be used to create personalized experiences across business processes, build applications, analytics, and integrations faster, and to run mission-critical innovation confidently on major cloud providers' infrastructure fully managed by SAP. SAP BTP offers a range of capabilities and services that: - offers fit-for-purpose tools and services that are optimized for SAP applications along with composable bespoke business processes - provides an open environment with pre-built connectors to 3rd party apps and the availability to run on leading hyperscaler IaaS Clouds (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.) connects AI & ML into business processes to enhance intelligence, automation, and productivity - delivers security and improved insights by keeping contextual data close to core business processes and applications - enables future-proofing by keeping core systems clean, greatly reducing technical debt to take advantage of cloud economics **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 393 **How Do G2 Users Rate SAP Business Technology Platform?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind SAP Business Technology Platform?** - **Seller:** [SAP](https://www.g2.com/sellers/sap) - **Company Website:** https://www.sap.com/ - **Year Founded:** 1972 - **HQ Location:** Walldorf - **Twitter:** @SAP (297,228 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/sap/ (141,341 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, System Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 39% Enterprise, 36% Mid-Market #### What Are SAP Business Technology Platform's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (132 reviews) - Integrations (128 reviews) - Easy Integrations (115 reviews) - Features (103 reviews) - Data Management (78 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (97 reviews) - Complexity (88 reviews) - Expensive (69 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (68 reviews) - Difficult Learning (57 reviews) ### 6. [DATOMS](https://www.g2.com/products/datoms/reviews) DATOMS is a Connected Asset Management Software designed for OEMs, rental companies, and enterprises. It enables the monitoring and management of industrial assets through internet-connected devices and sensors. This software facilitates the tracking of the usage of assets, monitors performance and condition, predicts maintenance needs, and automates work orders. By employing connected asset management, companies can enhance the efficiency and lifespan of their assets, minimize downtime and maintenance expenses, and improve overall operations. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 69 **How Do G2 Users Rate DATOMS?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind DATOMS?** - **Seller:** [Phoenix Robotix Pvt. Ltd.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/phoenix-robotix-pvt-ltd) - **Company Website:** https://datoms.io/ - **Year Founded:** 2015 - **HQ Location:** Bengaluru, Karnataka - **Twitter:** @datoms_iot (143 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/datoms (74 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Manufacturing, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering - **Company Size:** 44% Mid-Market, 42% Small-Business #### What Are DATOMS's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Customer Support (31 reviews) - Ease of Use (24 reviews) - Data Management (19 reviews) - User Interface (18 reviews) - User-Friendly (17 reviews) **Cons:** - Slow Performance (15 reviews) - Slow Speed (13 reviews) - Technical Difficulties (13 reviews) - Technical Issues (13 reviews) - Data Management Issues (7 reviews) ### 7. [Particle](https://www.g2.com/products/particle/reviews) Particle is the leading edge-to-cloud infrastructure for the Internet of Things, helping thousands of companies power world-class connected machines, sensors, and devices. Particle provides everything you need to build an IoT product in one tightly-integrated platform, so you can focus your time and energy on what matters: your product, application, data, and customers. Hundreds of manufacturers, thousands of startups, and 260,000 developers use Particle to power their IoT products; to learn more, visit particle.io. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 180 **How Do G2 Users Rate Particle?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Particle?** - **Seller:** [Particle](https://www.g2.com/sellers/particle) - **Year Founded:** 2012 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @particle (21,970 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2922700/ (113 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Student, CEO - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Higher Education - **Company Size:** 77% Small-Business, 16% Mid-Market ### 8. [Telnyx IoT](https://www.g2.com/products/telnyx-iot/reviews) Telnyx IoT provides secure, global connectivity solutions for IoT devices, simplifying the challenge of bringing smart devices online from anywhere. Leveraging the power of a secure virtual private mobile and IP network in the cloud, Telnyx IoT offers flexible data coverage across 180+ countries through a single SIM, catering to a diverse range of IoT applications. Telnyx IoT SIM cards are eUICC enabled and available in various forms including triple-size plastic SIM cards, eSIM chips (embedded MFF2), and over-the-air eSIMs. A single Telnyx SIM connects devices to over 650 networks (4G LTE, 3G, 2G, and LTE-M) worldwide, including all major carriers in the United States. Intelligent network switching allows automatic and seamless failover to the best carrier, ensuring maximum uptime for connected devices.The service offers pay-as-you-go pricing, starting at $0.0125 per MB, and includes options for private LTE networks and public static IP addresses. For managing IoT deployments, Telnyx provides a portal and APIs for easy control and monitoring of SIM fleets, including activation and deactivation, setting data limits, network priorities, and more. For more information, visit https://telnyx.com/products/iot-sim-card . **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 69 **How Do G2 Users Rate Telnyx IoT?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Telnyx IoT?** - **Seller:** [Telnyx](https://www.g2.com/sellers/telnyx) - **Year Founded:** 2009 - **HQ Location:** 600 Congress Avenue 14th Floor Austin, TX 78701 - **Twitter:** @telnyx (4,352 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3349412/ (367 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Telecommunications - **Company Size:** 84% Small-Business, 14% Mid-Market #### What Are Telnyx IoT's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Customer Support (4 reviews) - Ease of Use (4 reviews) - Affordable Pricing (2 reviews) - Easy Setup (2 reviews) - IoT Connectivity (2 reviews) **Cons:** - SIM Issues (2 reviews) - SIM Management Issues (2 reviews) - Expensive (1 reviews) - High Pricing (1 reviews) - Learning Curve (1 reviews) ### 9. [Hologram](https://www.g2.com/products/hologram/reviews) Own your IoT deployment with Hologram's cellular SIM cards and easy-to-use monitoring dashboard. Our seamless, global coverage, multi-carrier network and support specialists are here to help you connect and manage your IoT devices. Our flexible pricing plans are designed to get you off the ground. Focus on scaling your fleet and managing your devices without any additional carrier negotiations, integrations, or hardware swaps. Test drive Hologram with a pilot IoT SIM and get connected in under a week. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 62 **How Do G2 Users Rate Hologram?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Hologram?** - **Seller:** [Hologram](https://www.g2.com/sellers/hologram) - **Company Website:** https://hologram.io - **Year Founded:** 2013 - **HQ Location:** Chicago, US - **Twitter:** @Hologram_io (26 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3293837/ (71 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** CEO - **Top Industries:** Farming, Transportation/Trucking/Railroad - **Company Size:** 70% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market #### What Are Hologram's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - API Integration (1 reviews) - Custom Dashboards (1 reviews) - Customer Support (1 reviews) - Documentation Quality (1 reviews) - Efficient Solutions (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Limited Customization (1 reviews) - Limited Features (1 reviews) ### 10. [Blynk IoT platform](https://www.g2.com/products/blynk-iot-platform/reviews) Blynk is a low-code IoT platform that enables businesses to launch connected products quickly. The platform provides infrastructure to connect devices, design applications, and manage global fleets without the complexity of custom backend development. With over 10 years in the market, Blynk is used by 5,000+ companies and 1M+ developers worldwide. The platform combines IoT expertise with AI-powered tools to support faster development and scaling across industries such as construction, smart buildings, HVAC, agriculture, and satellite IoT. Blynk is available as a branded or white-label solution and includes secure cloud infrastructure, device management, dashboards, automation rules, notifications, firmware OTA updates, multi-tenancy, and analytics. These features allow organizations to move from prototype to full production efficiently. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 28 **How Do G2 Users Rate Blynk IoT platform?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Blynk IoT platform?** - **Seller:** [Blynk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/blynk) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** New York, US - **Twitter:** @blynk_app (5,773 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-l-y-n-k (33 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 64% Small-Business, 32% Mid-Market ### 11. [Fogwing IIoT Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/fogwing-iiot-platform/reviews) Fogwing is the comprehensive Industrial IoT Platform available as a service on subscription basis. Fogwing IIoT is a no-code platform that provides features to connect any devices through WiFi, Cellular Wireless (3/4/5g) and LoRaWAN network and collect through MQTT, process data as streaming, apply data rules routing, send alerts, command to devices, data storage, integration and analytics. With all enterprise capabilities, Fogwing can helps to achieve any IoT based industrial automation. Fogwing Industrial Cloud also offers industrial solutions as Apps for easy adoption. Fogwing IIoT user may build custom IoT solution or subscribe to prebuilt IoT Applications built for Industry 4.0 trasnformation. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 29 **How Do G2 Users Rate Fogwing IIoT Platform?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.8/10) - **Data Syncronization:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) - **Analytics:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Device Workflows:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Fogwing IIoT Platform?** - **Seller:** [Factana Computing](https://www.g2.com/sellers/factana-computing) - **Year Founded:** 2017 - **HQ Location:** Bengaluru, India - **Twitter:** @Factana_IoT (211 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/factana/ (41 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 77% Small-Business, 13% Enterprise ## What Is IoT Platforms? [IoT Management Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-management) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to IoT Platforms? - [IoT Analytics Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-analytics-platforms) - [IoT Development Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-development-tools) - [IoT Device Management Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-device-management-platforms) - [IoT Connectivity Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-connectivity-management) - [Industrial IoT Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/industrial-iot) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right IoT Platforms? ### What You Should Know About IoT Platforms Software ### What is IoT Platforms Software? The internet of things (IoT) is rapidly growing, becoming more common and accessible as a business strategy with each passing day. It is now a key priority in digital transformation for millions of companies across the spectrum of industry, from retail to manufacturing to city government and infrastructure planning. IoT platforms are enabling business teams to connect IoT devices and configure IoT ecosystems using internal resources, without needing to recruit third-party developers. Whether deploying industrial IoT devices or customer-facing IoT applications, these solutions can put a smart ecosystem within reach so users can realize the benefits faster and with minimal cost. In the early days of connected devices, due to high costs and the complexity of the technology, the deployment of a fully realized IoT architecture was hard to achieve for smaller businesses or those without the correct resources. Today, IoT platforms offer an end to end solution that makes it easier for businesses to implement device connectivity for any number of use cases. These robust software solutions provide intuitive interfaces for blueprinting and modifying new ecosystems of IoT devices, whether in customer environments, workplace settings, or some combination of the two. In a number of cases, these solutions also assist with device security, data collection and analytics, and hardware management, while integrating with other IoT products that help perform these tasks. The market for IoT platforms is growing alongside the number of IoT devices—this category of software will continue to evolve as the capabilities become more rich and varied. As it stands, the [IoT platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-platforms) category features a diverse selection of applications that any company can utilize to connect their devices to the cloud and unlock the potential of enterprise IoT. Key Benefits of IoT Platforms Software - Design and execute complex IoT projects using internal resources - Establish communication protocols for connected hardware - Determine which data will be collected by sensors and which actions will be carried out by IoT devices - Integrate business systems and software with connected assets to allow the smooth, continuous flow of data ### Why Use IoT Platforms Software? The rise of IoT is unparalleled in scope; the already billions of devices involved will likely multiply in the next several years. Growth of the IoT space is tied to its seemingly limitless applications, as more industries find unique ways to utilize smart sensors and devices in some way. As with [artificial intelligence (AI) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/artificial-intelligence), the IoT is considered a new frontier in technology, and may fundamentally change the way that we work and live in the coming years—for some, it already has. IoT platforms are tools that businesses can adopt when plotting and launching IoT initiatives of their own. These advanced applications help design workflows and communication flows that make connected hardware work together, gather data, and trigger events in a business. Programming an IoT environment using one of these applications allows companies to deploy this complex technology in a business and create a unique network of devices. By enabling business assets with IoT sensors and connecting them using an IoT platform, a business can maximize operational efficiency, reshape the customer experience, and uncover new revenue streams. Tackling these efforts in-house with help from an IoT platform can help convert edge devices online in short order, performing and generating data in a way that best suits a company’s needs. ### Who Uses IoT Platforms Software? As the IoT becomes more commonplace in business strategy, the range of use cases for IoT platforms expands and other solutions related to smart devices, such as IoT data. Depending on the size and structure of an organization, a company may enlist different individuals or teams to build out functional IoT networks, maintain them, and perform additional tasks related to these efforts. When considering an IoT platform for a business, it is important to consider which employees or teams will handle the initial task of enabling devices and establishing actionable frameworks. These may include designated IoT specialists, product teams, or IT specialists. Third-party agencies such as [IoT development services providers](https://www.g2.com/categories/internet-of-things-iot-developers) are also common users of these platforms, and may leverage one of the solutions in this category in the event that a company outsources part or all of the design and implementation of an IoT infrastructure. ### IoT Platforms Software Features The products in this category offer diverse tool kits for building custom IoT applications. With the help of smart sensors and routers, a business can leverage these platforms to transform objects into smart objects, which can perform a variety of intelligent tasks and generate actionable insights across the operation. An IoT platform comparison can be especially challenging, as IoT platform providers each take a unique approach to the design and deployment of these applications. The following are some primary features users may encounter during when deciding on the best IoT hub. **Application development —** The core functionality of these advanced platforms is assistance with syncing internet-enabled devices and connecting them to the cloud so they can generate and share data, as well as trigger actions, send alerts, and automate tasks. This is accomplished through the development of proprietary applications that work with a particular fleet of devices, so they can perform to a company’s desired specifications. IoT platforms typically include a development interface in which users can build out these applications, or at least lay the groundwork, with little or no advanced coding. A number of platforms offer varying levels of development assistance, so complex modifications can be easily achieved with a higher degree of coding. These tools are often designed to help teams with limited IoT experience connect and assign protocols to their smart devices, regardless of the device type. **Rules engine —** Once a fleet of devices is established and successfully connected to the network, users will need to determine a set of rules for the devices to follow. These frameworks are put in place to ensure each device reaches its potential as part of an IoT environment, from operational analytics to time sensitive actions in response to events and observations. Using an IoT platform, business teams can write and deploy these rule sets and assign different rules to distributed devices as needed. As IoT efforts are launched and optimized over time, users can adjust the protocols for each device based on outcomes and changing business needs. **Permissions and access —** When adopting an IoT strategy for a business, it is essential to consider who will be granted access to the backend with regard to connecting new devices, management of devices and workflows, and handling of data. Not only is this required to ensure the successful deployment and utilization of smart devices, but to prevent unwanted access or modifications. IoT platforms may provide various settings for controlling who has access and to what extent they can make changes to an open IoT architecture. As new employees are assigned to IoT responsibilities or roles change within an organization, administrators can update system permissions and the specific details of each user account. **Device management and analytics —** Making the most of a functional IoT fleet will entail a number of tasks, ranging from device audits and firmware updates to cleaning and sorting of device data. Depending on the platform a company uses, these ongoing efforts may require additional software applications or involve tools that come included on the IoT platform. When researching potential solutions for a business, take note of its device management and data analytics features to determine which additional solutions users will need to consider. In situations where certain features are not included, IoT platforms will typically integrate with other applications that perform these functions, and can work together to create a complete IoT stack. ### Potential Issues with IoT Platforms Software **Hardware issues —** Getting an IoT project off the ground requires more than a quality software program. It hinges on the objects themselves, and the smart sensors used to enable their IoT connectivity. Building out this fleet and maintaining its health can be an outsized challenge, and present a litany of unexpected hurdles over the course of an IoT launch campaign. Furthermore, these various hardware issues can interrupt the work being done on an IoT platform, and force delays or changes related to an IoT application. It is important to keep this in mind and allocate the necessary resources to device enablement, testing, and troubleshooting when deploying an IoT fleet. **Network issues —** In addition to the devices themselves, an IoT program is reliant on a high-powered, stable connection that unites devices to each other and the internet. With regard to the IoT, this typically requires specialized routers, modems, and network plans. Despite the advanced capabilities of smart devices and the technology woven through it all, there is still an ever-present possibility of network issues such as dropped signals and other disruptions, not to mention technical problems with network devices. Network difficulties during or after the build-out of an IoT architecture can be a roadblock for those in charge of a company’s IoT efforts. They might also create larger problems for the company or customers down the road as the company integrates the IoT into everyday operations. Any business considering an IoT investment should ensure that primary and edge networks are thoroughly tested in relation to the particular bandwidth and performance required of the IoT infrastructure, and upgraded as necessary for optimal strength and reliability. ### Software and Services Related to IoT Platforms Software A new IoT project is a significant undertaking for any business, involving a great deal of resources. There are a fast-growing number of solution vendors in the IoT space, and if considering an IoT initiative, there are a variety of products and services users might consider. [**IoT device management software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-device-management) **—** IoT device management platforms provide a hub for monitoring and managing physical IoT devices after they are programmed and active within an IoT framework. While an IoT platform assists with the design and deployment of the frameworks that bring these devices together, IoT device management tools are built around the devices themselves, with real-time information on the entirety of connected objects. Through the use of these tools, IT specialists can track performance metrics of these devices, push critical updates for software and firmware, and control access to devices as needed, among other things. Certain IoT platforms offer some device management capabilities, but in some cases users might need separate solutions to achieve the desired level of visibility. [**IoT development tools**](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-development-tools) **—** IoT development tools are various developer-friendly solutions that assist with building and optimizing IoT applications. Whereas IoT platforms are often low- or no-code solutions for deploying a network of smart objects, IoT development tools are geared toward developers with experience writing code. A number of these solutions can be used to connect and control sensor-enabled devices, and may allow for greater customization or complexity in an IoT application than IoT platforms. Depending on the size and scope of an IoT project, users may decide to work with third-party [IoT developers](https://www.g2.com/categories/internet-of-things-iot-developers) or assign ongoing IoT development to an employee or team on staff. These individuals may use one or more IoT development tools to continue expanding, optimizing, and pushing the limits of an IoT infrastructure, or assist with other tasks related to IoT management. [**IoT analytics software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-analytics) **—** A fleet of smart devices has the potential to unlock boundless insights across an operation, on matters from equipment performance to customer behavior. IoT analytics software is designed to help reveal this information, consuming large volumes of real-time data from device sensors and assisting with sorting, blending, and visualization of the most relevant findings. Depending on the types of devices, as well as their placement and assigned functions, users may choose to focus on any number of data variants. These can include environmental conditions, machine maintenance recommendations, and consumer product usage or interactions, among many others. IoT platforms may offer some form of reporting capabilities related to IoT networks or devices, but a standalone solution may be required for uncovering the full spectrum of insights that are possible with IoT-enabled objects. [**IoT security services**](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-security-services) **—** By connecting physical assets to an IoT network, a business is also creating new vulnerabilities for data theft, malware, and other digital security threats. It’s vital to take preventative measures with any IoT initiative, while being prepared for reactionary measures in the event of a data breach or another unwanted event. A third-party agency that offers IoT security services may be able to help with security recommendations or timely assistance with protecting IoT devices and the network as a whole. Internal teams may also utilize some form of [IoT security software](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-security) to bolster the security of smart devices and user hubs, from user authentication to alerts about interrupted communications. Several IoT platforms and device managers offer some form of IoT security, but when mapping an IoT strategy for a business, users should consider additional services and software tools to properly safeguard devices and the critical business data they will collect. [**Iot developers**](https://www.g2.com/categories/internet-of-things-iot-developers) **—** Building a custom IoT application and enabling a fleet of connected devices may require more time, resources, or expertise than a business has to spare. Fortunately, there is a fast-growing community of professional developers that offer assistance with building smart devices and the applications that power them. If a company is considering an IoT project and would benefit from third-party assistance, they should consider reaching out to an IoT development services provider for a consultation and to learn how they might help their business along its IoT journey.