Custom AI & IoT solutions for your organisation
AI & IoT solutions that connect the physical and digital worlds. We build smart systems that collect sensor data, analyse it in real time and turn it into concrete actions: from predictive maintenance and energy monitoring to fully automated production processes. Whether you want to start a first IoT pilot or enrich an existing sensor network with AI analytics, we design and build the platform that suits your organisation.
The power of AI and IoT combined
The Internet of Things (IoT) connects physical devices, sensors and machines to the internet. Artificial intelligence (AI) analyses the resulting data streams and makes them usable. Together they form the basis for smart industry: an environment in which machines communicate independently, processes optimise themselves and decisions are based on real-time data rather than gut feeling.
The convergence of AI and IoT, often referred to as AIoT, is not a thing of the future. Organisations that invest in connected devices today without an AI layer miss out on most of the value: the raw data that sensors produce only becomes useful once algorithms recognise patterns, detect anomalies and make predictions. At the same time, AI without IoT data is often limited to historical analysis. The combination makes the difference between reacting to problems and preventing them.
From sensor data to smart decisions
An IoT sensor measures temperature, vibration, air quality or energy consumption. But raw data alone is not enough. AI models recognise patterns, detect anomalies and predict future developments. This difference between collecting data and understanding it is exactly where the combination of AI and IoT creates value for your organisation. The result is a data-driven operation in which decisions are not made after the fact, but proactively and automatically.
Whether it is an enterprise AI implementation or a first IoT pilot: we build solutions that turn sensor data into real business value. With edge computing, we process data locally for minimal latency, while cloud analytics provides in-depth insights over longer periods.
AI & IoT solutions we build
From real-time dashboards to self-learning maintenance management: we develop IoT platforms that measurably improve your operation. Every solution is custom-built and tailored to your specific hardware, data streams and business processes. We are not a supplier of off-the-shelf sensor packages; we build the software layer that makes your devices smart.
IoT dashboards & monitoring
We build IoT dashboards that visualise real-time sensor data and give you instant insight into the status of your assets, machines or environment. From temperature and humidity to energy consumption and production speeds. With configurable thresholds and automatic alerting, you know immediately when action is needed, even before problems occur. Our dashboards are built with Grafana, custom web applications or a combination of the two, depending on the complexity and the number of users working with them.
- Real-time data visualisation and KPI monitoring
- Configurable alerts and notifications
- Historical trend analysis and reporting
- Multi-device and multi-location overviews
Predictive maintenance
Predictive maintenance based on AI analysis of sensor data. Machine learning models learn the normal behaviour of your equipment and detect deviations that point to wear or failures. This way you schedule maintenance exactly when it is needed: not too early (wasted cost) and not too late (unplanned downtime). Predictive maintenance replaces traditional time-based maintenance with a condition-based approach that maximises the lifespan of your equipment.
- Anomaly detection on vibration and temperature data
- Remaining useful life (RUL) prediction
- Automatic maintenance scheduling
- Integration with existing business systems
Edge computing & gateways
Not all data needs to go to the cloud. With edge computing, we process sensor data locally on the gateway, close to the source. This delivers minimal latency, lower bandwidth costs and the ability to keep working offline. It is ideal for production environments, remote locations and scenarios where milliseconds matter. We deploy optimised AI models directly on edge devices, so critical decisions are made locally without depending on an internet connection.
- Local AI inference on edge devices
- Offline-capable architecture
- Low latency for time-critical processes
- Secure data synchronisation with the cloud
AI & IoT applications by sector
Combining AI and IoT delivers different value in every sector. The hardware and sensors may be similar, but the applications and AI models differ fundamentally from industry to industry. Below are the sectors where we see the greatest impact, with concrete applications we build. Also take a look at our AI development services for more possibilities.
Smart factory solutions
Production machines that report their own wear, automated quality checks and energy consumption optimised per production line. With IoT sensors on critical equipment and AI models that continuously analyse production parameters, we reduce unplanned downtime and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Think of vibration sensors on motors that flag wear early, or camera systems with computer vision that detect product defects in real time on the production line.
Connected fleet & supply chain
GPS tracking, temperature monitoring of cold chains, vibration monitoring of vehicles and real-time route optimisation. IoT sensors on vehicles and cargo, combined with AI-driven logistics algorithms, mean lower fuel costs, less damage and more accurate delivery times. Smart supply chain management with full visibility across the entire chain, from warehouse to delivery point. Integrating with your WMS or TMS through our API integration expertise makes the data available right where you need it.
Smart building management
Smart buildings that regulate their own climate, minimise energy consumption and predict maintenance needs. Sensors for temperature, CO2, occupancy and light intensity, linked to AI that automatically adjusts HVAC systems. The result: lower energy costs, greater comfort for users and less reactive maintenance. Ideal for office buildings, healthcare complexes and logistics centres where climate control is a major cost.
Precision farming & the food chain
Soil moisture sensors, weather data integration, crop monitoring via remote sensing and AI-driven irrigation systems. In the food chain, we monitor temperature and humidity from storage to shop shelf, with automatic alerts when HACCP limits are exceeded. Data-driven farming that increases yield and reduces waste. The agri sector benefits particularly from IoT because physical conditions (weather, soil, seasons) involve an enormous number of variables that AI is excellent at modelling.
Technology for AI & IoT projects
For each project, we choose the technology stack that best fits your scaling requirements, existing infrastructure and budget. From open-source protocols to enterprise cloud platforms: our experience with a wide range of IoT and AI technologies gives you the certainty that the right choice is made. A wrong technology choice early on can lead to scaling problems or vendor lock-in later. That is why we always advise based on your concrete requirements, not on trends.
IoT protocols & platforms
IoT communication requires lightweight, reliable protocols. MQTT is the industry standard for machine-to-machine communication: low bandwidth usage, a publish/subscribe model and support for thousands of simultaneous connections. For time-series data we use InfluxDB, optimised for storing and querying millions of data points per second. We choose between cloud-managed platforms such as AWS IoT Core and self-hosted solutions based on your data sovereignty requirements, expected data volume and operational capacity.
- MQTT and AMQP for reliable messaging
- InfluxDB and TimescaleDB for time-series data
- Grafana for dashboards and visualisation
- Node-RED for visual flow programming
- AWS IoT Core and Azure IoT Hub
AI & infrastructure
On the AI side, we combine proven machine learning frameworks with scalable container infrastructure. Python and TensorFlow for model training, Docker and Kubernetes for deployment, and a platform engineering approach that ensures everything runs reliably in production. MLOps principles ensure reproducible model training, automated testing and controlled rollout of new model versions to production.
- Python, TensorFlow and PyTorch for ML models
- Docker and Kubernetes for containerisation
- Apache Kafka for streaming data pipelines
- CI/CD pipelines for model deployment
- Monitoring with Prometheus and Grafana
Why Appfront for AI & IoT
AI and IoT projects need a partner who understands both the hardware and the software side. We combine AI expertise with knowledge of sensor integration, embedded systems and cloud architecture into an end-to-end approach. No separate components for you to stitch together yourself, but a fully integrated platform that can run in production from day one.
From sensor to dashboard
Hardware selection → Sensor integration → Data pipeline → AI analysis → Dashboard → Action
Agile and iterative
IoT projects are multidisciplinary by definition: hardware, firmware, backend, AI models and frontend all come together. We work in short sprints so you have a working prototype quickly. From there, we scale based on real usage data, not assumptions. Our IT operations expertise ensures your IoT platform runs reliably in production. Monitoring, alerting and automatic service restarts are standard parts of every deployment.
- Proof of concept within a few weeks
- Two-week sprints with working deliverables
- Continuous testing with real sensor data
Security-first approach
IoT devices are an attack surface by definition. Every sensor you add increases the potential entry points for attackers. That's why we build with security as a starting point, not an afterthought. Device authentication, encrypted communication, network segmentation and regular firmware updates are standard parts of every solution we deliver. Read more about our information security policy.
- Zero trust architecture for IoT networks
- End-to-end encryption of sensor data
- Automated vulnerability scanning
Security and privacy for IoT environments
IoT devices significantly increase your digital attack surface. Every connected device is a potential entry point. We tackle security at every layer: from the individual device to the cloud infrastructure. Privacy and GDPR compliance are not an afterthought but a design principle that is factored in from the very first architectural decision.
- Device-level authentication and certificate management
- End-to-end encryption of all data streams (TLS 1.3)
- Network segmentation: IoT traffic separated from the corporate network
- GDPR-compliant data collection and storage
- Over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates for patching
- Continuous monitoring for abnormal device behaviour
- Data minimisation: collecting only what is necessary
- Audit trails for all IoT data access
You can read more about our security approach in our information security policy.
Frequently asked questions about AI & IoT solutions
Ready for AI & IoT in your organisation?
From initial exploration to a fully operational IoT platform: we guide you through every step. Whether you want to start with an AI pilot, combine a chatbot with IoT data, or need a complete smart industry platform. We always start with a discovery session to understand your specific situation and validate feasibility. Take a look at our services or get in touch directly for a no-obligation conversation about the possibilities.