Digital Product Development Services
Connected hardware and the software that runs it, built by one team: firmware, cloud, mobile app and the device itself.
Written by Konstantin Dolgan, Ph.D., NPDP
Founder & CEO, Product Development Engineer
Published August 20, 2026
Digital product development services for connected hardware: firmware, cloud, mobile app and the device itself, from one team. Scope, phases and costs. Digital product development services cover a connected product end to end: the physical device, its electronics and firmware, the cloud services behind it, and the mobile or web app the customer actually touches.
Digital product development services cover a connected product end to end: the physical device, its electronics and firmware, the cloud services behind it, and the mobile or web app the customer actually touches. The value of buying them together is that one team owns the seams - the places where a hardware program usually loses months.
What is included
| Layer | What we deliver | Typical duration |
| Product definition | Requirements, user journeys, connectivity architecture, cost target | 2-3 weeks |
| Industrial and mechanical design | Concepts, CAD, enclosure design, thermal and sealing strategy | 4-8 weeks |
| Electronics | Schematic, PCB layout, component sourcing, EMC-aware design | 6-12 weeks |
| Firmware | Embedded application, power management, OTA update path, provisioning | 8-16 weeks |
| Cloud and data | Device APIs, telemetry storage, fleet management, access control | 6-12 weeks |
| Mobile / web app | Onboarding, pairing, control, notifications, account handling | 8-14 weeks |
| Certification and hand-off | FCC/CE pre-scan, safety testing, manufacturing package | 4-8 weeks |
Why the seams matter more than the parts
Most connected-product delays are not caused by hard engineering. They are caused by handoffs. The app team assumes the device will expose a field the firmware never captured. The antenna is finalized after the enclosure, so radio performance drops when the housing goes on. Provisioning is designed last, and the out-of-box experience becomes a permanent support cost.
Running the layers under one plan removes the negotiation. Antenna clearance is a mechanical requirement from week one. The device API is written before the app screens that consume it. Field-upgradeability is designed in, not bolted on after the first serious bug.
Typical budgets
| Program type | Scope | Typical budget |
| Sensor or tracker | Simple device, BLE, thin app | $75k - $150k |
| Connected consumer product | Custom enclosure, Wi-Fi/BLE, full app and cloud | $150k - $400k |
| Regulated or industrial device | Certification-heavy, fleet management, long life | $300k - $900k |
Ranges assume a first production-intent design, not a research program. They exclude injection tooling, certification lab fees and inventory. If you only need part of the stack, we scope the layer you are missing - most often firmware, or the cloud and app side attached to an existing mechanical design.
How the engagement runs
- Discovery and architecture - requirements, connectivity choice, and a costed plan you can fund in stages.
- Parallel design tracks - mechanical, electronics and software move together against one interface document.
- Integration builds - working units every four to six weeks so the app and the device are always tested against each other.
- Verification - performance, radio, safety and usability testing before design freeze.
- Manufacturing hand-off - full package, supplier support, first article inspection and production firmware.
Digital product development: common questions
What are digital product development services?
Digital product development services cover a connected product end to end: the physical device, its electronics and firmware, the cloud services behind it, and the mobile or web app the customer uses. Buying them together means one team owns the interfaces between those layers.
How much do digital product development services cost?
A simple sensor or tracker with a thin app typically runs $75,000 to $150,000. A connected consumer product with a custom enclosure, full app and cloud runs $150,000 to $400,000. Certification-heavy industrial or regulated products run $300,000 to $900,000. Tooling, lab fees and inventory are separate.
Can you take on only the software or only the hardware?
Yes. The most common partial engagements are firmware for an existing board, or the cloud and app layer attached to a mechanical design that already exists. We define the interface document first so the layer we build integrates with the one you own.
How long does a connected product take to develop?
Nine to eighteen months from concept to production for most connected consumer products. Radio certification, injection tooling and component lead times, not design hours, set the critical path.
Who owns the code and the design files?
You do. CAD, schematics, PCB layout, firmware repositories and application source are contractual deliverables assigned to you, including work by any subcontractor.
What founders say after working with us
“Konstantin has been so amazing and his entire team is A+. I researched and interviewed many product development companies across the country and ultimately decided on LA NPDT... and I'm so glad I did. The attention to detail and overall effort has been exactly what I needed and then some. If you are looking for a company to help you bring your product to life, look no further!”
William EvansCEO, Burple“This company is awesome. I run a medical device company and we required a number of accessories to be designed and built for our medical device. They delivered a polished design and printed the accessories on time using high-quality materials. I continue to work with them for all of our material needs.”
Matteo ZiffFounder, Virtual Vision“I highly recommend the LA New Product Development Team for any of your new product development needs. From the development of my concept to the actual prototype, the process was seamless. I especially loved the quick responsiveness, and I received regular updates during every stage, so I was never left wondering how things were going. The steps were clearly outlined, along with estimated costs.”
Dr. Sharada DamarajuFounder, Dignity & EmpowermentThree reasons founders keep working with us
- 1
One team from sketch to shipped parts. Industrial design, mechanical and electrical engineering, prototyping and manufacturing sit under one roof, so nothing is lost in a handoff.
- 2
You own the work. Native CAD, drawings and source files are yours at the end of every phase — no lock-in, no re-buying your own design later.
- 3
Fixed scope, fixed price. Every phase is quoted up front with a deliverable list and a date. No hourly meters, no surprise invoices.
If you ever thought of developing a new product, don’t wait any longer. Talk with one of our experts today.
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