From prototype to series: The development process of a...

This article is part of our series about [Bluetooth](/performance/system integration) Low Energy. You can find the comprehensive guide here: The ultimate guide to [BLE](/services/system integration) App Development in Germany (2026)

From prototype to series: the development process of a BLE application

The development of a market-ready product with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a journey with many stages. It is a complex interaction of hardware, firmware and software that requires careful planning and execution. Many companies underestimate the complexity that goes beyond the pure app development. In this article we will guide you through the typical phases of a BLE project – from the first idea to the functional prototype to the certification and start of series production.

The development process in 6 steps

**Phase 1: Requirements Analysis and Concept * * Everything starts with an idea. In this first crucial phase, the basic questions are resolved: what problem should the product solve? Who is the target group? What functions does it have to have? Here the requirements for the entire system – hardware, firmware and app – are defined and stored in a load booklet. It is also the time to conduct a first market analysis and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the project.

Phase 2: Hardware prototyping (Proof of Concept) In this phase, the idea becomes tangible. The goal is to quickly create a first functional prototype, a so-called "Proof of Concept" (PoC). Standard development boards (e.g. Nordic Semiconductor or Espressif) are often used to test the basic functionality without having to develop an expensive, individual hardware immediately. You test the sensors, the BLE connection and the basic interaction with a simple test app.

**Phase 3: Firmware Development and GATT Design * * Parallel to hardware development, programming of firmware begins. A central point is the design of the GATT profile (Generic Attribute Profiles). GATT defines the structure of how data are exchanged via BLE – in the form of "services" and "characteristics". A clean and well thought-out GATT profile is the basis for stable and efficient communication between the device and the mobile app.

Phase 4: App Development (UI/UX and Logic) Now the mobile app comes into play. Based on the concept created in phase 1, the user interface (UI) and the user experience (UX) are designed. The developers implement the BLE communication logic to connect to the device, read the GATT profile and visualize the data appealingly. At this stage, work is done in agile sprints to regularly get feedback and gradually improve the app.

**Phase 5: Integr