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BLE SDK development that nails the hard parts

needCode builds production BLE SDKs and firmware where it's genuinely hard - power consumption, multi-connection stability, and BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding ranging. Proprietary PBR solvers for the integer-ambiguity problem NXP, TI, and Infineon don't solve internally; a dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab; and SDK work by Bluetooth SIG contributors who delivered the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack.
needCode IoT

We work with Industry Leaders

BLE is easy to start and hard to ship. The hard parts are where SDKs fail.

A "hello world" BLE connection takes an afternoon. A shippable BLE product is a different problem: battery life that meets the spec under real traffic, a stack that stays stable across dozens of simultaneous connections, and - increasingly - Channel Sounding ranging accurate enough for a digital key. These are the parts where a generic SDK quietly underperforms, and where a chipset's getting-started demo stops being enough.

needCode builds for exactly those parts. Our BLE engineers came from the silicon vendors, co-authored Bluetooth SIG specifications, and run a dedicated Power Optimization Lab — and our proprietary PBR solvers close the integer-ambiguity gap that makes Channel Sounding ranging viable, a gap the major vendors don't fill themselves.

Proprietary ranging solvers

PBR solvers for the integer-ambiguity problem in BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding - depth NXP, TI, and Infineon don't have internally.

A dedicated Power Lab

Battery life tuned and measured in a real lab, not estimated - because power is where BLE products live or die.

Built by standards authors

SDK work by Bluetooth SIG contributors who shipped the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack.

What a production BLE SDK includes

A BLE SDK that ships products is four layers - and needCode builds all four, including the ones a quick demo skips.

Stack & Connection Firmware

BLE 5.4 and 6.0 firmware: GATT/GAP, multi-connection stability, PAwR, and the connection management that holds under real traffic. Documented stability issues solved on NXP, TI, and Infineon platforms.

Channel Sounding & Ranging

BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding with proprietary PBR solvers for integer-ambiguity resolution - phase-based ranging accurate enough for digital keys and proximity, where signal-strength estimates aren't.

Power Optimization

Battery life tuned and measured in the BLE Power Optimization Lab - across connection parameters, sleep, and radio scheduling. The difference between a datasheet figure and a product that actually lasts in the field.

SDK, Tooling & Maintenance

Demo apps, clean APIs, docs-as-code, and SDK maintenance across nRF Connect, ModusToolbox, and MCUXpresso - owned across releases, with automated Bluetooth qualification.

Need a BLE SDK that survives production?

Book a discovery call with our CEO

What your BLE SDK powers

needCode builds the SDK with the product on top in view, across the BLE use cases.

Digital Keys & Secure Ranging

BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding distance bounding for digital keys and relay-attack resistance - the secure-ranging layer that makes phone-as-key trustworthy.

BLE Mesh at Scale

Mesh firmware proven at 1,000 nodes, 99.9% delivery - smart buildings and industrial sites.

Connected & Wearable Products

Low-power BLE for medical, consumer, and IoT devices where battery life is the product.

Across the ICP

Chipset SDKs for semiconductor vendors, in-vehicle BLE for automotive, device connectivity for IoT.

Why teams bring needCode in for BLE SDKs

Engineers from the BLE silicon vendors

Our team includes engineers with production experience at Nordic Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, and Silicon Labs. They know the stack and the silicon's behaviour - not a learning curve you fund.

Proprietary PBR ranging solvers

We close the integer-ambiguity gap in BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding that the major vendors don't solve internally - making Channel Sounding ranging viable for digital keys and proximity. It's the hardest part of BLE ranging, and it's ours.

A dedicated Power Optimization Lab

Battery life measured and tuned in a real lab. Power is where BLE products succeed or fail, so we treat it as an engineering discipline with instruments, not an estimate.

Standards authors

Active in the Bluetooth SIG, co-authors of BLE Mesh specifications and the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack - your SDK is built to the spec by a team shaping it.

Four ways to bring needCode in

From a one-month audit to a multi-year partnership. We tailor the engagement to where the SDK is in its lifecycle.

01

SDK Audit & Roadmap

  • Duration:
    2–4 weeks
  • Best for:
    An existing BLE SDK needing external assessment - often a power or stability review
  • Deliverable:
    Audit report, prioritised remediation roadmap, leadership readout

02

Greenfield BLE SDK & Bring-Up

  • Duration: 
    Phased
  • Best for:
    New BLE silicon or a new product where the SDK is built from zero
  • Deliverable:
    Stack and connection firmware, Channel Sounding, demo apps, working reference

03

SDK Modernisation

  • Duration: 
    Phased
  • Best for:
    A mature BLE SDK needing a power-optimization pass, a Channel Sounding upgrade, or multi-connection stability fixes
  • Deliverable:
    Measured power gains, stability fixes, refactored components, updated CI and docs

04

Long-Term Team Extension

  • Duration: 
    Multi-year, retainer-based
  • Best for:
    Vendors who want needCode integrated with the full SDK release process
  • Deliverable:
    An embedded BLE engineering team inside your cadence - the model behind the 30-FTE Qorvo programme

What we ship on

No religious wars 8 we pick the silicon, SDK, and toolchain that match your product and its lifecycle.

BLE silicon

Nordic nRF52 / nRF54
NXP
Texas Instruments
Silicon Labs
Espressif (ESP32)
Qorvo

Stack & standards

BLE 5.4
BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding
GATT / GAP
PAwR
BLE Mesh
Bluetooth SIG

Ranging

BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding
proprietary PBR (phase-based ranging) solvers

SDKs & toolchains

nRF Connect SDK
ModusToolbox
MCUXpresso
Simplicity Studio
Zephyr
FreeRTOS

Tooling, security & OTA

BLE Power Optimization Lab
CI/test
PSA Crypto
automated Bluetooth qualification (PTS)
secure boot
signed firmware
TF-M

Case studies

A PoC is only worth the honesty of its measurement, and that rests on a real lab and real practice.

Qorvo: RF Leadership

Context: Rapid scaling for new chipset bring-up.
  • Scale: Grew from <10 to 30 FTEs.
  • Output: Supported bring-up of 9 new hardware platforms (SDKs, Drivers, Stacks).
  • Retention: Zero-churn core team retained for 5+ years.
Dedicated Development Center for RF Solutions
Bluetooth Mesh Smart Lighting Control System

Smart Lighting: Core R&D Extension

Context: Client needed deep, specialized expertise to pivot from proprietary tech to a new global standard.
  • Service: Deployed a dedicated squad of embedded engineers to function as the client's core R&D team.
  • Output: Co-authored official Bluetooth SIG protocols and delivered the world’s first certified BLE Mesh stack.
  • Value: Enabled the client to secure Series A funding and defined the industry standard for smart buildings.

Creative Werks: Innovation rescue

Context: Hardware obsolescence threatened production shutdown.
  • Action: Full-stack takeover (PCB redesign + Firmware + Mobile App).
  • ROI: 1230% ($1.6M value generated).
  • Speed: Payback period of 2–3 months.
NeedCode-case study - IoT Solution for Boat Lift Modernization - cover2s
needcode-powerpolen-case-study-cover2s

PowerPollen: AgTech automation

Context: Lack of internal expertise stalled a critical automation project.
  • Action: Re-architected system using unified MCU and ISOBUS standards.
  • ROI: 13.8x ($2.9M value generated).
  • Impact: Enabled $1.9M increase in harvester value.

Strategic Partnership

needCode is an official business partner of Qorvo, bringing over 8 years of proven expertise and trusted service to the technology sector.
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UWB-Alliance-logo-banner

Members of the UWB Alliance

In 2025 we became a member of the UWB Alliance. This strategic step reinforces our commitment to pioneering Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology.

Proudly Certified for Excellence and Security

needCode is officially certified for:
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 – Information Security
ISO certifications reflect our focus on delivering reliable IoT solutions, smart product development, and secure technology services.
ISO 9001_2015ISO - IEC 27001_2022

Testimonials

“I think the key takeaway from needCode is their ability to adapt and understand the customer's requirements. That took away probably a large portion of what could have been a lot of development time and expense for both companies.”
Bob Folkestad
Bob Folkestad
President at Creative Werks
“One aspect that truly sets needCode apart is its profound expertise in firmware development. Their proficiency in various programming languages, embedded systems and hardware architecture is truly impressive. When faced with difficult problems, their strong problem-solving skills and analytical mindset shine through, allowing them to overcome obstacles with remarkable ease.”
avatar Semeh Sarhan
Semeh Sarhan
CEO at Xtrava
“I worked with needCode while leading the NWTN-Berlin team in 2018. A big chunk for our FW development has been outsourced to them and they had proven to iterate very quickly, following specs and deliver on time. It was great working with them. I recommend working with needCode’s team on any Embedded SW development.”
avatar Marco Salvioli Mariani
Marco Salvioli Mariani
CTO at NWTN Berlin GmbH
“needCode Team proved to be one of the best engineers I have ever met. The part I like the most about the team is the more difficult an obstacle seems to be, the more motivated they were to find a solution and a way forward.”
A Testimonial picture
Szymon Słupik
CTO at Silvair
“needCode is an outstanding partner. Their quick follow-up, scalability, and extensive professional network set them apart. Their expertise in wireless technologies has been valuable, supporting us from low-level drivers to architecture discussions.”
avatar Tim Allemeersch
Tim Allemeersch
Director at Qorvo, Inc.
“needCode did a great job improving the firmware of the Vai Kai connected toys and developing new features, surpassing our expectations multiple times. I would definitely recommend hiring Bartek and needCode for the embedded software projects!”
avatar Matas Petrikas
Matas Petrikas
CEO & Co-founder
at Vai Kai UG

Insights

FAQ

Yes - needCode develops BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding firmware, including proprietary PBR (phase-based ranging) solvers for the integer-ambiguity problem that makes Channel Sounding ranging accurate. This is the secure-ranging layer behind digital keys and proximity, where signal-strength estimates fall short. needCode also builds BLE 5.4 stacks and the connection firmware around them.

PBR solvers resolve the integer-ambiguity problem in phase-based ranging - the mathematical step that turns a BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding phase measurement into an accurate distance. They matter because without them Channel Sounding ranging isn't reliable enough for a digital key, and per needCode's experience the major silicon vendors don't solve this internally. needCode's solvers are proprietary and a core BLE differentiator.

Yes - needCode runs a dedicated BLE Power Optimization Lab where battery life is measured and tuned across connection parameters, sleep behaviour, and radio scheduling, rather than estimated. Power is where most BLE products succeed or fail, so it is treated as an instrumented engineering discipline. The output is a measured improvement, not a datasheet figure.

Yes - needCode has solved documented BLE multi-connection stability problems on NXP, TI, and Infineon platforms, where a stack that works with a few connections degrades under dozens. This is exactly the kind of unglamorous depth that decides whether a product ships. It is a common reason teams bring needCode into an existing SDK.

needCode works across the BLE silicon and SDKs used in production, including Nordic (nRF Connect SDK), NXP (MCUXpresso), Silicon Labs (Simplicity Studio), Infineon (ModusToolbox), Espressif (ESP32), and Qorvo. Our engineers include people who shipped at these vendors. We pick the toolchain that matches your silicon and lifecycle.

Yes - needCode's team co-authored official Bluetooth SIG mesh specifications and delivered the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack, with mesh proven at 1,000 nodes and 99.9% delivery. This covers smart-building and industrial mesh networks at scale. BLE Mesh at scale is also available as a dedicated service.

Yes - needCode builds BLE 6.0 Channel Sounding distance bounding for digital keys and relay-attack resistance, using its proprietary PBR ranging solvers. This is the BLE side of a secure access system, often paired with UWB for the highest-assurance use cases. It supports CCC and Aliro digital-key designs.

A vendor SDK gets you connected; a production SDK ships a product that meets its power, stability, and ranging targets - which is where vendor SDKs typically stop. needCode builds production-grade firmware tuned for battery life and stability, with Channel Sounding and qualification handled, and you own the result. The difference shows up in the field, not the demo.

Yes - needCode runs Bluetooth SIG qualification and has automated the PTS process, taking it from weeks of manual testing to an overnight job. This shortens the path to a qualified product and reduces first-attempt failures. Qualification is treated as part of SDK delivery, not a separate scramble at the end.

Yes - needCode modernises and maintains existing BLE SDKs, including power-optimization passes, Channel Sounding upgrades, multi-connection stability fixes, RTOS portability, and ongoing release management. This suits an SDK that has outgrown the team maintaining it. The engagement runs as fixed-scope modernisation or an ongoing team extension.

Let's work on your next project together

Book a demo and discovery call with our CEO
to get a look at:
Strategic Expertise
End-to-End Solutions
Advanced Technology
Custom Hardware Devices
Bartek Kling
Bartek Kling / CEO
© 2026 needCode. All rights reserved.

Manufacturing

Modern manufacturing machines are typically equipped with IoT sensors that capture performance data. AIoT technology analyzes this sensor data, and based on vibration patterns, the AI predicts the machine's behavior and recommends actions to maintain optimal performance. This approach is highly effective for predictive maintenance, promoting safer working environments, continuous operation, longer equipment lifespan, and less downtime. Additionally, AIoT enhances quality control on production lines.

For example, Sentinel, a monitoring system used in pharmaceutical production by IMA Pharma, employs AI to evaluate sensor data along the production line. The AI detects and improves underperforming components, ensuring efficient machine operation and maintaining high standards in drug manufacturing.

Logistics & supply chain

IoT devices - from fleet vehicles and autonomous warehouse robots to scanners and beacons - generate large amounts of data in this industry. When combined with AI, this data can be leveraged for tracking, analytics, predictive maintenance, autonomous driving, and more, offering greater visibility into logistics operations and enhancing vendor partnerships.

Example: Amazon employs over 750,000 autonomous mobile robots to assist warehouse staff with heavy lifting, delivery, and package handling tasks. Other examples include AI-powered IoT devices such as cameras, RFID sensors, and beacons that help monitor goods' movement and track products within warehouses and during transportation. AI algorithms can also estimate arrival times and forecast delays by analyzing traffic conditions.

Retail

IoT sensors monitor movement and customer flow within a building, while AI algorithms analyze this data to offer insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This information enhances understanding of customer behavior, helps prevent stockouts, and improves customer analytics to drive sales. Furthermore, AIoT enables retailers to deliver personalized shopping experiences by leveraging geographical data and individual shopping preferences.

For instance, IoT sensors track movement and customer flow, and AI algorithms process this information to reveal insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This ultimately leads to better customer understanding, stockout prevention, and enhanced sales analytics.

Agriculture

Recent research by Continental reveals that over 27% of surveyed farmers utilize drones for aerial land analysis. These devices capture images of crops as they are and transmit them to a dashboard for further assessment. However, AI can enhance this process even further.

For example, AIoT-powered drones can photograph crops at various growth stages, assess plant health, detect diseases, and recommend optimal harvesting strategies to maximize yield. Additionally, these drones can be employed for targeted crop treatments, irrigation monitoring and management, soil health analysis, and more.

Smart Cities

Smart cities represent another domain where AIoT applications can enhance citizens' well-being, facilitate urban infrastructure planning, and guide future city development. In addition to traffic management, IoT devices equipped with AI can monitor energy consumption patterns, forecast demand fluctuations, and dynamically optimize energy distribution. AI-powered surveillance cameras and sensors can identify suspicious activities, monitor crowd density, and alert authorities to potential security threats in real-time, improving public safety and security.

For example, an AIoT solution has been implemented in Barcelona to manage water and energy sustainably. The city has installed IoT sensors across its water supply system to gather water pressure, flow rate, and quality data. AI algorithms analyze this information to identify leaks and optimize water usage. Similarly, smart grids have been introduced to leverage AI to predict demand and distribute energy efficiently, minimizing waste and emissions. As a result, these initiatives have enabled the city to reduce water waste by 25%, increase renewable energy usage by 17%, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 19%.

Healthcare

Integrating AI and IoT in healthcare enables hospitals to deliver remote patient care more efficiently while reducing the burden on facilities. Additionally, AI can be used in clinical trials to preprocess data collected from sensors across extensive target and control groups.

For example, intelligent wearable technologies enable doctors to monitor patients remotely. In real-time, sensors collect vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. AI algorithms then analyze this data, assisting doctors in detecting issues early, developing personalized treatment plans, and enhancing patient outcomes.

Smart Homes

The smart home ecosystem encompasses smart thermostats, locks, security cameras, energy management systems, heating, lighting, and entertainment systems. AI algorithms analyze data from these devices to deliver context-specific recommendations tailored to each user. This enables homeowners to use utilities more efficiently, create a personalized living space, and achieve sustainability goals.

For example, LifeSmart offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered IoT tools for smart homes, connecting new and existing intelligent appliances and allowing customers to manage them via their smartphones. Additionally, they provide an AI builder framework for deploying AI on smart devices, edge gateways, and the cloud, enabling AI algorithms to process data and user behavior autonomously.

Maintenance (Post-Release Support)

When your product is successfully launched and available on the market we provide ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure your product remains competitive and reliable. This includes prompt resolution of any reported issues through bug fixes and updates.

We continuously enhance product features based on user feedback and market insights, optimizing performance and user experience.

Our team monitors product performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and proactively addresses potential issues. This phase aims to sustain product competitiveness, ensure customer satisfaction, and support long-term success in the market.

Commercialization (From MVP to Product

Our software team focuses on completing the full product feature range, enhancing the user interface and experience, and handling all corner cases. We prepare product software across the whole lifecycle by providing all necessary procedures, such as manufacturing support and firmware upgrade.

We also finalize the product's hardware design to ensure robustness, scalability and cost-effectiveness.

This includes rigorous testing procedures to validate product performance, reliability, and security. We manage all necessary certifications and regulatory compliance requirements to ensure the product meets industry standards and legal obligations.

By the end of this phase, your product is fully prepared for mass production and commercial deployment, with all documentation and certifications in place.

Prototyping (From POC to MVP)

Our development team focuses on implementing core product features and use cases to create a functional Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We advance to refining the hardware design, moving from initial concepts to detailed PCB design allowing us to assemble first prototypes. Updated documentation from the Design phase ensures alignment with current project status. A basic test framework is established to conduct preliminary validation tests.

This prepares the product for real-world demonstrations to stakeholders, customers, and potential investors.

This phase is critical for validating market readiness and functionality before proceeding to full-scale production.

Design (From Idea to POC)

We meticulously select the optimal technology stack and hardware components based on your smart product idea with detailed use cases and feature requirements (Market Requirements Document / Business Requirements Document). Our team conducts thorough assessments of costs, performance metrics, power consumption, and resource requirements.

Deliverables include a comprehensive Product Requirements Document (PRD), detailed Software Architecture plans, an Initial Test Plan outlining validation strategies, Regulatory Compliance Analysis to ensure adherence to relevant standards, and a Proof of Concept (POC) prototype implemented on breakout boards.

This phase aims to validate the technical feasibility of your concept and establish a solid foundation for further development.

If you lack a validated idea and MRD/BRD, consider utilizing our IoT Strategic Roadmap service to gain insights into target markets, user needs, and desired functionality. Having a structured plan in the form of an IoT Strategic Roadmap before development begins is crucial to mitigate complications in subsequent product development phases.