Free e-book: IEEE 802.15.4ab vs IEEE 802.15.4z
Free e-book: IEEE 802.15.4ab

Cover the whole building - on the radio that's already in it.

needCode builds BLE Mesh networks that connect a whole building or site - hundreds to thousands of devices - on the Bluetooth radio already in everything, with no new wiring and no gateway in every room. Every node relays, so the network covers the space, heals around failures, and scales past the point where a hub-and-spoke design gives out. From the team that delivered the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack.
needCode IoT

We work with Industry Leaders

Most connectivity hits a ceiling. Mesh removes it.

Connect a few devices and any topology works. Connect a building and the usual approaches hit a wall: one radio's range covers a room, not a floor; a hub-and-spoke design needs a gateway everywhere and still leaves dead spots; pulling new wiring is slow and expensive. The coverage-and-scale ceiling is where most connected-building projects stall.

BLE Mesh removes the ceiling by making every node a relay. A message hops node to node across the whole space, the network heals around a failed or removed device, and it scales to thousands of nodes - all on the Bluetooth radio already designed into lights, sensors, and switches. needCode builds these networks, and delivered the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack to prove it at scale.

Whole-building coverage

Every node relays, so the network reaches across a floor or a site, not just a room.

Scales to thousands

Past the point a hub-and-spoke design gives out - proven in deployment at 1,000 nodes.

On a radio that's everywhere

BLE is already in the devices, so mesh adds coverage without new wiring or gateways.

How BLE Mesh solves it

Mesh removes the coverage-and-scale ceiling through four properties. Together they're what makes whole-building connectivity practical.

Every Node Relays

In a mesh, every device forwards messages for its neighbours, so coverage extends as far as the nodes do rather than stopping at one radio's range. Adding nodes extends the network instead of straining a central hub.

Self-Healing Topology

If a node fails or is removed, traffic reroutes around it automatically, so the network degrades gracefully instead of leaving a dead zone. Reliability comes from the topology, not from any single device staying up.

Scales to Thousands

A mesh grows to thousands of nodes without a central bottleneck, which is what lets it cover a whole building or estate. needCode has proven this in deployment at 1,000 nodes with 99.9% delivery.

On the BLE Radio You Already Have

Mesh runs on standard Bluetooth Low Energy - the radio already in lights, sensors, switches, and phones - so it adds whole-building connectivity without new wiring or a gateway in every room. The infrastructure cost is largely already paid.

Connecting a building or a fleet of devices?

Book a discovery call with our CEO

Where it's used

Mesh earns its place wherever many devices have to be connected across a large space. These are the most common.

Connected Lighting

The flagship BLE Mesh application - building-scale lighting control where every luminaire is a node and the network covers the whole floorplan. It's the domain where needCode's Silvair work helped define the standard.

Building & Facility Control

HVAC, access, environmental, and energy control across a building on one mesh, instead of separate wired systems. One network carries the whole building's device traffic.

Industrial Sensor Networks

Large sensor and actuator networks across a facility - condition monitoring and control on battery-powered nodes that have to last years. Mesh gives the coverage; needCode tunes the power budget.

Commercial IoT Estates

Retail, hospitality, and campus networks with thousands of endpoints, managed as one estate across many sites. Mesh covers each venue without a gateway in every corner.

Why teams build BLE Mesh with needCode

The world's first certified BLE Mesh stack

needCode delivered the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack, proven in deployment at 1,000 nodes - so a mesh network here is built by the team that helped establish the technology. It's the strongest mesh credential there is.

We co-authored the spec

needCode contributes to the Bluetooth SIG mesh specifications, so the network is built to the standard by people who helped write it. That shows up in interoperability and in the corners of the spec where shallow implementations fail.

Delivery proven at scale

Beyond the concept, needCode has shipped mesh provisioning, OTA, and reliability at the node counts where it gets genuinely hard. That delivery is what turns a mesh design into a network that holds.

Low-power mesh nodes

needCode tunes battery-powered mesh nodes in a dedicated lab, so a sensor network runs for years instead of becoming a battery-swap burden. Power is what decides whether a deployed mesh stays deployed.

Four ways to bring needCode in

From a network-design study to a deployed system. Delivery runs through the BLE Mesh at Scale service; this is where it starts.

01

Network Feasibility & Design

  • Duration:
    2–4 weeks
  • Best for:
    Deciding whether mesh fits, and designing the network for your space and scale
  • Deliverable:
    Feasibility assessment, network design, leadership readout

02

Mesh Network Build

  • Duration: 
    Phased
  • Best for:
    Building the network - stack, provisioning, and the device firmware
  • Deliverable:
    A working mesh network on target hardware

03

Deployment & Scale

  • Duration: 
    Phased
  • Best for:
    Rolling the network out across a full building or estate
  • Deliverable:
    Scaled deployment with OTA and monitoring (via BLE Mesh at Scale)

04

Long-Term Team

  • Duration: 
    Multi-year, retainer-based
  • Best for:
    Owning the mesh network across its life
  • Deliverable:
    An embedded mesh team - the Silvair model

What we ship on

We pick the silicon and mesh stack that match your network, its scale, and its power budget.

Mesh

BLE Mesh (certified stack)
provisioning
network-wide OTA
mesh models
network management

Silicon

Nordic nRF52 / nRF54
NXP
Silicon Labs
Espressif

Stack & standards

BLE 5.4 / 6.0
PAwR
Bluetooth SIG
anti-replay

Operations

Self-healing topology
monitoring
cloud integration
low-power (battery nodes)

Case studies

The proof for a mesh solution is a real network covering a real space, holding at scale.

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.
qorvo-logo-banner
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

A BLE Mesh network is a Bluetooth Low Energy network in which every device relays messages for its neighbours, so the network covers a whole building and scales to thousands of nodes instead of being limited to one radio's range. It's how Bluetooth connects a building, not just a pair of devices. needCode builds these networks, including the world's first certified BLE Mesh stack.

Regular Bluetooth and star topologies connect devices to a central hub, so coverage and capacity are limited by that hub and the radio's range, while a mesh has every node relay, extending coverage across a whole space and scaling far higher. Adding devices grows a mesh instead of straining a hub. That's why mesh suits buildings and estates rather than single rooms.

A BLE Mesh network scales to thousands of nodes without a central bottleneck, which is what lets it cover a whole building or a multi-site estate. needCode has proven mesh in deployment at 1,000 nodes with 99.9% delivery. The practical limit depends on topology and traffic, validated as the network is designed.

BLE Mesh runs on the Bluetooth radio already in lights, sensors, and switches, so it adds whole-building coverage without new wiring or a gateway in every room, with low power and self-healing reliability. WiFi suits high-bandwidth links but draws more power and needs access-point coverage, and wiring is slow and costly to add. needCode advises which fits a given project rather than defaulting to mesh.

The most common uses are connected lighting and building control, large industrial sensor and actuator networks, and commercial IoT across retail, hospitality, and campuses. Connected lighting is the original and best-proven application. needCode builds across these, tuning the network and power budget to each.

Yes - a well-built mesh is self-healing, rerouting traffic around a failed or removed node so the network degrades gracefully rather than leaving a dead zone, and needCode has proven 99.9% delivery at 1,000 nodes. Reliability at scale comes from the topology and careful engineering, not from any single device. It's validated in the real environment as the network grows.

needCode does both - network design here, and full delivery (provisioning, OTA, network management, and scale-up) through the BLE Mesh at Scale service. A project can start with a feasibility and design study and continue straight into a deployed, maintained network. The same team carries it from concept to a network that holds.

Yes - many mesh nodes, especially sensors, run on coin cells expected to last years, and needCode tunes node power consumption in a dedicated lab so a deployed network doesn't become a battery-swap burden. Power is as much a part of mesh design as coverage. It's measured on instruments rather than estimated.

BLE Mesh isn't the best fit for a handful of devices, for high-bandwidth needs like streaming, or where very low latency point-to-point matters more than whole-area coverage - there a direct BLE link or WiFi may serve better. Mesh shines at coverage and scale, not at every connectivity problem. needCode will say so when a simpler approach fits, rather than selling a mesh you don't need.

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.