How do you choose the right IoT sensor supplier?
4 essential criteria to know
4 essential criteria to know
The Internet of Things (IoT) is now present in a wide range of business sectors. It can be used in a wide range of applications, including medical, industrial, smart city and smart building applications. With the Internet of Things, you can collect virtually any kind of data.
Choosing an IoT sensor supplier is not a decision to be taken lightly. The sensor is the first link in the data chain, and the rest of your IoT project will depend on it.
Below is a guide to the essentials you need to consider to make an informed choice and optimise your IoT investments.
Sensor reliability is the foundation of any successful IoT project. Your IoT sensor supplier must provide you with evidence of the good quality of their sensors. A poor-quality sensor can lead to inaccurate measurements, repeated failures and therefore additional costs.
First and foremost, it’s essential to choose the right sensor, the one that best suits your application. The first question to ask is what type of data you need. The type of data to be measured can be of various kinds: temperature, pressure, humidity, CO2, speed, luminosity, vibration, presence, etc… and this is what constitutes the real value in achieving the objectives linked to your IoT project.
IoT sensors are therefore designed to measure a wide variety of parameters. The precision and frequency with which data is sent must be adapted to your specific needs.
For example, an application in precision agriculture will require accurate measurements of soil moisture to optimise irrigation, while energy monitoring will require rigorous measurement of consumption in real time.
Some applications will require data to be sent in real time, on alert, as in the medical sector, for example, while others will require regular readings every x hour or day.
It is important to take into account the environment in which the sensor will be used (indoor, outdoor, industrial, domestic, etc.), as this can have a considerable influence on data detection. Depending on the type of environment, the type of sensor required will not be the same.
Certain environments, such as factories, outdoor spaces or high-risk areas, expose sensors to extreme conditions (heat, cold, vibrations, dust). Sensors must therefore be robust and reliable in the long term. Weather resistance (IP65 or better) or compliance with ATEX standards for explosive environments are criteria that need to be checked.
The lifespan of IoT sensors is also a key factor in ensuring optimum use without frequent interruptions. The energy consumption of sensors must be adapted to the way they are powered, whether they are battery-powered, connected to the grid or equipped with solar-powered recharging systems.
Battery-powered solutions, which are ideal for hard-to-reach environments, require high-performance energy management to extend their autonomy, sometimes up to 10 years. Mains-connected sensors, on the other hand, ensure continuity of operation, but installation can be more restrictive.
In places where access may be restrictive or difficult, it is preferable, wherever possible, to use a sensor with long autonomy to limit the need for technicians to travel and thus optimise operation.
Some sensors have a ‘standby’ mode when they are not active. This standby mode means that they consume virtually no energy, and therefore have a longer lifespan.
So opt for models that offer flexible energy options and consumption monitoring to anticipate maintenance needs. A well-chosen sensor not only optimises your costs, but also the efficiency of your connected operations.
Certifications and adherence to international standards are key indicators of the reliability of IoT sensors and their compatibility with your infrastructure. They ensure that products comply with recognised standards for safety, interoperability and performance.
Look for certifications such as CE, FCC or UL for regulatory compliance, as well as specific standards such as LoRa Alliance or Zigbee Alliance for communication protocols. These guarantees ensure easy integration, greater durability and protection against cyberthreats.
An IoT sensor supplier that complies with these standards offers solutions that are robust, secure and adapted to technological developments.
Type of data
Transmission frequency
Operating environment
Autonomy
Certifications
A good product is not enough: technical support can make all the difference. A competent IoT sensor supplier must support you throughout the life of your sensors.
Failures and malfunctions can occur even with high-quality products. Responsive technical support is essential to minimise service interruptions. It’s also essential that technical support is provided by technical experts who know the sensors inside out and can help you in any situation.
A quality IoT sensor supplier offers comprehensive documentation (manuals, technical data sheets, installation guides) and teaching aids such as videos and webinars. These tools enable your teams to quickly understand how the sensors work and to integrate them effectively into your processes.
Adopting IoT sensors involves more than just installing them: your teams need to be trained to make full use of them. A supplier that offers appropriate training and personalised support can help you get up to speed quickly and reduce errors.
Training covers installation, configuration and data analysis, in a variety of formats (face-to-face, webinars, online). Support goes further, including dedicated deployment support, audits and post-training follow-up.
Choosing a supplier committed to training ensures smooth adoption of technologies and maximises the performance of your IoT solutions.
Interoperability is an essential criterion for easily integrating sensors into your existing infrastructure. This avoids additional costs and ensures rapid implementation.
Choosing an IoT sensor compatible with your infrastructure’s communication protocols is vital to ensure smooth integration and efficient data transmission.
Among the most common protocols are LoRaWAN and Sigfox, known for their low power consumption and long-range, ideal for industrial applications and large-area deployments. For local environments, Zigbee and Z-Wave are favoured for their ability to create robust mesh networks.
It is crucial to ensure that your chosen sensors are compatible with your existing infrastructure and can adapt to future technological needs. Good interoperability reduces integration costs, avoids the complications associated with multiple gateways and guarantees scalability for your IoT projects. Wherever possible, opt for sensors with multi-protocol compatibility to maximise the flexibility and sustainability of your investments
The data collected by your sensors needs to be centralised, analysed and exploited via a platform. Seamless integration means that information from multiple sources can be centralised, processed in real-time and used to generate actionable insights.
Some sensors are designed for native compatibility with specific platforms, making them easy to commission thanks to standardised APIs or preconfigured connectors. Others offer customisable integration options via protocols such as HTTP, MQTT, or CoAP, ensuring maximum flexibility to meet complex needs.
Successful integration brings many benefits, including the ability to automate alerts, configure custom dashboards, and develop machine learning algorithms directly in the cloud. It also ensures scalability: you can easily add new sensors or extend your analyses without restructuring your infrastructure.
When choosing your IoT sensors, look for solutions that are compatible with the platforms you are already using or planning to adopt. This will enable you to maximise the profitability and performance of your project while simplifying the management of your data.
Technology evolves rapidly. Choose an IoT sensor supplier that offers regular updates and long-term compatibility to ensure that your sensors keep up with future innovations.
Firmware updates also play a central role in sensor maintenance. They help to correct bugs, optimise performance and guarantee security in the face of new cyber threats. Opt for sensors that offer remote updates to make deployment easier. By choosing solutions that can grow with your needs and benefit from regular enhancements, you can reduce long-term costs and ensure the long-term future of your IoT infrastructure in the face of technological advances.
A sustainable supplier also ensures peace of mind for your projects: they will be there to support you, address your evolving needs, and provide updates or improvements as technology advances. By choosing a robust partner, you secure the longevity of your investments while minimizing risks related to service interruptions or supply chain disruptions.
Some IoT sensor suppliers offer advanced maintenance services, such as remote monitoring of sensor performance or preventive detection of anomalies.
Proactive maintenance and remote diagnostics can optimise the performance of your IoT sensors while minimising downtime and operating costs. Thanks to remote diagnostics tools integrated into the sensors or IoT platforms, you can monitor critical parameters such as the battery, network connectivity or the accuracy of the data collected in real-time. Automatic alerts allow you to quickly detect anomalies, such as a drop in signal or a deviation in measurements, and take corrective action before the situation gets out of hand.
These features are particularly valuable for sensors installed in environments that are difficult to access. They reduce the need for costly and time-consuming physical intervention, while improving the availability and reliability of your connected equipment.
Choosing an IoT sensor supplier is a strategic decision that can have a major impact on your connected projects. By assessing product quality, technical support, compatibility and after-sales services, you can maximise your chances of success.
03/12/2024
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