Interview with Belén Arranz from Sigfox

During the past Meet and Talk Congress, we had the opportunity to chat with Belén Arranz, Sales Director at Sigfox Spain. As an expert in IoT communications, we had an interesting interview, and here is both the transcript and the video:

What Can Sigfox Technology Contribute to the Industrial Sector and Infrastructure Management?

What has been done so far is a lot of wiring, a lot of systems that need continuous monitoring, real-time control systems with a lot of data transfer, and in this field SIGFOX does not add anything new, it does not offer any competitive advantage over bus systems, for example.

However, where SIGFOX can add value is in new business models, or in new ways to optimize current processes that consist, for example, of locating or remotely controlling devices, assets, equipment, or any sensor located geographically or in motion.

Could You Cite some Application Examples?

Sigfox has a lot of potential and its applications are endless. When you share Sigfox technology with the industry, that is when numerous applications begin to be identified, and some of them are very curious.

For example, in brewing companies it is extremely important that their beer is served correctly in bars and restaurants, with the appropriate temperature and quality. It is vital for them to have a device that controls these parameters since their image and brand are behind it. Until now this was not viable, the cost was very high and telecommunications did not facilitate it. With Sigfox you can consider this type of application in real time due to its low cost.

Another application, for example, with steel companies that distribute steel to companies in the automotive sector. For this company it is very important to control that the steel tube that is being sent arrives in optimal conditions to the customer, in such a way that they place a sensor or several sensors in the steel batches with accelerometers being able to detect blows, or check the levels of corrosion, the temperature to which they are subjected, etc… And as in the previous case, if with the sensor in the beer barrel we could know its level in real time and this would make it easier for us to improve the provision of new barrels, in this case something similar would happen, if your client has opened the last batch you can directly know the stock they have and anticipate their needs by preparing a new shipment.

Another example could be the use of Sigfox in companies that are dedicated to quality controls and control of any process. For them, it is very beneficial to have a device with Sigfox communications and with a couple of digital inputs and outputs to be able to launch orders when a temperature change occurs, a door is opened, the copper is being stolen from a lamppost… the examples of the applications of Sigfox technology are endless.

At what point in the value chain of the Sigfox offer is the alliance with Logitek and Wonderware technology located?

On the one hand, Wonderware technology as a software platform has been integrated into Sigfox in several countries, and in the Spanish case by Logitek. This integration has been seen with great potential in order to manage in real time information captured from different devices. In this way, developments beyond the sensor are avoided and the possibility of using market solutions such as Wonderware is offered.

On the other hand, Logitek offers an added value to this value chain that differentiates it from the competition by being able to identify the client’s needs, and without becoming an integrator, offer personalized solutions to the client.