Japanese IoT connectivity company Soracom is providing mission-critical cellular IoT connectivity to remote monitoring and control systems at Charge Analytics’ regulated industrial settings.

These include construction, manufacturing, mining and chemical production sites where the systems transmit real-time indoor and outdoor industrial plant data such as air quality, pressure, temperature, air flow, humidity and other metrics to secure cloud platforms for data logging and remote access, analysis and technical support.

Reliable IoT connectivity is important to Massachusetts-based Charge Analytics because the locations its customers monitor may often be in remote areas. Even in locations such as factories or power plants that may offer some wifi coverage, establishing connectivity and staying connected to those networks isn’t always possible, and can create potential security risks.

Charge Analytics selected Soracom to provide reliable cellular connectivity that simplifies sending data to the cloud, no matter where monitoring is required. Another priority for Charge Analytics is to maintain low upfront hardware costs and subscription fees while offering robust systems that are easy to install and operate. Simplicity is paramount and allows users to achieve both cost and time savings quickly while improving safety and enhancing operational efficiencies.

In addition to offering multicarrier plans priced for low data volumes, Soracom also provided the ability for SIM cards to hibernate between testing and deployment, saving costs.

“Continuous air quality monitoring is a mission-critical concern in many highly regulated industries, and reliable connectivity is necessary,” said Gerry Kaelin, Charge Analytics’ director of business development. “It enables important plant data to be available remotely, from the convenience of any device, anywhere.”

Ed Cline, Charge Analytics’ technical director, added: “Soracom worked closely with us to identify the connectivity features that best serve our needs and were key to us launching and scaling quickly. Their technical support has been exceptional.”

The ability for Charge Analytics to help customers deliver real-time expert technical assistance from any global location via Soracom connectivity provides an advantage, helping ensure compliance with environmental standards and increase overall plant efficiencies. These hazardous environments are also subject to strict regulations, with potential implications for compensation claims, lawsuits and regulatory action if air quality standards are not maintained.

“Emerging solutions like advanced IoT monitoring and control systems are critical in helping us all meet the demand for healthier, safer workspaces,” said Kenta Yasukawa, CTO of Soracom. “It’s our mission to serve IoT innovators like Charge Analytics by delivering highly capable connectivity and expert support so they can take full control of their networks, connect easily to their cloud of choice, and scale deployments from hundreds of devices to millions.”

Founded in 2015, Soracom now serves more than 20,000 start-ups, SMBs and global enterprises across all industries, from agriculture, energy, construction and transportation to consumer electronics, manufacturing, real estate and healthcare.

Charge Analytics provides turn-key platforms that integrate smart cloud-connected diagnostic controllers, gateways and battery-powered sensor nodes for a broad range of industrial applications.