French IoT firm Kerlink is working with SmartMakers, a German industrial IoT company, to launch a LoRaWan geolocation asset-tracking system.

It gives companies real-time location and status of their products and production systems. The products work indoors, outdoors and in transit.

Combining Kerlink’s Wirnet iFemtoCell LoRaWan indoor gateway and its iStation outdoor LoRaWan gateway with SmartMakers’ LoRaWan-based GPS trackers and ThingsHub platform, the tracker continuously monitors the location, condition and status of assets such as load carriers, shipments, containers, tools and equipment.

The system generates real-time information, which simplifies the work of logistics managers and operational teams. In large industrial facilities, it also wirelessly provides energy data from equipment, pump and motor states, and monitors condition values and levels.

In these customised LoRaWans, battery powered IoT sensors transmit these values for several years over long distances and deep inside buildings, freeing company personnel from time-consuming status checks, and allowing automated processes that were previously impossible. The data generated in this way form the basis for future changes in value and enable the operating team to generate a forecast from the retrospective for more delivery performance and competitiveness.

Security and scalability of the LoRaWan technology are provided by Kerlink’s Wanesy management centre, a carrier-grade LoRaWan network server and network management layer that ensures reliable implementation and operation of private IoT networks with fewer gateways, as well as nationwide rollouts with hundreds of gateways.

Business processes and entire supply chains can be improved by applicable IoT implementation and the ThingsHub IoT asset tracking, which allows scaling up from a local site to a global rollout.

“IoT asset tracking, which is designed for both internal and external supply-chain processes, combines SmartMakers and Kerlink IoT technology to update asset-tracking technologies,” said SmartMakers CEO Sebastian Stute. “In addition to streamlining essential onsite business processes, at the order-fulfilment level it enables customers to know asset locations even between checkpoints and eliminates the need for personnel to update status through barcode scans and manual entries.”

The system is said to eliminate costs of manual inventory checking or barcode scanning and reduce delays in work processes due to missing parts or equipment by up to 80 per cent. It also enables companies to increase use of logistical assets and equipment by up to 30 per cent.

“Kerlink gateways and Wanesy management centre provide a secure and future-proof solution to develop smart applications, such as IoT asset tracking,” said Kerlink account manager Etienne Ghidossi. “Our partnership with SmartMakers offers businesses of all sizes a state-of-the-art solution that boosts operational efficiency, improves customer service and accelerates their return on investment.”

Kerlink is a provider of connectivity for designing, launching and operating public and private IoT networks. Its portfolio includes industrial-grade network equipment, network core, operations and management software, value-added applications, and professional services, backed by R&D capabilities. The company specialises in providing intelligent IoT connectivity for smart cities, smart industry and smart territories.

It has deployed its hardware and software in more than 120,000 installations with more than 330 clients in 69 countries. Based in France, with subsidiaries in the USA, Singapore, India and Japan, Kerlink is a founding and board member of the LoRa Alliance and the uCIFI Alliance.

SmartMakers, founded in 2016, is a provider of IoT to enable companies of all sizes to improve their business processes. Its products combine IoT sensor technology, wireless networks and software to make operating data visible in real time.