Unlocking Success in LoRaWAN Deployments: The Power of Quality and Volume

Key Takeaways

LoRaWAN is emerging as the preferred protocol for smart cities and utilities, with predictions from ABI Research supporting its growth by 2026.
Concept13, led by CEO Steven Drewett, emphasizes the importance of selecting reliable manufacturers over cheaper alternatives to avoid long-term costs.
Collaborating with leading European companies, Concept13 provides a comprehensive solution, ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness for IoT deployments.

LoRaWAN’s Growing Impact on Smart Technology

LoRaWAN is gaining traction as a robust protocol for smart buildings, cities, and utilities. As the CEO of LoRa Alliance, Alper Yegin, pointed out, the technology’s versatility and application are vast, likening it to Lego with opportunities limited only by imagination. With standardization and global adoption in place, predictions from ABI Research indicate that LoRaWAN will become the leading non-cellular Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) network technology by 2026.

In the context of this emerging technology, Steven Drewett, CEO of Concept13, highlights the importance of making informed deployment decisions. Concept13 operates both as a consultancy and as a major supplier of LoRaWAN hardware in Europe. From his extensive experience, Drewett notes that he often advises clients against using LoRaWAN if it is not suitable for their needs, sharing that his team has successfully deployed solutions in over 90 countries.

Successful LoRaWAN implementations require a collaborative effort among various stakeholders. Concept13 partners with leading European manufacturers, including MClimate, Elsys, and Synetica, to produce high-quality sensors, alongside MultiTech for gateways and LORIOT for network management. This collaboration addresses 95% of sensor needs in sectors like smart buildings, energy, and environmental monitoring.

Drewett expresses concern over companies opting for cheaper alternatives, which may initially appear appealing but lead to high costs due to frequent hardware failures, replacements, and maintenance. By focusing on established EU and UK manufacturers, Concept13 aims to provide a higher quality product while keeping costs manageable through bulk acquisition.

Drewett emphasizes the pitfalls of rushing into new technologies, warning that many firms compromise reliability by choosing untested manufacturers based on price rather than investment in quality. He cites the imbalance where the cost of installation often exceeds the sensor’s initial price, leading to unsustainable business models. Many companies may abandon IoT or LoRaWAN due to early negative experiences stemming from selecting low-quality options.

To promote the long-term advantages of their products, Concept13 will be participating in the IoT Tech Expo Europe scheduled for September 24-25, where the focus will be on the benefits of partnering with top-tier manufacturers. “If you want the lifetime value out of the sensors, and if you don’t want to keep revisiting every year to change batteries, then choose Concept13,” Drewett asserts, stressing the importance of reliability and sustained performance.

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