Industrial Wireless Sensor Network Revenues
to Reach $13 Billion in 2023

Industrial wireless sensor networks (WSN) continue to expand into new markets with multi-protocol devices, maturing standards and ubiquitous IoT cloud platforms, according to a recently published report by ON World.  The report’s findings are based on an extensive 2018 survey completed with the International Society of Automation (ISA) and the LoRa Alliance™.

“Wireless sensor networks are connecting millions of assets, processes and workflows for the industrial IoT,” said Mareca Hatler, ON World’s research director. “Wireless mesh protocols, location services and low power wide area networks (LPWAN) are the technologies driving industrial WSN today.”

Unit shipments grew by 69% over the last two years due to a robust manufacturing sector and increased spending on oil and gas exploration and production.  Adoption of wireless mesh sensor standards such as WirelessHART, ISA100 Wireless and Wi-SUN are targeting new IoT applications such as wireless gas detection, worker safety and smart water networks.  Location-based services is one of the fastest growing markets including low-cost proximity sensing with Bluetooth Low Energy, precision real-time location systems (RTLS) with ultra-wideband and a variety of remote monitoring and tracking of fixed and mobile assets using LPWAN. 

LPWAN technologies LoRaWAN™, Sigfox and NB-IoT are disrupting industrial IoT markets with cloud connected, battery-powered wireless sensors and asset trackers that can communicate up to 30 kilometers. Disposable smart tags are the latest trend illustrated by Sigfox’s 20 cent tracker module prototype and Semtech’s disposable LoRa® Nanotag using an ultra-thin printed battery.  By using Time Difference on Arrival (TDOA) in geolocation-ready gateways, LoRaWAN™ enables location applications without GPS.

Competition is intensifying for short range wireless sensor network components and devices.  Multi-protocol devices mitigate the risk for end users while increasing the performance and functionality of WSN systems.  For example, Honeywell’s latest gateways and access points feature a single 802.15.4 radio that simultaneously communicate ISA100 Wireless and Wireless HART.  Many vendors are combining short-range radios such as Bluetooth and WiFi with LPWAN technologies illustrated by the multi-radio micro tracker and geolocation solution by Abeeway (Actility).

ON World’s survey found that three-quarters believe that wireless sensor networking and IoT are important strategic investment areas. The fastest growing WSN applications are asset tracking, corrosion/structural monitoring, factory automation and machine health monitoring. Forty-eight percent (48%) more respondents are planning asset tracking compared with a previous survey in Q4 2016.

Users’ satisfaction with WSN systems’ battery lifetime, network range and system integration have had the most improvement over the last two years. Security, cost and complexity are rated the biggest WSN adoption inhibitors.

In 2023, revenues for WSN equipment and associated services for industrial automation, agriculture and construction will surpass $13 billion up from $3 billion in 2017.

ON World’s report is based on input from 200+ individuals including in-depth phone interviews with industrial WSN vendors, suppliers and service providers as well as a Q2 2018 global survey completed in collaboration with ISA and the LoRa Alliance™.

More information about ON World’s report, “Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks,” and a free executive summary is available from: https://www.onworld.com/smartindustries

About ON World:
ON World provides business intelligence on Internet of Things markets. Since 2003, our market research has been used by Fortune 1000 companies, investors and IoT developers worldwide.

Media contact:
Mary Purvis
e: purvis at onworld.com
ph: 858-259-2397

*LoRaWAN™ is a mark used under license from the LoRa Alliance™. 

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