Why Battery Life Matters for Real‑World IoT Applications

Smart homes are becoming the standard, but the Internet of Things (IoT) stretches far beyond consumer gadgets. From Amazon Dash buttons that automate grocery orders to smart doorbells that enhance home security, IoT is reshaping everyday life. Yet the true power of IoT lies in its ability to revolutionise industries that rely on real‑time data collection and remote monitoring.

Vanja Plicanic Samuelsson, founder and CEO of Qoitech, highlights that IoT’s reach spans every sector—consumer, corporate, and industrial—thanks to a diverse ecosystem of devices and applications.

IoT is Transforming Every Industry

Agriculture, manufacturing, and field research stand to gain the most from IoT. By tracking weather, soil moisture, animal behaviour, and machine performance, these sectors can reduce waste, improve yields, and pre‑empt costly failures.

In farming, smart sensors monitor climate and soil conditions, enabling variable‑rate irrigation and fertilisation that save water and boost crop output. Cameras, RFID tags, and GPS trackers help researchers study animal interactions over time, providing data that supports conservation and breeding programs.

Companies such as Sodaq and Herd Dogg have pioneered livestock‑tracking tags that monitor location, body temperature, and reproductive status. These solutions are invaluable for managing herds and protecting endangered species in wildlife reserves.

Industrial settings benefit similarly. Rather than overhauling entire production lines, manufacturers retrofit existing equipment with sensors that detect wear, predict failures, and schedule maintenance—tasks that historically required costly manual inspections.

Collecting continuous, actionable data empowers businesses to enhance competitiveness, sustainability, and product longevity. Regardless of the application, IoT’s promise hinges on one critical factor: reliable power.

Battery Life: The Biggest Hurdle for IoT

When a sensor’s battery dies, the consequences ripple through the system. A farmer might miss a critical irrigation window, a factory could halt production for a day, and researchers might lose a rare observation. For most consumer devices, batteries are charged daily from mains power, but that convenience disappears for mission‑critical IoT deployments.

Typical IoT sensor lifespans range from three to ten years, with the three‑year mark being the most realistic. Replacing batteries requires engineering visits and ongoing monitoring, eroding the very cost savings IoT promises.

Without dependable power and clear ROI, companies have little incentive to adopt IoT solutions, especially when implementation introduces new operational headaches.

Are We Close to a Battery Solution?

Recent advances in energy storage—lithium‑sulphur, sodium‑ion, and aluminium batteries—offer potential breakthroughs. However, maximizing battery life requires a holistic approach that balances hardware, firmware, and application design.

IoT manufacturers must collaborate early in the product cycle to minimise power draw, employing advanced power analysers that provide accurate, real‑time consumption data. Industry recognitions, such as the 2018 Elekra Awards, have highlighted five products that reimagine legacy power tools, signalling a shift toward more efficient designs.

By extending battery life and improving reliability, next‑generation power analysers will unlock IoT’s full potential across agriculture, research, and industry, delivering tangible benefits that justify the investment.

The author is Vanja Plicanic Samuelsson, founder and CEO of Qoitech.