LoRaWAN for IIoT, simplifying machine connectivity

Learn how integrating legacy systems with modern LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) technology and Alleantia's plug&play solutions can transform industrial digitalization.

Industrial digitalization is no longer a vision, it’s a vital necessity.

• What is LoRaWAN in the IoT?
• The challenges of diverse connectivity
• How LoRaWAN Gateways Simplify Machine Communication
• The Practical Benefits of Alleantia Integration
• How to Implement LoRaWAN with Alleantia

Leveraging the lorawan protocol, industries can achieve an optimized data rate and minimal power consumption, essential for robust iot applications.

Yet, many businesses find themselves juggling multiple connectivity technologies just to keep pace with the evolving landscape of Industrial Internet of Things (The Benefits of IIOT) and the reality of their large variety of legacy production systems.

Some machines used traditional wired protocols, while for retrofitting and for newly added wireless sensors, many solutions rely on LoRa technology.

This meant separate platforms for each connectivity type, creating silos that hinder data collection and analysis. Sound familiar?

What is LoRaWAN in the IoT?

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) can be defined as a wireless communication protocol designed for low-power, long-range, low data rate communications. It is mainly used in IoT applications. Due to its characteristics, it provides the network architecture that enables IoT devices to communicate with each other over long distances with minimal power consumption. LoRaWAN is based on a proprietary wireless modulation technique developed by Semtech Corporation, called LoRa. 

The challenges of diverse connectivity

When you walk through most industrial facilities, you’ll see a blend of old and new technologies. Traditional legacy equipment might still be running strong but requires serial or LAN connections to share operational data. 

That’s where LoRa (Long Range) technology can really shine. LoRa sensors provide low-power, long-range communication with optimized data rate settings, making them perfect for monitoring sparse devices over expansive areas with minimal power consumption.

They can also be configured on private networks, offering businesses enhanced control over data, security, and expenses.

Nonetheless, managing a combination of wired and wireless configurations usually requires several platforms to handle the various data streams, in addition to physical connections.

The result is unnecessary complexity: more integration work, maintenance fees, and a less cohesive operation (The benefits of data integration).

This fragmented approach can slow decision-making and inflate costs when trying to deploy analytics or predictive maintenance tools.

LoRa and LoRaWAN play a crucial role in Industrial IoT by enabling LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) connectivity.

The network server efficiently manages data transmission between edge devices and cloud applications while balancing data rate and power consumption—a key factor for modern iot applications.

As Industrial IoT adoption grows, businesses need reliable connectivity solutions. A LoRaWAN Gateway not only enables seamless communication between industrial devices but also ensures that the lorawan protocol supports scalable, low-energy networks.

Managing both wired and wireless systems can be complex—this is where Alleantia simplifies the process.

A LoRaWAN Network allows businesses to monitor widely distributed industrial assets with minimal energy use and adjustable data rate parameters—vital for effective iot applications. With a LoRaWAN Gateway, sensors can transmit critical data over long distances without needing complex infrastructure, all while adhering to the lorawan protocol.

How Alleantia Unifies LoRaWAN and Wired Industrial Systems

Alleantia’s mission is to simplify machine connectivity by seamlessly integrating any industrial protocols and machines in a very simple plug & play manner, into one unified architecture.

Rather than forcing you to manage separate systems for wireless sensors and LAN/serial connected industrial devices, the Alleantia Software brings them all together.

Imagine monitoring a network of LoRa-equipped temperature sensors spread across a remote section of your facility, while also gathering performance and operational data from legacy machines in the main factory. Alleantia bridges the gap by ingesting data from both sources—through a LoRa Gateway (communicating via MQTT protocol) for the wireless side and through existing LAN-Serial setups for the wired side—with near-zero effort.

Alleantia’s software seamlessly connects legacy machines with modern LoRaWAN Gateways, ensuring a unified IIoT ecosystem.

Instead of managing separate platforms for wired devices and a LoRaWAN Network, Alleantia provides a single solution for real-time monitoring.

The platform’s machine drivers for LoRa sensors allow you to connect immediately and start visualizing sensor data in your chosen applications with minimal hassle, whether for general monitoring or specific iot applications.

The integrated Alleantia architecture can be deployed in a virtual or physical setup, supported by the versatility of Alleantia IoT Software and the robust lorawan protocol.

Why use a LoRaWAN gateway in Industrial IoT?

• Optimized Data Rate – The lorawan protocol supports adjustable data rate settings, balancing connectivity and efficiency.

• Energy Efficiency – Devices on a LoRaWAN Network operate on low power, ensuring minimal power consumption and extended battery life.

• Scalability – Adding new LoRa sensors or expanding to additional machines is straightforward, ensuring the solution grows with production needs while keeping an eye on data rate and power consumption.

Practical benefits

Consider a manufacturer who previously had separate systems and dashboards for their LoRa-based sensors and legacy machine performance metrics. They spent valuable time hopping between different screens to piece together a full picture of operations. 

After deploying Alleantia, they saw a dramatic improvement:

• Single Integration API – With a consistent interface for all data sources, engineers no longer had to learn separate platforms or write different codes for each connectivity type.
  
  
• Reduced Complexity –Maintenance became simpler with one software architecture replacing patchwork solutions, reducing risk and overall costs.
  
  
• Faster Decision-Making – Data flows into a unified system, enabling managers to run comprehensive reports and react to issues in real time.

Why it matters

In an era where digital transformation is crucial, companies can’t afford to be bogged down by fragmented systems.

By integrating LoRa sensors and traditional equipment into a single IIoT architecture, businesses can accelerate their journey to smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and proactive decision making all powered by efficient IoT applications, optimal data rate, and low power consumption.

How to Do It. Implement LoRaWAN with Alleantia

Simply choose the LoRa vendor you prefer, ensuring that the LoRa private gateway uses MQTT or other protocols supported by Alleantia (e.g., Modbus TCP). We already support Milesight and Advantech WISE technologies, but the addition of other vendors is very rapid. 

• Select a LoRa Gateway – Ensure it supports MQTT or Modbus TCP

• Configure the Sensors – Link them to your network and optimize the data rate for your IoT applications.
  
  
• Utilize Alleantia’s Plug-and-Play Drivers – For instant integration with both legacy and modern devices
  
  
• Monitor and Analyze – Use a unified dashboard to oversee your operations efficiently
  
  

Ready to simplify your factory monitoring?

Don’t let connectivity challenges hold you back from tapping into the full potential of industrial digitalization.

Alleantia’s comprehensive approach unifies your wired and wireless data streams, letting you focus on optimizing operations and driving innovation.ù

Ready to integrate a LoRaWAN Gateway into your Industrial IoT Network?

Contact Alleantia to learn how our solution can unify your LoRaWAN Network with existing industrial devices for seamless data management.

Contact us for more info and discover how Alleantia can transform your industrial connectivity at alleantia.com