Main Types of IoT Sensors: Which Are the Best for Your Business?

In this blog article we’re going to explore the main types of IoT sensors and help you decide which ones are best for your business.

IoT sensors are designed to provide valuable data that can improve your operations, enhance decision-making, and reduce costs. From tracking temperature to monitoring motion, the right sensor can make all the difference in keeping your business efficient and competitive.

But choosing the right IoT sensor isn’t always straightforward. As you may have noticed, IoT sensors can:

• Provide inconsistent data, leading to operational inefficiencies.
• Fail to integrate properly with your existing systems.
• Require time-consuming research to find the right solution for your specific needs.

These challenges can affect businesses of all sizes and industries, from retail to agriculture, manufacturing, and more.

That’s why it’s essential to choose reliable IoT sensors that offer high performance, seamless integration, and long-term benefits.

At TEKTELIC, we’ve spent years developing high-quality IoT sensors that are trusted by businesses across a variety of sectors. Our solutions offer accurate data, smooth integration, and excellent reliability, making them the go-to choice for businesses looking to optimize their operations.

In this article, we’ll break down the different types of IoT sensors and explain which ones are best suited for your business. We’ll also highlight how TEKTELIC’s sensors stand out with their performance, reliability, and ease of use.

Understanding IoT Sensors

What are IoT Sensors?

IoT sensors are small, specialized devices designed to collect data from their environment and send it to other systems for processing. They can measure a variety of factors – such as temperature, motion, air quality, and more—depending on the sensor type. Think of them as the “eyes and ears” of the Internet of Things (IoT), helping businesses gather real-time information that they can use to make smarter decisions.

The beauty of IoT sensors lies in their ability to automate data collection and monitoring, reducing the need for manual intervention. Instead of checking machines, temperatures, or environmental conditions by hand, sensors can do this continuously and accurately. They send this information over networks to a central system, allowing businesses to act quickly based on the data they receive.

Importance of IoT Sensors in the Internet of Things

IoT sensors are critical components in any IoT system. Without them, the data that fuels everything from smart cities to factory automation simply wouldn’t exist. These sensors allow for:

• Real-time monitoring: Businesses can track crucial variables like temperature, motion, or humidity in real-time, leading to better operational decisions.
• Automation: With sensors continuously gathering data, businesses can automate responses, such as adjusting a thermostat, turning on lights, or even triggering alarms.
• Predictive maintenance: By gathering long-term data, IoT sensors help businesses predict when equipment will need maintenance, preventing costly downtime.
• Increased efficiency: Sensors provide accurate data that can help optimize everything from energy use to logistics, helping businesses cut down on waste and boost efficiency.

For example, in industries like agriculture, IoT sensors can monitor soil moisture levels, water quality allowing farmers to irrigate only when necessary—saving water and reducing costs. In retail, motion sensors help stores manage lighting and security systems, making operations more efficient.

In short, IoT sensors make the Internet of Things come to life, enabling businesses to run smarter and more efficiently. But, not all sensors are the same, and choosing the right ones is crucial to getting the most out of your IoT investment. That’s what we’ll explore next.

Main Types of IoT Sensors for Business

Choosing the right IoT sensors or IoT projects for your needs depends not only on your industry but also on where you plan to use them – indoors, outdoors, or in both environments.

Different settings require different sensor capabilities. For example, IoT ecosystem offers outdoor sensors that must withstand varying weather conditions, while indoor sensors may focus more on energy efficiency or environmental monitoring.

Let’s break down the main verticals and the types of IoT sensors that are best suited for each environment.

Agriculture

In smart agriculture, precision is key to ensuring crops grow in the best conditions while minimizing resource use. IoT sensors help farmers monitor environmental factors and make data-driven decisions.

• Soil Moisture Sensors: Measure the moisture content in the soil to optimize irrigation.
• Temperature & Humidity Sensors: Track climate conditions to ensure optimal growing environments.
• Air Quality Sensors: Monitor pollutants or harmful gases in farming areas.

These sensors help reduce water waste, improve crop yields, and lower operational costs by providing real-time data for better farm management.

TEKTELIC Smart Agriculture Solutions

TEKTELIC offers a comprehensive range of agriculture-specific sensors that provide real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and air quality. Our rugged, outdoor-ready sensors, KIWI and CLOVER, are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and deliver reliable performance in both small and large-scale farming operations.

Today, many of our customers are experiencing significant value with these solutions, and we encourage you to review some of our customer success stories to see real examples of the benefits and ROI you can expect to achieve.

TEKTELIC Real Life Agriculture Use Cases

Our customers Cerasus, an agricultural company focused on sustainable farming, faced challenges like climate change and water scarcity in their mountainous location in Resende, Portugal. To tackle these issues, they pursued the prestigious SPRING certification for responsible water management.

Cerasus collaborated with TEKTELIC and Smart MC2, utilizing LoRaWAN® technology and sensors like CLOVER and KIWI. These sensors allowed Cerasus to efficiently:

• manage water usage,
• track environmental data,
• optimize irrigation practices.

TEKTELIC’s reliable IoT solutions helped overcome geographical challenges, ultimately enabling Cerasus to meet SPRING certification standards and enhance sustainable agriculture.

Alexandra Pinto, the agricultural technician, emphasized the significance of TEKTELIC tools, stating, “Choosing TEKTELIC was a strategic decision grounded in their 15 years of delivering top-tier LoRaWAN®products. Their extensive expertise perfectly aligns with our needs; their solutions not only boast robustness but also provide the confidence of swift and hassle-free deployment.”

Another example is The Botanical Garden of Rome, that faced the challenge of optimizing soil and environmental conditions for over 300 plant species. In partnership with Unidata and La Sapienza University, the garden deployed a suite of LoRaWAN®-based IoT sensors, including TEKTELIC’s KIWI sensor, to monitor key environmental metrics like soil moisture, temperature, and light intensity.

This real-time data enabled precise water management and plant health monitoring. The TEKTELIC sensors provided a cost-effective, easy-to-operate solution, streamlining the garden’s operations and ensuring optimal growth conditions across diverse plant species.

Smart Cities

Smart cities rely on IoT technologies and IoT applications to manage infrastructure and improve the quality of life for residents. From transportation to energy consumption, sensors play a crucial role in creating efficient and sustainable urban environments.

• Smart Parking Sensors: Enable drivers to find available parking spots easily, reducing congestion and optimizing parking space usage.
• Water & Gas Metering Sensors: Monitor consumption in real-time, allowing utilities to detect leaks, improve resource management, and optimize billing.
• Light Sensors: Automatically adjust street lighting based on ambient light to reduce energy consumption.
• Traffic & Motion Sensors: Monitor vehicle flow and pedestrian movement to optimize traffic signals and reduce congestion.
• Environmental Sensors: Measure air quality and noise levels to ensure healthy living conditions.
• Utility Monitoring: Track electricity and water usage to provide more accurate billing and better resource allocation.

These IoT solutions help cities run smoothly, making them safer, greener, and more responsive to residents’ needs.

TEKTELIC Smart Cities Solutions

At TEKTELIC, we’ve been producing high-performance LoRaWAN® gateways for more than 15 years, and our experience in this space has made us a leader in the industry. Our gateways are built to provide strong, reliable connectivity that forms the backbone of smart city networks.

But why is choosing the right gateway so important for your smart city? While sensors gather crucial data, it’s the gateway that ensures this data reaches the right systems quickly and efficiently. TEKTELIC’s gateways are designed for long-range, low-power communication, making sure your city’s infrastructure runs smoothly and efficiently—whether you’re managing traffic, energy, or environmental monitoring.

TEKTELIC Real Life Smart Cities Use Cases

Let’s review how TEKTELIC’s gateways are driving innovation in smart cities and delivering real value to our customers.

One of the latest examples is a deployment in Palermo, Italy. Unidata Spa required reliable gateways to deploy a LoRaWAN® network for the city’s water management system and chose TEKTELIC’s KONA Macro and KONA Enterprise gateways due to their carrier-grade performance, scalability, and reduced deployment costs.

With over 150 gateways deployed, Palermo now benefits from improved water monitoring, leak detection, and efficient resource management, serving over 145,000 users.

Another deployment example is in the USA, where Everynet partnered with TEKTELIC to establish a nationwide LoRaWAN® network. Everynet selected TEKTELIC’s KONA Mega Gateways for their carrier-grade connectivity.

Hundreds of gateways were installed swiftly, providing dense urban coverage and long-range connectivity in key areas. TEKTELIC’s gateways ensured low operational costs and seamless integration, enabling Everynet to deliver high-performance IoT solutions for industries like smart metering, flood management, and smart cities nationwide.

Industrial & Manufacturing

In the industrial and manufacturing sectors, industrial IoT sensors are transforming operations by increasing automation, improving safety, and ensuring more efficient processes. These sensors help companies monitor machinery, reduce downtime, and optimize workflows.

• Proximity Sensors: Detect objects or materials in manufacturing processes, preventing accidents and reducing errors.
• Pressure Sensors: Monitor the pressure in systems like pipelines or hydraulic machinery, helping to avoid equipment failures and ensuring process stability.
• Vibration Sensors: Track equipment vibrations to predict maintenance needs, preventing costly breakdowns before they occur.
• Temperature Sensors: Ensure machinery operates within safe temperature ranges, helping to avoid overheating and damage.

These sensors implementing reliable IoT connectivity offer real-time insights that enable manufacturers to improve productivity, reduce energy consumption, and ensure worker safety.

TEKTELIC Real Life Industrial & Manufacturing Use Cases

In industrial environments, keeping track of valuable assets and ensuring worker safety can be challenging. TEKTELIC offers a suite of solutions designed to address these critical pain points. The STORK Outdoor & Indoor Asset Tracker helps you monitor equipment and inventory in real time, reducing the risk of loss and improving operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, the CHICKADEE Wearable Badge Tracker allows you to track personnel movement both indoors and outdoors, ensuring safety and visibility across large facilities. And when worker safety is a priority on hazardous sites, the SEAL Wearable Safety & GPS Tracker provides comprehensive monitoring and precise location tracking to keep your team safe.

Healthcare

In healthcare, the ability to monitor patients and facilities in real time is crucial for ensuring quality care and safety. IoT sensors provide valuable data that helps hospitals, clinics, and care facilities optimize their operations and improve patient outcomes.

• Temperature Sensors: Monitor medication storage conditions and medical equipment to maintain safe temperature levels.
• Wearable Sensors: Track vital signs such as heart rate, oxygen levels, and movement, enabling continuous, remote patient monitoring.
• Air Quality Sensors: Ensure that indoor air quality in hospitals and clinics is optimal, reducing the risk of infection and improving overall patient safety.
• Asset Tracking for Medical Equipment: Ensure critical medical devices, such as ventilators and defibrillators, are properly tracked and available when needed.

These sensors improve patient care by providing real-time data, allowing healthcare providers to make quicker and more informed decisions, while also optimizing the management of medical assets.

TEKTELIC Real Life Helathcare Use Cases

TEKTELIC has put significant effort into developing innovative sensors designed to improve patient care and health outcomes:

The eBEAT Continuous Health Monitor is a wearable solution that provides continuous monitoring of key vital signs, including:

• respiratory rate,
• body temperature,
• oxygen levels,
• heart rate.

It offers real-time data that helps healthcare providers track respiratory health, enabling timely interventions and reducing the need for frequent hospital visits. This device improves patient management by allowing for proactive care and early detection of potential issues.

The eDOCTOR Respiratory Health Monitor is a comprehensive wearable solution that continuously tracks multiple health metrics, such as:

• body temperature,
• body position,
• respiration (breathing) rate,
• chest expansion,
• heart rate.

By offering a holistic view of a patient’s health, the eDOCTOR empowers healthcare providers to make data-driven decisions, ensuring better patient outcomes and helping to prevent complications.

Retail & Smart Buildings

Retail stores and smart buildings use IoT sensors to improve customer experience, save energy, and boost security. Whether used indoors, outdoors, or in both environments, these sensors provide real-time data that helps streamline operations and reduce costs.

• Motion Sensors: Detect movement to adjust lighting or HVAC systems in smart homes, saving energy when areas are unoccupied.
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitoring: Track air quality in real-time to ensure healthy, comfortable indoor environments, improving employee and customer well-being.
• Occupancy Sensors: Automatically adjust lighting, heating, and cooling based on occupancy levels, saving energy when areas are unoccupied or less crowded.
• Leak Detection: Detect water leaks early, preventing potential damage and costly repairs by alerting building managers as soon as issues arise.
• Asset Tracking: Monitor the location of valuable assets and inventory in real-time, reducing loss, theft, and ensuring efficient asset management.
• Cold Chain Monitoring : Ensure that temperature-sensitive products, like food or pharmaceuticals, are stored and transported under proper conditions to maintain quality and compliance.
• Light Sensors: Automatically adjust indoor lighting based on the amount of natural light available, reducing energy costs.

IoT in supply chains and smart buildings help improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and create a more tailored customer experience.

TEKTELIC Real Life Smart Building Use Cases

In partnership with cirkuit, TEKTELIC deployed real-time environmental monitoring solutions to help a property management company in the commercial real estate sector. The COMFORT and VIVID sensors provided property managers with critical insights on:

• occupancy,
• leak detection,
• temperature,
• humidity, and more.

This solution allowed the company to proactively address issues, prevent significant events like water damage, and reduce operational costs. The sensors also improved tenant comfort and safety, while automating ESG reporting and increasing asset value.

“Managing a commercial property is challenging. Effective collaboration among various stakeholders is essential to maintain a safe, clean, and profitable property. TEKTELIC’s flexible solution enables us to provide smart building insights and alerts that support every stakeholder in the property management ecosystem. This includes helping operations teams reduce the risk of floods, saving cleaning teams time and money through data-based cleaning, and assisting leadership teams in executing their sustainability strategy. TEKTELIC’s infrastructure allows us to offer a smart building solution for any challenge.”

– Adam Ludgate, Head of Technology & Co-Founder at cirkuit.

How to Choose the Best IoT Sensor for Your Business

Choosing the right IoT sensor for your business doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Picking the right IoT sensor technology for your needs is like finding the perfect tool for the job – it makes everything easier. But with so many choices, how do you know where to start? We’re here to make it simple and show you the key things to consider, so you can make the best choice for your business.

• Understand Your Business Needs. Before choosing smart sensors, take a step back and ask yourself: what do you want to achieve? Do you need to track temperatures, monitor equipment, or keep an eye on your stock levels? What wireless range does your use case need? Are there pressure and security concerns that should be addressed? Figuring out your specific needs will make choosing the right sensor a lot easier.
• Pick the Right Sensor Type to Your Use Case. Different sensors serve different purposes, like motion sensors for security, humidity sensors for climate control, or GPS sensors for fleet tracking. Focus on the sensors that directly address your specific business challenges.
• Think About Environmental Conditions. The environment where the sensor will be placed is important. Will it be outdoors, exposed to rain, dust or heat? Or indoors, in a clean, controlled space? Choose sensors built to withstand those specific conditions to ensure long-lasting performance.
• Check Connectivity Options. IoT sensors work by sending data to a central system, and the type of network they use matters. Some use Wi-Fi or BLE, others rely on LoRaWAN or other technologies. Choose a sensor that can connect seamlessly to your existing infrastructure, or one that’s cost-effective for the data you need to transmit.
• Look for Scalability. If your business is growing, make sure the sensors you choose can scale with you. Some sensors, such as TEKTELIC’s Sensors are easier to integrate across multiple locations or devices, while others might require more complex setups. Planning ahead ensures you won’t have to replace them later.
• Power Source and Battery Life. Consider how the sensor is powered — whether it’s wired or battery-operated. For areas where power is hard to access, like remote locations, long-lasting battery life is critical. Check battery life ratings to avoid frequent maintenance. TEKTELIC has designed all sensors to ensure years of reliable performance without the need to replace the battery.
• Accuracy and Precision. Not all sensors provide the same level of accuracy. Depending on your business needs, you may require highly precise data or sufficient data storage — specially for industries like healthcare or manufacturing. All TEKTELIC sensors are designed to achieve the highest accuracy compared to other devices on the market and its provide reliable, consistent data to avoid potential disruptions.
• Ease of Integration. Ensure the sensor can be integrated easily with your current systems and IoT platforms. Sensors that work smoothly with your existing software and hardware will save time and money during setup.
• Consider Future Needs. Technology is always evolving, so it’s important to choose sensors that are adaptable to future advancements. Look for sensors that support firmware updates or can handle new data types as your needs grow.
• Evaluate Cost vs. Value: While cost is important, the cheapest sensor may not always be the best option. Look at the long-term value and reliability of the sensor to avoid issues down the line. Sometimes investing a bit more upfront can save you from costly replacements or downtime later. TEKTELIC’s sensors are designed with this in mind, offering the highest accuracy and long-lasting performance, making them the best choice for businesses seeking dependable and cost-effective solutions.

Benefits of Integrating IoT Sensors

IoT sensors might sound technical, but they’re actually simple tools that can have a big impact on how your business runs. From saving time to cutting costs, these little devices help you work smarter, not harder. Let’s take a look at how IoT sensors can make a real difference.

1. Real-Time Data for Better Decisions. With IoT sensors, you get real-time updates on everything that matters—whether it’s tracking equipment, monitoring temperatures, or measuring energy use. This means you can catch issues early, make fast decisions, and keep things running smoothly.
2. Increase Efficiency Without Extra Work. Forget about manual tasks. IoT sensors can take care of the monitoring, tracking, and reporting for you. This saves your team time and reduces the chance of mistakes, making your business more efficient and productive.
3. Cost Savings. IoT sensors let you see where things might be going wrong before they cause bigger issues. When you’re able to monitor your systems and processes more closely, you can spot inefficiencies and fix them faster. For example, sensors that track energy usage can help reduce waste, leading to lower utility bills. Sensors can also prevent costly downtime by flagging maintenance needs before equipment breaks down.
4. Improved Safety and Compliance. Many industries have strict safety and compliance regulations. IoT sensors help monitor things like environmental conditions, equipment performance, and even worker safety. By automating this tracking, you not only keep things safe but also ensure you stay compliant with industry standards without much extra effort.
5. Better Customer Experience. Integrating IoT sensors can directly improve how customers interact with your business. IoT sensors help make sure your products are stored at the right temperature or delivered on time, improving the overall experience for your customers.
6. Scalability and Flexibility
   As your business grows, IoT sensors can easily scale with you. You can add more sensors, track new data points, or integrate them into different systems as your needs change. This flexibility ensures that you’re not locked into a system that can’t grow alongside your business.
7. Predictive Maintenance. IoT sensors help you stay ahead of equipment failures by detecting small issues before they become big problems. This way, you can schedule maintenance early, reduce downtime, and extend the life of your machines.

Summary

Integrating IoT sensors into your business isn’t just about keeping up with technology — it’s about making smarter decisions, boosting efficiency, and staying ahead of potential issues. Whether you want to improve operations, enhance safety, or deliver a better customer experience, the right IoT sensors can make all the difference.

Not sure where to start? Our team of experts is here to help. We’ll guide you in choosing the best solution for your business, so you can get the most out of your investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the IoT sensors?

IoT sensors are devices that gather real-time data like temperature, motion, or humidity, and send it to other systems for quick action. They turn everyday objects into smart tools, helping businesses track operations, spot issues early, and improve efficiency. In short, IoT sensors are key to making smarter, faster business decisions.

What does IoT stand for?

IoT stands for the “Internet of Things.” It refers to the network of connected devices – like sensors, machines, and everyday objects—that communicate with each other over the internet. These smart devices collect and share data, helping businesses and individuals automate tasks, monitor systems, and make better decisions in real-time.

How Do IoT Sensors Help Reduce Operational Costs?

IoT sensors help reduce operational costs by providing real-time data that optimizes resource usage and prevents costly incidents. For example, temperature sensors in storage facilities can help prevent spoilage by detecting deviations, allowing corrective actions to be taken before losses occur. Similarly, motion and air quality sensors in commercial buildings can improve energy efficiency by automating lighting and HVAC systems, only activating them when needed. With TEKTELIC’s advanced IoT solutions, businesses can reduce costs associated with deployment and maintenance while gaining reliable monitoring capabilities.