With the X-Tag, the company offers a cost-effective UWB sensor for the industrial Internet of Things (IoT). For the first time, advanced networking and precise localization via UWB are available at the price of RFID and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). This enables companies to benefit from a wide range of newly opened IoT applications and increase their productivity in production and logistics - from Search & Find and Track & Trace to automated material flow or tool management. By using the smart X-Tags, they can significantly shorten their amortization times and achieve an up to 50 percent higher ROI. The software-based approach enables Kinexon to reduce the complexity of the hardware to a minimum and to offer the X-Tag up to 90 percent more cost-effectively compared to existing UWB solutions. The first renowned companies from the automotive and aviation industries are already implementing the new product. It is available as a one-off purchase and as part of a rental model with a term of 24 months.

Location information as the key to many IoT applications

The digital transformation in industry continues to gain ground. Just recently, a study by Aberdeen in collaboration with Panasonic showed that the topic has become more important for around 70% of manufacturing companies worldwide as a result of the pandemic. However, it remains a challenge: around 80 percent of all IoT applications depend on the availability of location information of the objects involved in the production process. These include tools, vehicles, parts and containers, for example. Until now, companies have had to choose between precision and price when selecting the right solution for tracking and networking. RFID or BLE were cheaper in terms of positioning, but were only suitable for a few applications due to their high inaccuracy and short range. As a result, they were not widely used. UWB, on the other hand, is considered the leader on many levels - from accuracy to robustness and scalability. However, the associated costs have often prevented a rapid ROI and widespread profitable use on a mass scale.

Connectivity and precise indoor localization

With the X-Tag, this conflict of objectives is a thing of the past, as Kinexon now offers the world's most cost-effective UWB sensor for industrial environments. Compared to other UWB sensors on the market, the X-Tag is up to 90 percent cheaper. The smart key to this innovation: a software-defined approach and intelligent sensor network algorithms that reduce hardware complexity to a minimum. Companies can either buy the X-Tags once or rent them for a monthly fee with a minimum term of 24 months. The monthly price per smart sensor is less than that of a postage stamp.

High ROI and fast amortization

The falling costs of smart UWB-based tags enable companies to drastically reduce amortization times and improve ROI by up to 50 percent. This gives customers access to a wide range of profitable smart factory and logistics applications for the first time - from Search & Find and Track & Trace to automated tool control or automated material flow.

With the mass market viability of the technology, Kinexon aims to disrupt the industrial market around indoor localization and connectivity. "The X-Tag makes connectivity and precise localization as easy and cost-effective as sticking a stamp on an envelope. From now on, it is possible to profitably localize all assets and quickly benefit from the added value," says Oliver Trinchera, co-founder and CEO of Kinexon. This means that the mass market maturity of the X-Tag also represents a quantum leap for the digital twin, as companies can now also precisely track smaller assets for various applications in higher quantities. It has never been easier and more profitable to network any assets and guarantee full transparency and traceability of the material flow.

Implementations at renowned companies

The first large-scale implementations of the X-Tag are currently taking place at renowned companies in the automotive and aerospace industries. Rafael Hymon, Head of Logistics at Continental Automotive in Regensburg, explains the new potential: "With the X-Tag, Kinexon is opening up completely new applications for us in the field of localization using UWB technology. With their product innovation, we can drive digitalization at Continental even more profitably. The cost-effective X-Tag makes it possible to exploit the advantages of UWB on a large scale: We benefit here simultaneously from high-precision data and a faster ROI."

With the Kinexon RIoT software, the company already offers an open platform with corresponding software and analysis functions to convert the X-tag data into a digital twin as well as optimized and automated processes. The platform is already being used by a large number of blue-chip companies such as BMW and Continental. "Kinexon RIoT is the real-time operating system for all moving objects. It connects all things on the store floor, regardless of their technology and interface," says Mehdi Bentanfous, Global Lead for Kinexon's industrial business. "The platform enables companies to translate the physical store floor into a digital twin. Based on this, RIoT offers numerous modular functions to capture, optimize and automate operational processes in real time. The results obtained enrich any applications and business processes, such as ERP, WMS and MES."