Prior to the IOT, the only practical way to transmit data captured from various kinds of equipment was to hardwire it to an onsite computer via ethernet cable or similar network (e.g., Bacnet).
To measuring electricity use is one of the most useful measures of machine performance and efficiency, but this meant installing sub-meters in multiple areas of the plant to measure machines, usually in groups such as production lines. Monitoring individual machines was generally cost-prohibitive.
Since the IOT, utility data - electricity, natural gas, steam, water and air - can be captured easily and inexpensively by tiny, self-powered sensors that are simply clipped-on over a wire's insulation and will transmit the data via wi-fi or cellular service to the cloud.
In the cloud, our system will store the data indefinitely, so you can compare different time periods, and will analyze it so you can understand how you are using and perhaps wasting energy and other resources.
Because they simply clip-on (and off), you can install up to 100 sensors to monitor 100 machines in a single day, which costs about 20-25% of the cost installing sub-meters.
In ball-park terms, 100 sensors would cost less than $20,000 installed (depending on the type) and the analytical software - i.e. graphs, charts, alerts and comprehensive reports - would cost about $10,000-$12,000 a year, including regular joint data reviews between our team and yours.