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5 Ways eSIMs Improve Industrial IoT Operations
Bee Hayes-Thakore As the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) continues to evolve, reliable, secure, and scalable connectivity is no longer optional—it’s foundational. Cellular technology is quickly becoming the trusted backhaul for connected products, enabling smart energy meters, wearables, asset trackers, payment systems, or industrial routers. Additionally, with the emergence of new IoT embedded SIM (eSIM) technology standards with GSMA-compliant Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP), integrating cellular connectivity into industrial IoT devices is now more efficient and strategic.
Here are five key ways eSIMs transform operations in industrial IoT, from simplifying logistics to enhancing security and enabling truly global deployments.
1. Streamlined Logistics and Greater Autonomy
Traditional SIM logistics are labor-intensive and rigid, often requiring local inventory management, manual provisioning, or multiple SKUs to serve different regions. eSIMs eliminate much of this complexity.
With eSIMs, rather than having the sole dependency on a network provided SIM, OEMs can have the autonomy and ownership of the eSIM, often allowing better control of business rules and service continuity. Remote SIM Provisioning capabilities of eSIM offer OEMs a path to manufacturing a single product SKU and assign the most appropriate operator profile based on the device’s final destination. This simplifies supply chains and gives manufacturers and solution providers greater autonomy to select the best connectivity provider for each deployment.
The result? Faster time to market, broader global reach, and far less friction when scaling operations.
2. Simplified Setup for Connectivity Provisioning
Traditional provisioning methods often tether device makers to a handful of operators or require deep integration efforts for fleet-wide deployments. That’s changing with SGP.32, the GSMA’s latest standard for IoT eSIMs.
Kigen’s eSIM IoT Remote Manager (eIM) is the world’s first platform certified to GSMA’s SGP.32 standard under the Security Accreditaion Scheme for Subscription Management (SAS-SM). It empowers enterprises to manage eSIM fleets at scale—independently and with a pulse on operational costs as deployments grow.
The Industrial IoT-optimized architecture of IoT eSIMs simplifies integrations, removing reliance on a single player. eIM also simplifies routing, provisioning, and lifecycle management for IoT connectivity, removing barriers and empowering innovation.
3. Improved Manufacturing Efficiency
The manufacturing process benefits significantly when connectivity is integrated later in the production cycle. With eSIMs, manufacturers can delay the embedding of operator profiles until the final stages, increasing productivity and throughput, and improving logistical reliability.
This “late-stage provisioning” increases flexibility while enabling tailored connectivity for each end-user customer or region. With pre-provisioned profiles supported by modern eIMs, manufacturers can deliver essentially plug-and-play devices, minimizing activation friction once in the field. Depending on the choice of the eIM and eSIM OS, this can be adjusted to suit the manufacturing setup with varied levels of online connectivity and firewalling needs.
For industrial OEMs, this means fewer production bottlenecks, streamlined inventory, and greater consistency in product quality.
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4. Loss-Less Connectivity for Critical Applications
In industrial settings, downtime is not just inconvenient—it’s costly and, in some cases, non-compliant. Whether it’s payment terminals, utility infrastructure, or remote sensors, connectivity must be seamless and continuous.
With the right eIM and eSIM configuration, devices can store multiple operator profiles, enabling smart network failovers that are never visible to the user. This means devices can automatically switch between preferred networks across borders, public to private networks, or even between terrestrial and satellite connections without interruption.
Read the case study on automated switching.
This type of loss-less connectivity is particularly crucial for applications where service continuity is mission-critical, such as energy and metering devices, transport systems, and digital payments and POS infrastructure.
Read the point of sale case study
5. Enhanced Security Posture
As IIoT expands into critical infrastructure—from smart grid systems and intelligent metering to airport or dam surveillance—the security at a system, device and data level – all are paramount.
Choosing the right eIM with advanced features like indirect profile downloads, provides a secure way to route connectivity to devices in isolated or high-security environments. For example, devices not directly connected to the public internet can still securely receive operator profiles via a trusted intermediary.
This capability supports best cybersecurity approaches within zero-trust and zero-touch architectures, allowing enterprises to enforce rigorous security postures across distributed industrial systems. The growing adoption of private networks in sensitive deployments further underscores the need for this kind of secure, flexible provisioning.
Bonus Benefits: Space and Cost Efficiencies
Industrial IoT deployments often operate under tight constraints space, power, and cost being chief among them. eSIMs offer tangible advantages here too.
Kigen’s compact industrial-grade eSIMs, such as the MFF2(4x4mm2) and MFF2 (5×6 mm2), are optimized for embedded applications. These ultra-compact profiles reduce the footprint of connectivity hardware, enabling slimmer, more efficient device designs without sacrificing performance or security.
Additionally, leveraging modern eIMs can significantly reduce operational costs associated with connectivity management, especially when combined with multi-profile, remote provisioning capabilities.
Getting Started Is Easier Than Ever
Integrating eSIMs into your industrial IoT operations doesn’t have to be complex. With Kigen’s GSMA-certified eIM, getting started is simple. We’re already enabling over 70 customers to benefit from all the key features of the SGP.32 standard.
Our Secure with Kigen program includes over 20 tested and interoperable modules, so you can confidently deploy IoT devices with the flexibility and security your business demands. And through unique partnerships with industry leaders like Particle.io (for device innovation) and Simetric (for orchestration across SIM, eSIM, and iSIM), we offer a comprehensive ecosystem that supports a true “single pane of glass” experience for connectivity management.
eSIM and Industrial IoT: The Future Is Embedded
As industrial enterprises push toward smarter, more resilient, and globally scalable operations, eSIMs are becoming a fundamental enabler. They offer the security, flexibility, and scalability required to modernize legacy systems and unlock new value in connected operations.
If your industrial operations depend on secure, always-on connectivity—now’s the time to make mobile your advantage.
Get in touch with Kigen to explore a business trial and see how eSIM and eIM can streamline your connected future.
