The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to redefine how enterprises operate, delivering transformative potential across sectors—from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and beyond. Yet, as IoT adoption accelerates, a critical yet often overlooked element is emerging as a barrier to scale: how these devices are powered and transmit data. Power delivery and data transmission are foundational to IoT infrastructure, and the limitations of traditional solutions—primarily disposable batteries—are becoming increasingly apparent.
For CIOs tasked with scaling digital operations efficiently, sustainably, and securely, it’s time to rethink the infrastructure paradigm. Wireless power networks (WPNs) represent a compelling shift in system architecture—one that merges wireless power delivery with data communication generated by battery-free sensors, creating a more intelligent and integrated foundation for enterprise IoT – effectively generating a digital mirror of an enterprise’s operations.
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The Scaling Challenge: Power and Data as Afterthoughts
Enterprises deploying IoT networks often focus on connectivity, analytics, and device management. But what happens when the devices enabling those insights require frequent battery changes, manual intervention, or lack flexibility due to the need for wires and cables? In high-density environments with thousands of endpoints, even small inefficiencies in power or data transfer can ripple across operations, causing delays, data gaps, and elevated maintenance costs.
This challenge is compounded by the rising cost of compliance and sustainability expectations. Battery disposal contributes to environmental waste and is subject to tightening regulations worldwide. The 2023 EU Battery Regulation, for instance, places new restrictions on disposable batteries, requiring higher recycling rates and lifecycle transparency. For enterprise leaders with global operations, these policies add another layer of complexity to battery-reliant systems.
Beyond power, there’s also the burden of communication silos. Many sensors operate independently of their power systems, requiring separate protocols and hardware for transmitting data. This fragmentation increases both hardware costs and management overhead—especially in edge environments.
WPNs: A Dual-Layer Network for Power and Data
A simplification of the modern enterprise IoT setup is the vision behind WPNs. The backbone of any WPN is the power transmitter. Wireless power transmitter systems from Energous use FCC certified, targeted radio frequency (RF) transmissions to send power over the air—similar to how Wi-Fi delivers internet. Beyond energy, these WPNs can also facilitate communication between the power transmitter and the endpoint device.
WPNs do more than just keep devices charged—they become a real-time data conduit. Sensors and tags can receive commands, update configurations, and send telemetry back through the same system that powers them. This integration reduces the need for redundant communication hardware and supports more streamlined, intelligent operations.
Implications for Enterprise Operations
Wireless power delivery is not a one-size-fits-all solution—but in industries where battery maintenance and connectivity costs are high, it presents new possibilities. More importantly, the addition of embedded communication into WPNs unlocks sophisticated applications that go beyond simple device uptime:
- Asset Tracking: In large warehouses and logistics centers, IoT is used to monitor inventory flow, equipment movement, and personnel safety. With WPNs, asset tags and sensors not only remain powered but can communicate precise location or status updates continuously—without requiring manual intervention or frequent recharges.
- Cold Chain Monitoring: Perishable goods in transit require constant monitoring of temperature and humidity. WPNs ensure that sensors stay online during transport and storage, pushing real-time environmental data to the cloud and providing uninterrupted insight across the entire supply chain. A fluid stream of valuable data arms supply chain managers with the information necessary to mitigate the risk of costly errors.
- Healthcare and Labs: In hospitals and biotech environments, clean-room constraints make device access challenging. WPNs enable wireless environmental sensors, patient monitors, and asset trackers to operate without physical contact or frequent servicing—while still transmitting critical data securely.
In each of these examples, it’s not just about eliminating wires or batteries but creating smarter systems that can operate autonomously, with higher reliability and lower maintenance.
Integration, Not Replacement
One concern with any new infrastructure paradigm is interoperability. Fortunately, modern WPNs are being built with this in mind. RF-based systems can complement, rather than replace, existing communication protocols. In fact, many WPN transmitters double as BLE beacons or gateways—meaning they can power devices and serve as part of a mesh communication network.
This dual-function infrastructure supports enterprise goals around consolidation, scalability, and security. By reducing the number of physical devices needed to maintain power and data connectivity, organizations can streamline deployments and reduce their attack surface, especially in sensitive environments like finance or healthcare.
A Smarter Path to Sustainability
Beyond operational gains, WPNs have a beneficial impact on sustainability. Reducing reliance on disposable batteries supports ESG initiatives and improves environmental compliance. However, eliminating battery waste is just the beginning.
Because WPNs combine power and communication into one layer, fewer materials are needed overall—less copper wiring, fewer connectors, and reduced reliance on rare earth elements used in traditional batteries and communication chips. This lighter footprint contributes to more sustainable, scalable IoT networks.
For enterprises building long-term digital strategies, WPNs offer a rare convergence: cost savings, operational reliability, and environmental responsibility.
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The Future Is Integrated
We’re entering a new era of infrastructure—one where connectivity, intelligence, and power delivery converge into software-defined networks that are more efficient, sustainable, and scalable. Wireless power networks are not just about untethering devices from cords or chargers—they are a shift toward self-sustaining, communicative IoT ecosystems.
Businesses evaluating their next phase of digital transformation would be wise to ask: are our power and data systems as integrated as the devices they serve? Because as devices get smarter and more autonomous, the networks that support them and provide actionable data must evolve in parallel.
