IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to devices we all use every day that connect and communicate with each other – for example, you might use a smartwatch that communicates with your phone, tablet, and laptop. Ultimately, IoT innovations are helping to make the world a smarter, more connected, more efficient place.
And, there are tons of intriguing IoT innovations that travelers use when jet-setting – which, of course, means they need a stable, efficient data connection to keep things communicating smoothly. The answer, for many people, is in using digital SIMs or eSIMs.
In this guide, we take a look at how travelers make use of IoT regularly, the benefits of using eSIMs while exploring new countries, and why staying connected matters.
How Do Travelers Use IoT Devices?
IoT helps to make vacations more flexible and easier to customize, more secure, and more predictable. Just as IoT helps us to make our homes smarter and our everyday lives less stressful, certain devices are great for supporting where we go and what we do when we head abroad, too.
Here are just a few quick use cases for IoT when traveling that you may already make use of:
- Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Android Pay allow you to make quick payments on the go and to swipe boarding passes without paper documents.
- Smartwatches help you to track your body’s vitals such as heart rate and blood oxygen when traveling to different climates.
- Smart luggage lets you track your essentials when checking in and out of airports.
- IoT tagging, such as Apple AirTags, let you track various items from a single device.
- Smart thermostats and ACs built into hotel rooms and suites are easy to adjust from a touch screen.
- Real-time translation devices can translate signs and instructions in various languages.
- Augmented reality technology helps you to interact closely with tourist resorts and exhibits.
- Wearable sensors can help to record vital signs and provide healthcare services with direct information regarding your well-being – they can also raise alerts if, say, your heart rate spikes.
- Smart locks allow travelers to have complete control over their rooms and vehicles via smartphone apps.
- Connected vehicles provide extended information on trips ahead, such as weather forecasting, traffic predictions, and route navigation analysis.
Why Are Travelers Using eSIMs with IoT?
eSIMs, which are downloadable, entirely digital SIM cards that you can install to your smart devices, allow you to access a variety of networks internationally without having to swap physical SIMs for every carrier.
For example, if you use an international eSIM that covers North America, you can automatically connect to available US, Canadian, and Mexican data networks no matter where you travel. eSIMs that give you global access to internet connectivity make journeys and hospitality experiences as seamless as possible.
With IoT and an eSIM, you can quickly check into an airport, tag your luggage, pay for snacks with your digital wallet, and then pick up and secure your luggage when you get to the other side. There’s no need for you to keep leaping between WiFi networks – great news, therefore, for travelers who may be visiting lots of different destinations in a single trip.
What Are Some Further Benefits of Using eSIMs with IoT Devices?
There are several further reasons why IoT travelers prioritize eSIMs:
- Remote provisioning allows travelers to quickly switch between different packages, networks, and plans on the go depending on where they are.
- Security benefits such as protection against SIM swap attacks, boosted data encryption, remote SIM access, and a reduced risk of physical theft give travelers greater peace of mind. This is especially important when they are using sensitive IoT devices such as locking mechanisms and wallets.
- Real-time device tracking is boosted by eSIMs connecting consistently to available data networks – meaning it’s easier to keep track of devices or tags as and when necessary (such as luggage in the airport, or smart devices left in rooms or at the beach).
- Enhanced stability through multi-network connectivity means that travelers can expect uninterrupted access to devices – whether for entertainment or security.
- More predictable roaming costs come as standard with eSIMs – most leading providers offer a pay-as-you-go or top-up platform where you can decide how much data you need for your trip, without having to worry about exceeding allowances. This is particularly useful when you are using multiple IoT devices at once.
- Reduced reliance on WiFI hot-spots means there’s less risk of travelers falling prey to unsecure broadband routers.
How Are eSIMs Helping to Improve Vacation Experiences?
Travelers use IoT devices to make decisions easier and to secure their sensitive items better, and when relying on public WiFi or multiple data SIMs, you simply can’t expect a seamless, hassle-free experience.
eSIMs, particularly those with multi-region coverage, allow you to connect one time with your device and leap between different mobile data carriers as you travel. The efficiency benefits here are massive – you won’t have to constantly reconnect and reconfigure each of your IoT devices and sensors as you go.
Whenever any of us go on vacation, we all want to spend less time worrying and more time just being there in the moment – and despite the fact that IoT devices aim to make this a reality, without eSIMs, there is a lot of potential muddling around with connections and configurations.
With the right eSIM provider, it’s easy to link up all your smart devices so you’re secured, entertained, and clear on what you want to do from one day to the next. Don’t rely too much on public WiFi – especially given the hacking risks!
Instead, choosing an eSIM to cover your upcoming travel will ensure you’re always connected to data – and that you can keep your various devices communicating with each other for the small, but important jobs you demand them to do.
