Blog

IoT manufacturers are scaling faster than ever — but connectivity is still one of the biggest roadblocks. Managing dozens of device SKUs tailored to different carriers and regions drives up costs, slows down production, and creates headaches in the supply chain.

There’s a smarter way forward. eSIM technology, guided by the latest GSMA standards, is making it possible to move from many SKUs to just one — while keeping the flexibility to adapt to new networks, regions, and regulations over the lifetime of the device.

That’s the focus of our new white paper, developed in partnership with Kigen and Itron: a practical blueprint for simplifying IoT manufacturing, from in-factory provisioning to remote lifecycle management.

The SKU Challenge in IoT

In traditional production, every carrier or region often requires its own device SKU. That means more complexity, more inventory, and more chances for error. Shipping the wrong variant can delay deployments or even require costly replacements.

This SKU-heavy approach simply doesn’t scale for global IoT markets, where devices need to last 10+ years and remain connected in changing network environments.

Why eSIM Changes the Game

eSIM technology allows manufacturers to decouple hardware from connectivity, consolidating multiple SKUs into a single global model. With the GSMA’s SGP.32 IoT standard, device makers can:

• Streamline production with one SKU for all regions and carriers.
• Enable flexibility through in-factory or remote profile provisioning.
• Reduce logistics costs by removing SIM-card complexity.
• Future-proof deployments with remote updates that extend device lifecycles.

The result: devices leave the factory connectivity-ready and can adapt seamlessly to new operator requirements years down the line.

From Factory to Field: Proven Strategies

In our white paper, we share how Sequans’ Monarch 2 and Calliope 2 platforms, combined with Kigen’s eSIM solutions, give manufacturers end-to-end flexibility:

• In-Factory Profile Provisioning (IFPP): securely loading operator or test profiles before shipment, in line with the upcoming GSMA SGP.42 standard.
• Local and Remote Profile Management: lightweight tools for quick final provisioning or large-scale updates in the field.
• Lifecycle agility: ensuring devices can switch networks without hardware swaps or costly truck rolls.

A Customer Perspective: Itron

Utilities face some of the toughest connectivity demands — long lifecycles, high availability, and zero tolerance for downtime. Itron, a leader in smart metering, is adopting eSIM strategies aligned with SGP.32 to simplify manufacturing and ensure resilient, multi-carrier connectivity for its devices.

As Itron explains, this approach not only eliminates multiple SKUs but also lowers total cost of ownership and ensures devices stay connected reliably over decades.

The Future is Now

By the end of 2025, nearly all mobile operators are expected to support eSIM, and adoption for IoT is scaling rapidly. Upcoming standards like SGP.42 will make in-factory provisioning even easier, while iSIM will bring new levels of integration.

For manufacturers, the time to act is now. Those who embrace eSIM-centric workflows are setting themselves up for global scale, supply chain efficiency, and long-term service resilience.

Download the White Paper

eSIM is no longer just a trend — it’s a proven strategy already being deployed by leading manufacturers. And we have it ready, now, for anyone to deploy.

👉 Download the white paper today to see how Sequans and Kigen are enabling single-SKU IoT manufacturing, featuring Itron’s perspective on simplifying supply chains and ensuring long-term connectivity resilience. Take the first step toward smarter, more scalable IoT deployments.

Download Now