Sensors are electronic devices that can detect and measure physical dynamics such as temperature, pressure, humidity, light, sound, motion. When properly ingested and analyzed, this data can drive transformational improvements in business processes, operational efficiencies and sustainability. Driven by widespread adoption of smart devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors that monitor environmental conditions or drive industrial automation have proliferated and are the driving force behind Smart Homes, Smart Buildings, Smart Factories and Smart Cities. The data collected from sensors can be used in multiple ways, depending on the application and the context. Here are some examples: 

1. Real-time monitoring and control: Sensors can provide continuous measurements of physical parameters, providing a real-time view of the performance of key systems. For instance, sensors can regulate the temperature of a room, track an acceptable temperature range in a refrigerator, or monitor and even drive an industrial process. Motion sensors can detect intruders or control the lighting in a room. Pressure sensors can monitor the tire pressure in a car or the pressure in a water or gas pipeline.
   
   
2. Predictive maintenance: Analysis of the data collected from sensors can reveal anomalies and patterns that may indicate potential problems or failures in a system. Predictive maintenance, as this capability is known, allows for early intervention and the repairing or replacing of components before they fail. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs and, in some acute instances, can prevent catastrophic damage like water leaks, fire or lethal malfunctions. For example, vibration sensors can be used to detect abnormalities in rotating machinery, such as pumps or motors, which may indicate wear or misalignment. Such sensors can also detect potential problems in elevators, where failure can be an existential issue.
3. Optimization and automation: Collecting and analyzing data from sensors allows for the automation of certain processes activities with commensurate savings in cost and labor. For example, sensors can optimize the energy consumption of a building by adjusting the heating, cooling, and lighting systems based on occupancy and weather conditions. Sensors can also be used to automate the inventory management in a warehouse by tracking the movement of goods and predicting their demand, and they can collect data needed to comply with regulatory or safety reporting or sustainability and ESG initiatives.
4. Insights and decision-making: Sensor data also provides visibility into issues that previously remained hidden, producing actionable intelligence that can improve operations and mitigate risk. For example, indoor air quality sensors that monitor humidity and carbon dioxide levels can warn of subpar environmental conditions that foster viral spread, spur absenteeism and retard productivity. and inform building managers to implement changes. Indoor occupancy sensors analyze the flow of traffic in a building, allowing for more efficient scheduling of services like cleaning and catering as well as savings on energy costs.   Refrigerator sensors in a hospital monitor and track temperatures to prevent improperly refrigerated pharmaceuticals, or in a restaurant setting, can prevent serious liabilities stemming from poorly refrigerated foods that spoil or become contaminated.