A sustainable connected future

Our customers are optimistic. So are we.

If anything, the pandemic has bolstered the case for connected technology, driving up adoption rates over the world over, as people have sought out contactless experiences that do not leave them isolated; remote work, online medical consultations, virtual events, online shopping, micromobiity, and the list goes on.

New applications enabled by affordable high precision location, low power consumption, miniaturization, and IoT communication-, location-, and security-as-a-service are enabling new business models across all our markets while bolstering the efficiency and resiliency of many of our long term customers within our established Automotive and Industry 4.0 sectors.

One thing that is becoming clear across the megatrends that drive our corporate strategy and, ultimately, our business is that wireless is unequalled as a connectivity technology, and with the imminent rollout of 5G, there is no going back.

Industrial

Demand from our industrial customers is growing as industries connect and IoT is driving automation, boosting resilience, and increasing productivity across numerous industries. Rather than sending the maintenance team in once a machine is out of order, IoT driven predictive maintenance solutions alert the crew to irregularities before breakdown. Wireless technology is delivering accuracy and efficiency gains in operations and business. These benefits stem from increased automation, process monitoring with wireless sensors, airborne or terrestrial autonomous vehicles, and improved visibility and precision across supply and distribution chains.

In addition to tackling the immense global logistics challenge the Covid-19 vaccine distribution poses, IoT is making healthcare accessible to millions of people who have never had it before. Wireless technology is indispensable as hospitals transform from analogue to digital and remote care begins to play a major role in diagnosing disease, delivering care, and cutting costs for healthcare systems.

Our robust products deliver precise location readings in the challenging and often harsh environmental conditions found in industrial settings and continue to communicate effectively in the face of electromagnetic interference. The new M10 GNSS platform is well-positioned for various logistics tracking applications such as shipping containers or livestock management. Our new NORA‑B1 Bluetooth-module is a natural fit for industrial machine control, asset tracking, remote controls and gateways, connected power tools requiring continuous motor control, and advanced medical wearables with demanding security requirements.

Automotive

The number of electric vehicles rolling off production lines worldwide with a range of connectivity, power management, and data processing features is experiencing double-digit growth. And wireless connectivity is shaping up to be an essential enabler for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, which is in high demand as EVs grow their market share year on year and as more countries commit to ambitious net-zero targets.

Carmakers’ R&D activities are aligned with autonomous driving as their North Star, with cloud connectivity and edge intelligence two key prerequisites for achieving autonomous control. u‑blox is on track to deliver two others, high precision positioning and functional safety, thanks to continued investment and leadership. This will eventually improve traffic flow, limit accidents, and increase efficiencies.

Our cellular, positioning, and short range modules help transform tomorrow’s connected vehicles and automotive business models.

“If anything, the pandemic has bolstered the case for connected technology, driving up adoption rates the world over, as people have sought out contactless experiences that do not leave them isolated: remote work, online medical consultations, virtual events, online shopping, micromobility, and the list goes on.”

Our cellular, positioning, and short range modules help transform tomorrow’s connected vehicles and automotive business models.

Consumer

We are talking with some very innovative companies setting up business models around wearable devices and sustainability. Imagine your watch tells you when to leave the house to catch the best train or when and where to buy particular types of items which otherwise might be wasted. Wearables are also augmenting the remote work, entertainment, exercise, learning, virtual event spaces and eHealth as the demand for remote connected clinical devices, monitoring and telehealth accelerate.

Micromobiity for shared and owned single user transport has grown significantly worldwide as people avoid crowded public transportation and look to reduce their carbon footprint.

We expect our new M10 GNSS ultra-low power high performance chips and modules to fuel numerous innovative applications across the consumer sector as it is ideal for a wide range of small battery-powered wearables and other consumer applications.