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Connected Packaging: Turning Every Product Into a Digital Media Channel

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:27:57 -0800

In this episode of the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we sat down with Jenny Stanley, the Founder and Managing Director of Appetite Creative and widely recognized as a global pioneer in connected packaging, to explore how brands are transforming everyday products into powerful digital communication channels. With decades of marketing insight and a decade leading the connected packaging movement, Jenny shares how technology like QR codes and NFC is enabling brands to create meaningful, measurable two-way relationships with consumers long after a product leaves the store shelf.

Jenny explains the seismic shifts reshaping the industry. From the upcoming transition of traditional barcodes to QR codes, and the rise of Digital Product Passports to evolving sustainability regulations and consumer expectations. But beyond regulatory “sticks,” she dives deep into the “carrots”: richer storytelling, loyalty programs, personalized experiences, and valuable first-party data that can drive engagement and even increase sales.

You’ll hear why connected packaging consistently delivers longer engagement times (often minutes rather than seconds) and how brands can use interactive content, games, recipes, tutorials, and AI-driven experiences to capture attention in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. Jenny shares practical lessons from real campaigns, including how a simple data question can reshape an entire brand strategy and why most product scans happen after purchase, opening new opportunities for post-sale engagement.

The conversation also covers what separates successful campaigns from failed experiments: delivering real value instead of sending consumers to generic websites, understanding audience intent, and designing packaging with clear calls to action. Jenny offers insights into the organizational challenges brands face, from cross-department collaboration to navigating new...Read More

Secure by Design: Ambient IoT, AI, and the Future of Trust

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:12:22 -0800

Security is often an afterthought, until something goes wrong. In this episode of the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we sit down with Steve Hanna, Distinguished Engineer at Infineon Technologies, to explore why security is existential for Ambient IoT, AI-driven systems, and the connected world.

Steve brings decades of experience shaping the foundations of internet security, from authoring IETF RFCs to leading working groups in Matter, the Trusted Computing Group, and the International Society of Automation. With 48 issued patents and a career spent translating complex cryptography into real-world products, he offers a rare insider’s view of how security standards are built and why they matter.

The conversation dives into real-world risks, including counterfeit pharmaceuticals infiltrating supply chains, privacy breaches from pervasive tracking, and how attackers could exploit low-cost, energy-harvesting IoT devices. Steve explains the unique constraints of Ambient IoT, including extreme cost sensitivity and ultra-low power budgets, and how techniques like symmetric cryptography, unique device identities, and hardware acceleration can deliver strong security without breaking the business case.

We also explore how AI changes both offense and defense in cybersecurity, why privacy and consent are critical for consumer trust, and how “secure by default” approaches like Matter simplify security for everyday users.

Beyond technology, Steve shares career insights, the importance of explaining complex ideas simply, and his personal music choices that reflect gratitude, collaboration, and joy.

If you are building connected products or betting your business on the physical-digital convergence, this episode is a masterclass in designing trust into systems from day one.

With deployments reaching tens of millions of devices per year and more than 100,000 connected labels in a single store, Vusion is quietly building one of the largest ambient IoT networks on the planet. Thaddeus explains why electronic shelf labels are far more than digital price tags, and how they’ve become a strategic platform for dynamic pricing, omnichannel fulfillment, planogram compliance, retail media, computer vision, and real-time store intelligence.

We explore why Europe adopted ESLs years ahead of the U.S., how labor economics and sustainability drove early adoption, and why Walmart’s nationwide rollout marks a true inflection point for American retail. Thaddeus also breaks down Vusion’s EdgeSense architecture, which are shared radios, shared batteries, and location-aware rails, and why this design unlocks entirely new use cases without overwhelming power budgets or wireless channels.

Beyond pricing, we dive into pick-to-light fulfillment, Bluetooth-powered wayfinding, battery-operated computer vision, light harvesting, and why AI can’t work without better physical-world inputs. As Thaddeus puts it, before retailers can become “agentic,” they must first understand what’s actually happening inside their stores.

If you want to understand where retail, IoT, and AI truly intersect (not in theory, but at global scale) this conversation is essential listening.

Mister Beacon is...Read More

Retail 301: The Science Behind the Shelf with Leon Nicholas

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:42:17 -0800

This week on the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we’re joined by one of retail’s most insightful thinkers: Leon Nicholas, Vice President of Retail Insights & Solutions at Smurfit WestRock—the world’s largest packaging and display manufacturer and a quiet powerhouse at the center of global commerce. Leon combines decades of operational, analytical, and strategic experience to reveal what’s really happening inside retail’s engine room—and what’s coming next.

We begin the conversation with a candid look at what keeps today’s retail CEOs awake at night. From volatile regulations to unpredictable supply chains, shifting consumption patterns, and the relentless pace of digital transformation, leaders are operating in an environment where the “race car” is always redlining. Leon breaks down why longevity and relevance are now existential challenges, and how TikTok trends, AI agents, and generational change are reshaping demand faster than retailers can adjust.

The conversation then turns to smart packaging and displays—a domain where Smurfit WestRock plays a foundational yet often invisible role. Leon describes packaging as a portal that will soon connect products, retailers, and consumers across their entire lifecycle. Smart displays that report placement, stock levels, and theft signals; packages that guide shoppers post-purchase; digital layers that personalize information or support sustainability claims—all of these become possible when packaging can “raise its hand” and communicate. But the real breakthrough, Leon argues, is the arrival of a practical AI layer that can translate millions of data points into intelligent action.

Looking ahead, Leon predicts a future where everything is tagged, checkout experiences fade away, automated replenishment becomes pervasive, and shoppers navigate stores through deeply personalized, programmatic paths. In this world, smaller regional retailers can use...Read More

No Batteries Required: WePower’s Kinetic Revolution

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:19:13 -0800

In this week’s episode of the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we sit down with Lawrence Richenstein, Founder and CEO of WePower Technologies, to explore how kinetic energy harvesting is reshaping the future of battery-free devices and the Ambient IoT.

Richenstein shares the remarkable story of how, as an angel investor, he discovered a struggling startup with a brilliant yet underdeveloped technology for generating power from motion—and decided to buy the company outright. That bold move became the foundation for WePower Technologies, a company now leading innovation in kinetic energy harvesting. Instead of relying on traditional batteries or external power, WePower’s devices capture energy from simple physical actions like pressing a button or the movement of a magnet—converting that motion into enough energy to drive sensors, microprocessors, and wireless transmissions.

The discussion dives into WePower’s breakthrough products, including a self-powered water leak sensor and battery-free light controller, both capable of transmitting strong, reliable signals without ever needing a battery replacement. Richenstein also explains the company’s licensing model, which focuses on collaboration rather than litigation—helping major OEMs integrate this technology while maintaining strict quality standards.

Beyond the technical details, the conversation touches on the business of innovation, intellectual property strategy, and the entrepreneurial mindset it takes to transform a great idea into a market-ready solution. We also explore how WePower’s work fits into the broader movement toward sustainability, smart infrastructure, and truly ambient connectivity—where devices around us are always on, always connected, and never need charging.

If you’re passionate about IoT, clean tech, or the future of wireless power, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we explore the evolving world of distributed ledger technologies with José Cantera, Tech Analyst and Project Lead at the IOTA Foundation.

Then we chat with Ersan Günes, SVP Product IoT / Head of AI at Inpixon. Ersan brings unique insight into how AI is augmenting IoT in real-world industrial contexts. He discusses how Inpixon—a Gartner-recognized leader in indoor location—has evolved through strategic acquisitions, including technologies like Chirp, a spread-spectrum alternative to Bluetooth and UWB. Ersan explains why Chirp excels in environments such as mines and manufacturing plants, and how it compares to other location technologies.

Blockchain may have been overhyped in its early days, but José makes a compelling case for how distributed ledger systems — and IOTA’s unique tangle architecture — are now solving real-world problems across global supply chains. Moving beyond speculation and crypto chatter, this conversation explores how IOTA’s open-source, energy-efficient infrastructure is enabling transparency, trust, and collaboration between businesses, regulators, and consumers.

José explains how IOTA differs from traditional blockchains and why its architecture is ideally suited for data-driven ecosystems, not just financial transactions. He unpacks how this technology is being applied to projects like Twin, a major IOTA-led initiative improving food visibility and certification in Africa and the UK. Twin uses distributed ledgers to verify product origins, prevent fraud, and empower developing countries to trade more fairly in global markets.

The discussion also touches on Europe’s Digital Product Passport and upcoming sustainability regulations that are accelerating digital transformation in...Read More

AI Meets IoT: Ersan Günes on Inpixon’s Vision for Smarter Factories

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:14:09 -0700

In this episode of the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we dive deep into the intersection of IoT, AI, and the future of intelligent environments. We open on some of the biggest developments in the industry right now including reading between the lines of Avery Dennison and Wiliot’s recent partnership announcement, what it signals about large-scale adoption and market momentum. Steve shares his candid experiences coding with AI in Cursor—praising its speed and creativity while warning about its limits—and compares it to new tools like OpenAI’s VS Code plugin. Finally, get a firsthand look at Amazon’s Alexa+ Early Access Program, how the voice assistant’s large language model upgrade is transforming ambient computing inside the home.

The conversation then shifts to AI-powered innovation. Ersan introduces Ask Pixie, an AI-driven “factory in your pocket” designed to give managers conversational access to operational insights, blending ERP data with real-time location information. He details how Inpixon uses domain-specific training and dynamic factory data to make AI truly useful, while still complying with European AI regulations. We also learn about the company’s approach to multi-model orchestration, AR integration for asset tracking, and how customers are adopting these technologies in production environments.

Beyond the...Read More

Jason Wu on $1 Bluetooth Beacons & Qualcomm’s RFID Chip for Phones

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:10:24 -0700

This week on the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we dive into two big developments in the world of auto-ID and ambient IoT. First, we unpack Qualcomm’s recent announcement of the Dragon Wing Q6690 chip, which brings RFID capabilities directly to smartphones and industrial handhelds. This long-awaited milestone could help fulfill the decades-old vision of RFID-enabled phones—potentially transforming retail, logistics, and consumer applications

However there are challenges ahead, including lack of Apple and Google support, limited background scanning, and the very real lessons from NFC’s bumpy history. It’s a breakthrough worth celebrating, but one that needs perspective.

Then we sat down with Jason Wu, Cofounder and CEO of InPlay Inc., a semiconductor innovator behind the $1 Bluetooth beacon that is changing the economics of IoT. Jason shares how InPlay pivoted from its gaming roots into IoT, and how its NanoBeacon technology drastically reduces costs by simplifying chip design, minimizing supporting components, and even enabling no-code configuration. The result? Tags and labels that can run on printed batteries or energy harvesting, bringing active Bluetooth tracking into cost-sensitive markets that were once dominated by RFID.

Jason explains how smart labels, cold chain monitoring, logistics, and even consumer wearables are emerging as high-volume use cases. He details why integrating sensors like temperature and accelerometers opens new doors for data-driven applications, and how InPlay’s ultra-low-power designs achieve years of life on tiny batteries. He also discusses manufacturability, scalability, and the importance of making IoT accessible to developers without deep firmware expertise.

Together, we explore the bigger picture: how Bluetooth beacons and RFID complement each other in...Read More

Wiliot Gen 3: Scaling Ambient IoT

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:40 -0700

This week on the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we welcome back a familiar voice—Amir Khoshniyati, Head of Strategy and Business Development at Wiliot. Amir has built his career at the heart of connected product innovation, from SmartTrac and Avery Dennison to his current role guiding Wiliot’s partner strategy. Now, he joins us to share exclusive insights into the company’s latest breakthroughs and the broader future of ambient IoT.

We dive deep into gen 3 of Wiliot’s battery-free Bluetooth tags, which promises dramatic leaps in performance, cost efficiency, and manufacturability. Amir explains why Gen 3 isn’t just an incremental update—it’s the inflection point that makes ambient IoT scalable, practical, and accessible for industries far beyond early adopters.

Partnerships are also in focus. Wiliot has historically been known as a self-sufficient innovator, but Amir reveals how building a thriving ecosystem of tag manufacturers, integrators, and solution providers is now essential. Together, these players are enabling real-world deployments that stretch from global logistics to quick service restaurants, grocers, and healthcare.

You’ll hear how condition monitoring, inventory visibility, and automated workflows are being transformed by ambient IoT—and why customers like Royal Mail and major retailers are already validating the model. Amir also offers candid thoughts on readiness for phone-based readers, the evolving role of AI in connected product ecosystems, and how Wiliot’s organizational growth is positioning it for scale.

If you want to understand where the Internet of Things is heading—beyond buzzwords, toward trillions of connected items—this episode is essential listening.

Mister Beacon is hosted by...Read More

Battery-Free Sensors & the Future of IoT

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:56:57 -0700

In this episode of The Mr. Beacon Podcast, we welcome back Giampaolo Marino, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Energous. Marino last appeared just a few months ago, but with Energous making waves in the press and launching new technology, it was time for a return visit.

The conversation dives into Energous’ latest announcement: the e-Sense tag, a battery-free Bluetooth temperature sensor powered by the company’s wireless energy network. Steve and Giampaolo discuss how this new sensor fits into the broader ambient IoT ecosystem—and why it’s more of a complement than a competitor to other leading solutions like Wiliot.

You’ll get a first hand explanation of how the technology works: from energy harvesting and capacitor storage to the accuracy benefits of dedicated sensing hardware. Giampaolo also shares details on Energous’ new software platform, e-Compass, which gives customers an intuitive interface for monitoring assets, generating alerts, and building visibility across operations.

Beyond the technology itself, the discussion zooms out to cover the business momentum behind ambient IoT. With record revenues, Energous is entering a new phase, supporting use cases in cold chain monitoring, logistics, and reusable asset tracking. Giampaolo explains how battery-free sensors can dramatically reduce food waste, prevent spoilage, and improve efficiency across supply chains—translating into billions of dollars in savings and significant environmental benefits.

We also tackle the big-picture question: What exactly is Ambient IoT? We’ll compare our own definitions, from 3GPP’s cellular standards to broader views of an “Internet of everyday things” powered by commodity radios like Bluetooth. We agree on one thing for sure; Ambient IoT represents a paradigm shift,...Read More