In this episode of the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we explore how ambient IoT is reshaping manufacturing with Dr. Karsten Königstein, Managing Director at Sinfosy GmbH. Drawing on decades of experience in production logistics and IoT innovation, Karsten shares how his team is solving one of industry’s most persistent and costly problems: not knowing where things are.
From misplaced pallets to lost high-value assets, manufacturers often struggle with a lack of “ground truth” data. Karsten explains how Sinfosy tackles this challenge by turning everyday technology, such as smartphones, into powerful industrial sensing devices. By combining built-in sensors, Bluetooth beacons, and camera-based QR code tracking, their system delivers precise, real-time visibility into production environments.
A standout innovation is their use of smartphones as fixed infrastructure, mounted to walls or ceilings, to capture and process location data without expensive hardware. Even more compelling is their QR code-based tracking, which enables centimeter-level accuracy at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems like ultra-wideband or RFID. As one automotive customer put it, “This is the best thing since the wheel.”
Karsten also introduces a system-as-a-service model that lowers barriers to adoption by bundling hardware, software, and maintenance into a single offering. The result is a scalable, cost-effective solution that integrates seamlessly with existing enterprise systems like SAP and MES platforms.
Beyond the technology, this conversation dives into entrepreneurship, the realities of building startups within and outside large corporations like Bosch, and the evolving role of data in Industry 4.0.
If you're interested in ambient IoT, smart manufacturing, or practical innovation that delivers real ROI, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
Karsten’s Top 3 Songs
- “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qDML_BCju8
- “We Are The Champions” by Queen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5GkgVhFeZY
- “Who Wants To Live Forever” by Queen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxn_5Barsk0
Mister Beacon is hosted by Steve Statler, CEO of ambientChat.ai — Using AI to connect people with places and products with an app that puts you in control of YOUR data.
Our sponsor is Identiv https://www.identiv.com, whose IoT solutions create digital identities for physical objects, enhancing global connectivity for businesses, people, and the planet. We are also sponsored by Blecon http://www.blecon.net. Blecon enables physical products to communicate with cloud applications using Bluetooth Low Energy.