IoT in action at Roche.

Mr Furler, what first drew you to the topic of IoT, and what keeps your passion for it alive?

It all started by chance—but in hindsight, it was a natural progression. Early in my career, I was developing sensor technology for the automotive industry. I then moved into computer science, where the focus was on scalability and infrastructure. The Internet of Things brings all of that together. My role is to digitally map the physical world and build a cohesive architecture that creates real value across the business. And it’s not just me who’s passionate about it; without the outstanding colleagues at our individual sites, none of this would be possible.

For many companies, IoT still feels like a futuristic concept. Why is that?

IoT is very much a reality—if you’re ready to embrace it here and now. But—and this is the crucial point—it doesn’t work in isolation. The first step is breaking down silos. If you’re running multiple isolated IT systems and pilot projects across different departments, it quickly becomes a nightmare and impossible for IT to manage. What’s needed more than anything is a robust, scalable architecture and infrastructure. Then come the big questions: How do you manage hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of sensors? How do you consolidate data from countless sources—whether from labs, production facilities or logistics? That’s where reliable internal and external partners come in—people who truly know what they’re doing. Yes, it sounds like a lot of work, I know. But it’s the only way to achieve transparency and efficiency across all processes. In the end, it’s the same evolution IT itself has gone through.

How did you manage to make IoT part of everyday operations at Roche?

It wasn’t a sweeping, overnight revolution—it was a targeted, pragmatic evolution. Our first use case focused on optimising office and lab space in one of Roche’s long-established buildings, where there were frequent complaints about room utilisation. So we used sensors to track which areas were being used, when and how. A classic IoT scenario. The results led to improved working conditions and tangible cost savings. That success opened doors at executive level, because we had a clear win that delivered measurable financial value.

And then?

Since building a separate infrastructure for every new use case is both inefficient and costly, we developed what we call the Master Use Case. In essence,this means we work with a scalable platform that serves as the foundation for all future IoT devices—and therefore all subsequent use cases. Once the initial investment is made, the cost per use case naturally decreases, and implementation becomes faster and more straightforward.

So, is it worth it?

Absolutely, and I really want to stress this point. At Roche, every decision is backed by careful calculations. When I’m asked what it takes to make IoT worthwhile, I tend to flip the question: what’s the cost of not doing it? You end up with higher operating costs because processes remain inefficient and lack transparency. You face increased maintenance expenses, unexpected downtime, and investments in buildings that may not even be needed based on actual usage. I can’t stress enough how strategically important it is for companies to make full and meaningful use of the data captured by sensors.

What kinds of processes can IoT help automate?

Anything that should be automated—and anywhere it makes sense to do so. Devices can notify you when they’re moved. Machines send alerts when maintenance is due. If an item is taken from a shelf, it’s automatically reordered. Wherever manual processes no longer add value, they’re replaced. And that also means employees can make conscious decisions about which manual tasks are meaningful and worthwhile. They remain in control of their working environment.

What do Roche employees actually gain from IoT?

Quite a lot, actually. Take the hi Site app, for example. Employees at four Roche locations can use it on their smartphones to find and book available meeting rooms. If the queue at the canteen is too long, you can check when it’s quieter. And if you’ve shared your location, colleagues can find you anywhere on site—and vice versa. One small but highly effective IoT feature that really helps with room bookings is our E-Ink displays. These digital signs update automatically and in real time, whether in production or in the lab. And thanks to IoT, as a technician, you could even locate a pipette if needed.

What’s the benefit of that?

Roche operates many labs and areas like diagnostics, where highly sensitive and expensive equipment is used. Thanks to IoT, technicians responsible for maintenance and calibration no longer need to waste time manually searching for devices. Costly new purchases can be avoided, because valuable lab equipment doesn’t simply “disappear” into a cupboard. It’s another clear example of how IoT drives transparency and efficiency.

Which IoT use cases are driving those kinds of benefits?

There are three in particular: space utilisation management, asset tracking, and the E-Ink displays I mentioned earlier. The communication infrastructure is based on BLE mesh or LoRaWAN—essentially functioning like a corporate LAN.

So, you’ve now established a comprehensive IoT system. What’s next?

We’re now focusing on scaling with managed security and accelerating automation. The goal is to connect 10 million IoT devices across the entire company and all business areas. Our vision is for IoT to be as seamless and taken for granted as electricity or the internet. That’s why, for me, IoT isn’t some flashy tech trend reserved for enthusiasts. At its core, it’s about people and collaboration. Even the most sophisticated system is worthless if it doesn’t gain acceptance. Ultimately, IoT is only as effective as the people who use it.