Hoshizaki Corporation will add SIM connectivity to its cloud-based monitoring service for commercial refrigerators and other equipment from January 5, 2027. The company will also rename Hoshizaki Connect Wi-Fi as Hoshizaki Connect, with the service supporting both Wi-Fi and SIM communication modules.
Hoshizaki launched the Wi-Fi-based service in January 2024 to enable remote monitoring of equipment operating status. The SIM option will allow data collection at sites without Wi-Fi infrastructure, including independently owned restaurants.
All new Maintenance Lease contracts for commercial refrigerators and walk-in cold storage units, including refrigerators, freezers and high humidity refrigerators, signed from January 5, 2027 will include a pre-installed SIM module and Hoshizaki Connect at no additional charge. For customers without a Maintenance Lease, SIM modules can be retrofitted to most products, with customers paying for the module and installation labor; Hoshizaki Connect service fees will not be charged for the first 10 years after installation.
Hoshizaki has also updated equipment reports with four status levels: Normal, Maintenance Needed, Inspection Required and Fault, accompanied by explanatory comments. Its approximately 2,800 service staff in Japan will use equipment data during scheduled inspections. At the end of the standard seven-year Maintenance Lease term, Hoshizaki plans to use accumulated operating data to analyze usage trends and recommend options such as equipment replacement or lease extension.
Hoshizaki Connect monitors operating and temperature data on cloud servers. Customers can access real-time equipment status and temperatures through internet-connected devices, configure alert thresholds and error-notification recipients, and automatically generate temperature logs and HFC management inspection records as spreadsheet files.
Hoshizaki says it has begun combining data collected from Wi-Fi-equipped units with AI and its technical expertise to predict breakdowns and identify likely causes. The company plans to expand its data analysis for breakdown prediction, customer proposals and future product development.
