Comment by esikich
7 hours ago
Because they need remote monitoring. I have experience with HVAC so I'm guessing these are similar: typically outsourced to a third party, typically a VM running on a dedicated server, accessible by Citrix or something similar. Supermarkets don't internally staff fridge repairmen.
They could just use connected temperature probes though. no need to connect the power supply of the damn compressor to the internet.
A lot of these devices are temperature controllable as the product in them may require different temperatures. They can have temperature ranges from refrigeration to freezing.
Also adjust power usage depending on time of day and such.
You can schedule power usage with a dummy controller. I'm not sure of any products sold that are that specific to temp in my grocery store at least. Either it is refrigerated or frozen.
You don't need to network the fridge though... You just need a networked sensor...
That's assuming you just need to maintain a static temperature, which probably isn't the case.