Due to technological progress and current challenges, today’s logistics market and transportation industry experiences a rapid transformation. In order to approach the new possibilities and stay ahead, the transportation & logistics industry strives to embrace new logistics innovations that provide more visibility across transportation processes, measure operational performances, reduce downtime, decrease operating costs, and optimize road traffic. Internet of Things with its ability to connect devices is the right key for better results.
A core benefit of using Internet of Things in Transportation industry is enhancement of overall visibility of goods movement. A transport, be it a motor vehicle, ship or train wagon, is embedded with sensors that send real-time data about transportation process to the main network system. Thus, an IoT system can track the location of shipments down to the individual units and alerts the users in case of unexpected events, like a jam on the road, or the location or status of the vehicle used for transportation.
IoT-driven inventory management is the most widespread application of Internet of Things in Transportation and Logistics. This application allows tracking inventory assets remotely, monitor their status, and thus, create a smart warehouse. Additionally, embedded in a vehicle fill level sensors help to avoid transport under load and overload.
Factors like providing real time monitoring of companies daily operations, varying restrictions, policies and drivers experience, IoT logistics systems allow optimizing traffic routes. The transportation logistics demand refers to constantly growing customer expectations, i.e. both companies and individuals expect to get products move faster with more flexibly along with low or no delivery cost.
IoT Logistics applications have proved to be the most effective solution in the demand category of the Transportation and Logistics industry, providing faster time-to-market, reduced defect rates, and customized delivery. IoT logistics systems monitor the temperature at which an item is maintained, adjusting it when needed. This particular application is very useful for pharmaceutical products and perishable goods. IoT driven devices & sensors tracks environmental data, such as temperature, pressure, light exposure, humidity etc allowing remotely monitoring and controlling the environmental conditions of goods.
Capable of gaining various real-time metrics, an IoT logistics system can analyze obtained data and make predictions. For instance, based on a constant flow of real-time information, the system can optimize routes, plan smarter deliveries, and identify defects before something goes wrong, predicting inefficient equipment usage and even accidents.
