A Connected Ecosystem for Logistics Industry with IoT

                 1) Software systems

                2) Inventory tracking and warehousing

                3) IoT and Predictive Analysis

                4) IoT enabled trucks

            Logistics, transportation and warehousing (supply chain management overall) are the first movers in the space of connected devices which can sense and ‘communicate’, long before the term ‘IoT‘ was even coined.

Movable assets like shipment vehicles like trucks and ship vessels are  becoming a crucial part of the IoT network and leaving a long-lasting dent on the logistics and transportation industry.

Along with warehousing both these industries  were the primary movers to embed connected systems even before the term “Internet of Things” was coined. This early adoption has enabled these sectors to flourish and further empower other industrial segments to revamp their supply chain management and other end-to-end processes.

These days just moving things from one point to another is not the only thing required in the logistic business. Because of high competition and multiple challenges, the main focus now is made on customers, meeting their needs and expectations.

 The top-priority and objectives of logistics companies are shifting  to ensure just-in-time delivery, supply chain visibility, product lifecycle transparency and quality services. Efficient inventory management and warehousing, automation of internal business processes, fast delivery and taking care of safe storage and quality of goods are the keys factors for a successful logistic companies.

IoT is making supply chain management less challenging and more efficient, with the help of Iot now companies can move beyond the imagination. In fact, logistics is one of the primary sectors to embrace IoT with such an open heart. With the ability to improve operational efficiency and enhance revenue opportunities, IoT has the power to revolutionize the supply chain sector within the next few years.

        Obviously the connected the logistics market isn’t just about the Internet of Things in the strictest sense but about the overall ecosystem which we typically see in an integrated Internet of Everything approach. So, services, security, the cloud, big data analysis and several other third platform technologies are also included in it.

As we discussed, the logistics the sector has been using connected infrastructures even before the term IoT came to the surface. This connected ecosystem was developed due to the need for the logistics sector to track their delivery vehicles (especially trucks) from remote locations and ensure timely delivery of the shipment on the required destination.

Due to this need, four major aspects or systems of the logistics industry were revamped that are now considered as its four major pillars. They are:

       It includes both ‘connected logistics’ cloud and on-premise solutions, which can be integrated with logistics applications and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). It’s clear that, just as in the case in virtual industries, there is a shift towards  cloud computing model and intelligent systems such as intelligent ERP.

        One of the most important part of the connected logistic system are Inventory management and warehousing. The small inexpensive sensors will allow companies to make smart warehouse system by easily track inventory items, monitor their status and position and create a smart warehouse system.

The employees will be able to prevent any losses with the help of IoT technology by ensuring safe storage of goods, as well as efficiently locating an item needed. By now, almost all logistics companies have already adopted such IoT solutions in their work. The minimization of human errors also becomes possible due to IoT.

      Internet-enabled devices collect a large amount of data and transmit this data into a central for carrying out further analysis. IoT and predictive analysis can be applied for the route and planning of delivery as well as the identification of various defects before any malfunctioning. These results are a timely replacement of the machinery parts, preventing any kind of crashes and an efficient vehicle/equipment maintenance

         Things like condition inside the container, remaining fuel in the vehicle and how long till a new set of tires will be required can all be monitored by using connected sensors using IoT. Required container conditions can vary widely by the product being transported, and having sensors reporting back to a central location allows for remote monitoring to ensure whatever is inside is delivered in peak condition. Wear and tear on trucks is huge and variable the expense for trucking companies; the ability to perform predictive maintenance based on the data collected from these IoT sensors allows unexpected downtime to be drastically reduced. Using the sensors you would not be required to do monthly maintenance of trucks or rely on human intervention to tell if the truck needs repair or not, this will allow reducing time in and delay in shipping due to unwanted breakdown of a truck in the middle of the process., while at the same time minimizing the impact on the rest of the fleet. And real-time location monitoring, combined with predictive analysis performed by AI, means routes can be adjusted automatically and trucks rerouted according to weather patterns, fuel costs, or other potential disruptions.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and finally, you came to know about A Connected Ecosystem for Logistics Industry with IoT.

    

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