You've probably heard of the concept of IoT, an acronym for Internet of Things. The Internet of Things in logistics has revolutionized operational flows, and good managers should know how to take advantage of its benefits.
Ultimately, this is the future of storage systems. The use of technologies characteristic of Industry 4.0 has come to increase business competitiveness, reduce inventory, and improve delivery times. Internet of Things in logistics There's no turning back, and companies that want to remain relevant need to adapt to this new reality.
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
First, we need to take a step back and understand what the Internet of Things is. Broadly speaking, this concept refers to the technological evolution that has connected appliances, tools, and other devices to the Internet.
In other words, it's the ability of objects to obtain information about their environment and communicate with each other. This isn't exclusive to logistics. For example, IoT is present in cell phones that "talk" to smartwatches.
Impacts of the Internet of Things on Logistics
The increase in connectivity between devices has caused a true revolution. By integrating the Internet of Things in logistics, The market noted an increase in productivity and greater control over operational flows.
The main change was the monitoring of shipments. The use of radio frequency (check if the link is loaded when posting) and barcode reading allows managers to track the movement of products in real time and with maximum precision.
Furthermore, the implementation of RFID facilitates inventory control. This makes it simpler to track the location of each product and identify which materials are in higher or lower demand. Monthly inventory counts become more automated, providing more information and fewer errors.
Companies using the Internet of Things in logistics
It became clear how important it was. Internet of Things in logistics, Right? This trend is already a reality in many companies worldwide. We've brought three examples for you to understand how it's possible to implement IoT in your warehouse:
General Electric
GE took it so seriously Internet of Things in logistics which created a parallel organization focused on IoT. It's General Electric Digital, whose goal is to concentrate on predictive maintenance and other aspects of this technology.
This wasn't the only initiative from the American company. It partnered with Accenture to create Taleris, which diagnoses and predicts aircraft maintenance problems before they occur. This is only possible with improved data and connectivity between devices, ensuring that vehicles are fit for purpose and operate optimally.
DHL
The German company began conducting a series of tests in 2017, focusing on... Internet of Things in logistics — a sector in which DHL operates. The main objective was to use technology to streamline yard management for inbound logistics for manufacturing.
Prior to this, DHL partnered with Cisco and the startup Conduce to deploy IoT cockpits in three of its smart warehouses across Europe. This allowed DHL to monitor activities in real time, generating more accurate reports.
Hitachi
Finally, we have Hitachi, a multinational conglomerate founded in Japan in 1910. In the last three years, the company has invested approximately US$2.8 billion in... Internet of Things in logistics and in the Industrial Internet.
They used Lumada, one of the most highly regarded IoT platforms in the artificial intelligence and Big Data market. Hitachi will connect facilities, devices, and related systems from various factories. Then, it will use the data to prevent specific unexpected failures and increase the efficiency of maintenance work. With each new data collection, the control and quality will become more precise.
As we said, the Internet of Things in logistics This is part of the future of warehousing systems. Logistics flows are already adapting to new trends, such as a data-driven culture and intelligent use of space.
