13 Digital Solutions for Efficient Logistics Chains

Empty warehouses, rising costs and supply problems are some of the numerous challenges the logistics industry faces. IoT applications can help solve many of them. Here are 13 examples.

Shortages of material are now less of a problem for the German economy. According to the Munich ifo Institute only around 18 percent of German companies reported bottlenecks in October; the figure for the previous month was 24 percent. But the improvement  does not apply to all industries. In the automobile industry nearly 37 percent of respondents continue to report delivery issues.

So the focus continues to be on combating disruptions in the logistics chain and shortages of material. Geopolitical tension and an increasing number of extreme weather events repeatedly impact on international transportation. The logistics sector is also affected by a shortage of skilled personnel, rising energy costs and, from December, an increase in the cost of road tolls for trucks in Germany.   

Digital solutions such as networking via the Internet of Things (IoT) can be of assistance in all areas of logistics. They can also help to make supply chains stable, transparent, sustainable and cost-effective, as exemplified by the following 13 use cases.

Real-time delivery status information: nowadays customers want to know at all times where their goods are. Thanks to Telekom solutions such as the Low Cost Tracker you receive the latest location data for your shipments. You can share it with customers, service providers and partners, announce exact delivery times and provide notification of delays. Additional benefits are that localization data enables you to optimize shipping routes and delivery times and prevent empty runs, thereby saving fuel costs and reducing the fleet’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Handling returns without complications motivates customers to place repeat purchases. To ensure that returns run smoothly our solutions provide customers with a clearly structured returns process. Companies benefit too; they receive valuable information such as the reasons for returns and can improve their offerings accordingly.

No fluctuations in temperature during shipment: Perishable or temperature-sensitive products must be cooled continuously, for which seamless cool chain monitoring is an important prerequisite. Our sensors measure the temperature and sound the alarm if it fluctuates. Problems can be identified and rectified immediately. The data also offers your customers transparency and fulfills all obligations to provide evidence.

Keeping an eye on stock, deliveries, transportation and storage capacities: To prevent production or delivery bottlenecks manufacturers or distributors must ensure a sufficient but not too high material inventory, which is almost impossible to achieve manually. Sensor data provides valuable information about goods held in stock and deliveries. It also helps with demand forecasting in planning and inventory management.

For smooth collaboration in the supply chain all participants require the necessary information – seamless, up to date and trouble-free. Our digital solutions for the logistics chain facilitate continuous data exchange without media breaks. The benefits include greater processing efficiency  and a rteal-time overview of the delivery status.

Product losses, inewffective processes and dissatisfied customers: Problems along the supplxy chain are frequently the result of a lack of transparencchain are frequently the result of a lack of transparency and coordination. Comprehensive digital quality management is the solution. Data provides the information required to ensure quality, to optimize processes and to identify discrepancies and vulnerabilities. That is how to boost your valuew chain’s efficiency.

Empty containers, recycling packaging or waste and protecting the environment: All of these are frequently a challenge for companies, maybe because different service providers are involved or the location of containers is unknown. Our solution is a locating system with AI-controlled data analysis to measure filling levels and provide protection from theft. It simplifies cxommunication with waste disposal enterprises, promotes structured waste disposal management and cuts costs.

Optimal planning of storage capacities and routes: Efficient load planning ensures timely delivery and saves companies money. Analog methods don’t work for large fleets. Our smart scheduling systems use optimization algorithms that rely on real-time data and GPS tracking to continuously update schedules, optimize vehicle utilization and prevent empty runs. That surely is a real benefit for fleet management.

Storing goods according to regulations, making optimum use of storage space and preventing bottlenecks: Warehouse logistics ensures otimal processes and, thanks to the IoT, greater efficiency. Automated order processes save time, simplify matters, reduce errors and help with efficient incoming goods inspection and inventory management.

To know when the delivery will arrive, the estimated time of arrival (RTA) is important. It is imprtant for planning storage capacities, shipments and production processes and for boosting customer satisfaction. The challenges include unpredictability of delays en route or in loading and unloading. ETA calculation based on telematics data integrates delays and hindrances in real time and adjusts the time horizon automatically.

No handwritten notes, no unnecessary use of paper: A digital delivery note is sustainable and time-saving, less susceptible to errors or loss and requires significantly less effort and expense. Everyone involved in the logistics chain receives all the information required directly and automatically. In this way goods delveries can be booked in electronically, ewturns processed without delay and billing can be triggered.

Accurate and timely execution of orders: Order management controls shipping and warehouse orders, prioritizes and keeps track of the processing status using IoT solutions that make everything significantly more productive and transparent because they record customer orders centrally, support the coordination of order processing digitally and keep customers up to date at all times.

Calculating and billing the costs of complex transportation chains is increasingly important for the logistics industry. And allocating all items correctly, taking different legal and fiscal requirements into account, is also becoming more and more challenging. Digital solutions record all data centrally and automate the billing. You benefit in transparency, efficiency and profitability.