IoT in the Supply Chain
What Is IoT in the Supply Chain?
IoT (Internet of Things) in the supply chain refers to the use of connected sensors, smart devices, trackers, and data-driven hardware to monitor products, equipment, and operations in real time.
IoT enables continuous visibility across manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, retail, and post-sale environments.
These devices collect and transmit critical data such as temperature, location, humidity, shock, vibration, movement, and usage — creating smarter, more reliable supply chains
Why IoT Matters in Supply Chain Operations
Traditional supply chains suffer from low visibility and delayed reporting. IoT addresses these problems by:
- Providing real-time monitoring of goods and assets
- Reducing spoilage, damage, and theft
- Supporting predictive maintenance
- Improving traceability and compliance
- Enhancing cold-chain integrity
- Automating logistics and inventory workflows
- Enabling event-based alerts and decisioning
IoT transforms supply chains from reactive to proactive.
Key Applications of IoT in the Supply Chain
1. Real-Time Location Tracking
GPS and BLE-enabled tags for shipment visibility.
2. Cold Chain Monitoring
Temperature sensors for vaccines, food, and agro-chemicals.
3. Shock & Vibration Tracking
Detecting mishandling of electronics or fragile goods.
4. Smart Warehousing
Automated pallet tracking, intelligent shelving, and robotic integration.
5. Equipment & Machine Monitoring
Predictive maintenance for factory machines.
6. Authentication & Anti-Counterfeit Support
Sensors linked to secure codes verify legitimate movement.
7. Last-Mile Delivery Optimization
Track driver routes, delays, and delivery conditions.
How IoT Works in a Supply Chain Context
- Sensors are attached to products, pallets, equipment, or vehicles.
- Devices collect environmental, movement, or performance data.
- Data is transmitted via Wi-Fi, GSM, LoRaWAN, BLE, or NFC.
- Cloud systems process this data using analytics or AI.
- Dashboards display real-time status, trends, and alerts.
- Automated workflows trigger actions (e.g., product quarantine, route change).
Example: IoT for Cold Chain Agro-Chemicals
A pesticide shipment uses IoT temperature sensors:
- Temperature rises above safe threshold
- IoT device sends real-time alert
- Distributor is instructed to isolate the pallet
- Manufacturer receives automatic incident report
- Affected batches are flagged in Digital Twin records
This prevents compromised agro-chemicals from reaching farmers
Benefits of IoT in Supply Chain
- Improved traceability and compliance
- Reduced losses from spoilage or mishandling
- Higher product quality and safety
- Optimized logistics and warehouse operations
- Faster incident detection and resolution
- Lower operational cost through automation
Industries Using Supply Chain IoT
- Pharmaceuticals & vaccines
- Food and beverages
- Agro-chemicals
- Logistics and 3PL
- Electronics & automotive
- Manufacturing and warehousing
- Retail distribution
How Acviss Connects with IoT Infrastructure
Acviss integrates IoT feeds into its traceability and authentication ecosystem:
- IoT event ingestion into Digital Twins
- Automated alerts for quality deviations
- Integration with blockchain or secure databases
- Real-time dashboards for batch and shipment intelligence
- Combined authentication + IoT anomaly signals
- API connectors for OEM IoT platforms
This enhances supply chain intelligence beyond physical labels and codes.
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