Consumers, in general, are more demanding today than they have ever been before. They demand products, goods and services quickly and anything less than stellar delivery of those goods in a timely fashion is unacceptable. This has impacted the supply chain in many ways over the years as companies try to figure out how to meet the ever-increasing demands while still putting out a great product and turning a profit. Some companies have turned to their IT infrastructure and become more open-minded about IoT, which could become the norm in the supply chain in the future. Here are a few ways the supply chain may be changing for the better with IoT.
Waste Reduction
With IoT-enabled shipping containers and trucks, companies can monitor a product throughout the entire supply chain and essentially until it reaches the consumer. Take a grocery store for example. A grocery store can monitor a shipment of fruit to ensure it’s following the necessary protocols, procedures and guidelines, while staying on track from a timing perspective. The ability to monitor every step in the process easily can reduce waste by identifying problems quickly and make changes as needed.
Improved Inventory Management
Many network installers have been asked to help companies make their supply chain more efficient. With IoT, both outbound and inbound inventory can be tracked much more easily and in real-time. This helps both the shipper and receiver know exactly what’s coming and when at any given moment. The real-time visibility also gives some insight into upcoming demands, so future inventory can be managed properly as well.
Monitor Shipping Conditions
Pharmaceutical companies have to be able to monitor the shipping conditions of their products, since many of them have to be kept at or below a certain temperature. When their IT infrastructure includes the use of IoT, they can track the shipping condition from the very beginning until it arrives at their facility. If the temperature of any product exceeds what it needs to be, the entire shipment could be ruined.
Product Analytics
Another valuable attribute of IoT in the supply chain is to gather data on which products are selling and which ones aren’t. It’s worth reworking your IT infrastructure to incorporate IoT in this way since it could save on waste, excessive inventory and keeping the inventory you need to turn a profit. IoT can be configured to provide essentially any type of data you would find valuable to help your company.
Anistar Technologies works with experts who have experience in enhancing the supply chain as a whole. There are plenty of talented professionals in the technology industry looking for jobs as network installers, security systems technicians, AV professionals and much more. Whether you’re a company manager or an expert looking for the right job, contact us to see how we can connect you with the perfect fit for your skills and needs.
