11 benefits of the Internet of Things for the Transport Sector
The Internet of Things (IoT) is having a revolutionary impact on various industries and offers many benefits to the transport sector in particular. It is a term with a broad connotation. Appellations like telematics, machine-to-machine, connected or smart are all connected to it, think smart homes or smart cities. These are also cases of IoT.
WHAT'S IN THE NAME
The Internet of Things refers to a network of physical 'things', such as devices, vehicles and other objects equipped with sensors, bluetooth, RFID, software and 2G/4G connectivity, among other things, allowing them to collect and exchange data over the internet. These devices can communicate and collaborate with each other over the internet, enabling them to perform automated tasks and generate valuable insights. Around 50 billion things worldwide are now connected to the internet, creating a certain kind of intelligence.
WHY IS IOT IMPORTANT FOR THE TRANSPORT SECTOR?
The revolutionary impact of connecting physical objects such as vehicles, equipment or tools to the internet and thus collecting and analysing the data from those objects in real time has made business processes increasingly efficient and effective. In this article, we list the benefits of IoT and how it has transformed the Transport & Logistics sector.
- Real-time track & trace of vehicles: IoT enables companies to accurately track and monitor their vehicles. This provides better visibility of the location of vehicles, allowing companies to increase the efficiency of their business processes, improve delivery times and increase customer satisfaction.
- Planning daily routes: With IoT technology, companies can use real-time traffic information and other relevant data to plan the most efficient routes for their vehicles. This not only reduces travel time, but also helps save fuel costs and reduce environmental impact.
- Easily monitor driver behaviour: Using sensors, it is easy to measure acceleration, braking, cornering, bumps and speed. This information makes it easier to hold drivers accountable for their driving behaviour to avoid fines and reduce fuel consumption.
- Insight into fuel consumption: by connecting to the CANbus or free I/O ports, the running hours of the vehicle or device can be easily tracked. This makes it easy to steer towards reducing fuel consumption and therefore CO2 consumption. The data can be used for the CO2 performance ladder. By connecting the CANbus to the odo meter, 100% accurate kilometre registration is also possible.
- Remote insight into driving and rest times: by linking to the digital tachograph, driver cards and the mass memory can be downloaded remotely. This simplifies an important operation within transport and prevents significant fines.
- Temperature management: for companies transporting goods that are sensitive to temperature, such as food and pharmaceuticals, IoT offers the ability to monitor temperature in real-time. This helps ensure the quality and safety of goods, while also complying with regulatory requirements.
- Connected transport: Through sensors in the road, bollards or traffic lights, it is possible to make contact with vehicles. Freight traffic can thus be prioritised in traffic which improves traffic flow and increases safety. Less braking and acceleration not only saves time but also reduces CO2 emissions. As does information on tyre pressure.
- Preventing theft: IoT allows companies to monitor the status of doors and other access points on vehicles. This helps prevent unauthorised access and theft. Moreover, geofencing technologies can be used to create virtual boundaries around specific locations, allowing companies to receive instant notifications when vehicles cross these boundaries.
- Managing loose materials with RFID: Using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags allows companies to identify and track goods and materials, such as crates or trolleys, as they move through the logistics process. This simplifies inventory management and reduces loss or theft of materials.
- Inspections and maintenance management: In addition to vehicles, tools also need to be inspected q. maintained regularly. By connecting all these objects with RFID in the network, the location and status can be more easily determined and inspections and maintenance are scheduled in time and easily carried out.
- Management of vehicles and equipment in one environment: IoT enables companies to manage and monitor all their vehicles and equipment through one integrated and centralised environment. This saves costs and leads to better operational control, efficiency and maintenance planning.
SMART TRANSPORT
Deploying IoT in the transport and logistics sector naturally requires various investments. Companies need to consider costs such as IoT device procurement, sensor installation, connectivity, data management and security. Although the initial investments can be significant, the optimisation of business processes and the long-term cost savings will more than justify these investments. It increases staff and customer satisfaction. In doing so, it becomes Smart Transport or Smart Mobility.
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