DC Velocity - June 2018

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report back to customers in a variety
of formats. Cloudleaf launched its
suite of solutions last fall, and the
technologies are now in use with
more than 10 customers in the phar-
maceutical, automotive, and indus-
trial markets. It will introduce a new
mobile gateway this summer that
will include enhanced GPS and cel-
lular capabilities for gathering real-
time in-transit data. The company
joins a field of like-minded com-
petitors, including BlackBerry Ltd.,
Honeywell, and Roambee Corp., all
of which have introduced new or
enhanced asset-tracking solutions in
the last year or so, capitalizing on the con-
nectivity trend that is driving the adop-
tion of cloud-based technologies across
the business landscape.

A recent study by material handling and logistics industry trade association MHI underscores these points. Its 2018 Annual Industry Report, published in partnership with Deloitte Consulting, shows that cloud computing and storage is the most-adopted new technology in the industry; the study of more than 1,000 supply chain professionals reveals an adoption rate of 57 percent. Adoption is expected to grow to 78 percent over the next two years, and to 91 percent over the next five years, according to the report. The use of sensors and IoT technology is on a similar growth path. Nearly half of respondents to the 2018 MHI study say they are using sensors in their supply chain operations. And though the adoption rate for IoT is just 22 percent today, it is expected to reach 50 percent within two years and 79 percent within five years.

“Digital transformation is top of mind for pretty much every executive out there,” explains Arora, pointing to the convergence of Io T and the cloud as an important and growing means of solving supply chain problems—especially when it comes to inventory, fleets, and warehouses.

ENHANCING VISIBILITY

A clearer view into their supply chain gives organizations better access to data so they can, in turn, make better business decisions. Providing that supply chain visibility is a hallmark of cloud-based asset-tracking solutions, which generally come in the form of sensor tags that can be mounted on equipment or trailers, placed on boxes or containers, and even embedded into pallets. Sensors monitor the asset’s location and condition, and can track mileage, maintenance needs, and utilization levels of trucks and trailers. Data are transmitted to a gateway and then analyzed in the cloud, and most companies deliver the information in the form of dashboards that can be accessed on a variety of devices; information can also be fed into an organization’s enterprise applications.