The Internet of Things is the “Internet of Everything Connected”. It is an extended and expanded network based on the Internet. It can collect any objects or processes that need to be monitored, connected, and interacted in real time through various devices and technologies such as information sensors, radio frequency identification technology, global positioning system, infrared sensors, and laser scanners. All kinds of required information, through various possible network access, realize the ubiquitous connection between things and things, things and people, and realize the intelligent perception, identification and management of objects and processes. The supply chain involves material production, distribution, retail, warehousing and other links in the production process. Supply chain management is a huge and complex management system, and IoT technology can make supply chain management simple and orderly.
The application of IoT technology to optimize supply chain management mainly includes the following aspects:
Intelligent procurement management: Through the Internet of Things technology, automatic material procurement and inventory management can be realized in the procurement management link. For enterprises, smart labeling technology can be used to label materials and commodities, and build an interconnected ecosystem of materials and networks, making procurement management intelligent and automated, reducing manual processes and improving efficiency.
Logistics and transportation management: IoT technology can realize real-time monitoring of global logistics and supply chains. Through technologies such as GPS tracking，RFID, sensor technology, it is possible to track product transportation conditions, such as transportation time, cargo temperature, humidity, vibration and other factors, and provide early warning of logistics risk issues. At the same time, route optimization can be carried out through intelligent algorithms, which can reduce transportation time and cost, improve delivery accuracy and customer satisfaction.
Realize digital warehouse management: IoT technology enables the inventory and management of items in warehouses. Through technologies such as sensors and structured codes, employees can automatically monitor, record, report, and manage inventory, and can upload this information to the data background in real time to enable information to communicate with each other to optimize and control inventory costs.
Forecast and demand planning: Use IoT sensors and big data analysis to collect and analyze market demand, sales data, consumer behavior and other information to realize supply chain forecast and demand planning. It can predict demand changes more accurately, optimize production planning and inventory management, and reduce inventory risks and costs.
Asset management and maintenance: Use IoT technology to remotely monitor and manage equipment, machines, and tools in the supply chain to realize intelligent asset management and maintenance forecasting. Equipment failures and abnormalities can be detected in time, repairs and maintenance can be carried out in advance, and downtime and maintenance costs can be reduced.
Realize supplier management: Internet of Things technology can realize real-time monitoring and feedback on the supply chain. Compared with traditional supplier management methods, Internet of Things can provide accurate data analysis and complete information sharing, and establish a more effective supplier management mechanism , so that enterprises can better grasp the situation of suppliers, evaluate and control them in time, so as to ensure the high-quality operation of the supply chain.
Collaborative cooperation and information sharing: Establish a collaborative cooperation platform among suppliers, logistics service providers and partners through the Internet of Things platform to realize real-time information sharing and collaborative decision-making. It can improve the coordination and response speed among all links in the supply chain, and reduce the error rate and communication cost.
To sum up, the Internet of Things technology can optimize supply chain management in various aspects such as procurement, transportation management, and warehousing, and effectively integrate all links to form an efficient and intelligent supply chain system, improve enterprise operating efficiency and reduce cost.
Post time: Aug-01-2023