How IoT has Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility

What is Supply Chain Visibility? 

Supply chain visibility refers to a business’s ability to track the movement and status of goods in transit, from production facilities through to final delivery. It involves the continuous monitoring of inventory, equipment, or shipments across different stages to ensure timely and efficient logistics. With enhanced visibility, companies can identify bottlenecks, manage risks proactively, mitigate losses due to theft or damage, and optimize delivery timelines. In today’s global supply chains, achieving visibility is essential to maintaining operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

The Role of IoT in Supply Chain Visibility 

IoT (Internet of Things) technologies have significantly transformed supply chain operations, enabling businesses to track assets more accurately and monitor environmental conditions in real time or at configurable intervals. IoT devices collect data from sensors embedded in goods or attached to transport containers and send it to central platforms for analysis. This helps businesses: 

• Monitor cargo conditions such as temperature, humidity, and movement to maintain compliance (e.g., cold chain management) 
• Optimise delivery routes based on real-time location data, improving fleet efficiency
• Detect tampering or unauthorized access with alerts for door openings or unexpected stops
• Enable predictive analytics, such as forecasting delays or potential asset failure

IoT offers seamless integration with ERP, logistics, and telematics platforms, allowing for a consolidated view of goods in transit. The combination of GPS, Bluetooth, and low-power cellular networks ensures continuous visibility regardless of location or transport mode. 

Industries Leveraging IoT-Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility 

Various industries rely on IoT technology to gain deeper insights into their supply chain operations: 

• Logistics and Freight Transport: Real-time GPS and condition monitoring to optimise delivery schedules and reduce inefficiencies
• Retail and E-commerce: Continuous tracking of inventory and shipments to prevent stockouts and improve warehouse management
• Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Maintaining precise environmental controls during the shipment of temperature-sensitive goods like vaccines
• Manufacturing: Ensuring the availability of raw materials and components to avoid production delays and bottlenecks

Key Features of IoT Devices for Maximum Supply Chain Visibility 

IoT asset tracking devices provide robust and adaptable features to ensure seamless tracking throughout the entire supply chain. Key capabilities include: 

• Adaptive Tracking Technology: Devices increase update frequency during transit to deliver more granular insights into asset location and conditions. When stationary, they revert to lower-frequency updates to preserve battery life 
• Indoor and Outdoor Tracking: GNSS (GPS), Wi-Fi Access Point scanning, Bluetooth and Cell Tower triangulation ensure precise tracking across different environments, including warehouses and urban areas with limited satellite visibility 
• Real-Time Alerts and Recovery Mode: Switch to real-time tracking when theft or unauthorised movement is detected, improving the chances of asset recovery 
• Wire-Free Deployment: Battery-powered trackers can be easily attached to assets, pallets, or packaging, eliminating the need for external wiring or complex installation
• Global Connectivity: Devices support multi-network connectivity via LTE-M, NB-IoT, and LPWAN protocols, providing uninterrupted tracking across borders using roaming SIMs
• Bluetooth Integration: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) sensors and tags facilitate door monitoring, tamper detection, and inventory management for enhanced visibility at a lower cost 

Digital Matter Supply Chain Visibility Solutions 

At Digital Matter, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of battery-powered IoT asset trackers specifically designed for supply chain visibility solutions. Our devices integrate seamlessly with existing ERP systems, telematics platforms, and logistics software, providing businesses with critical insights and control over their operations. 

Our trackers are designed with rugged housings (IP68-rated) to withstand the harshest environments, including dust, impact, and water exposure. They also feature adaptive tracking modes to ensure efficient data reporting, balancing detail with battery preservation. With user-replaceable batteries (Alkaline, Lithium, or LTC) and long operational life, businesses can optimize their tracking strategies with minimal maintenance. 

The Role of Bluetooth in IoT-Enabled Supply Chain Visibility 

Bluetooth technology enhances supply chain visibility by allowing businesses to track more for less. Digital Matter’s Bluetooth Gateway devices enable seamless communication with nearby BLE tags, sensors, and accessories, providing critical asset insights without the cost or complexity of full GPS tracking. Key use cases include: 

• Door Monitoring for Tamper Detection: BLE sensors trigger alerts when cargo doors are opened, helping prevent theft or tampering 
• Cold Chain Management: BLE sensors monitor temperature and humidity levels for compliance with pharmaceutical and food safety standards 
• Inventory Management: Bluetooth tags simplify stock tracking for pallets, small tools, or returnable containers where larger GPS trackers are unnecessary 

These capabilities help companies lower operational costs while ensuring comprehensive visibility at every stage of the supply chain. 

Partner With Supply Chain Visibility Specialists 

Partnering with Digital Matter ensures your business stays ahead with the latest IoT innovations for supply chain visibility. Our products are designed to address diverse operational needs, offering the flexibility to track assets globally, indoors and outdoors. Key advantages include: 

• Proven Industry Expertise: Over 3 million devices deployed worldwide with trusted use in 130+ countries 
• Flexible and Secure Integration: Seamless integration with ERP, telematics, and logistics platforms through comprehensive documentation and open payload formats 
• Low-Power Design for Long Battery Life: Extend device operating time with low-power engineering and user-replaceable batteries
• Exceptional Support: Our engineers assist with configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization, ensuring your solution fits your specific requirements

With Digital Matter’s robust asset tracking solutions, businesses can experience the full potential of their supply chain operations, gaining critical visibility and reducing inefficiencies. Our integration-ready, battery-powered IoT devices are built to enhance operational control, reduce losses, and optimize logistics.  

Get in touch with our team to learn how we help businesses gain greater value from their assets and enhance supply chain visibility with our award-winning IoT solutions.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  

What is supply chain visibility? 

Supply chain visibility is the ability to track and monitor the location and condition of goods as they move through various stages of the supply chain, from production to delivery. 

How does your solution maximize supply chain visibility? 

Our solution combines GPS, Bluetooth, and multi-network connectivity to offer granular tracking of goods across diverse environments. Adaptive tracking technology ensures detailed updates during transit, while tamper alerts provide real-time notifications when issues arise. 

Do I need real-time tracking for supply chain visibility? 

Not every business requires real-time tracking. For some, event-based tracking offers a more power-efficient solution. With adaptive tracking, our devices balance visibility and battery life by increasing update rates when assets are moving and slowing down when stationary.