The State of IoT Summer 2024 Report estimated that by the end of 2024, 18.8 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices will have come online worldwide — an increase of 13% from 2023. The prevalence of IoT integration empowers organizations to gather more data and analyze it faster than ever, resulting in smarter decision making and greater efficiency across nearly all their operations. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) integrate with IoT technology to improve logistics workflows, enabling real-time product tracking, geofencing for stronger security, and a host of other benefits to everyday business processes.
In this article, we’ll explore how GPS integrates with IoT to revolutionized fields like transportation, manufacturing, and personal tracking. We’ll look at some of the top benefits of GPS-integrated IoT technology for businesses, and examine which industries benefit most from implementing an IoT GPS tracker. We’ll also look at the future of the GPS-IoT world — and how Surgere makes it a reality.
Why GPS and IoT Are a Game-Changing Combination
The combination of GPS and IoT has revolutionized multiple industries, and has elevated their operations in multiple ways.
For example, IoT GPS trackers deliver information on the precise location of products, as well as the environmental conditions surrounding them. This enables team members to anticipate shipment arrivals, automate refills, optimize inventory management workflows, provide tracking notifications, and countless other supply chain-related processes.
Companies can also use GPS IoT trackers for strengthening their security measures by using geofencing to provide alerts when someone moves an item outside its allowable location. The technology can also be used to drive smarter marketing campaigns by sending ads or promotions to customers automatically when they enter a space.
Taken together, GPS-IoT integration hasn’t just granted businesses greater visibility into their supply chain; it’s given them the actionable insights needed to make proactive, intelligent changes to nearly all their business practices.
How GPS Powers IoT and Enables Real-Time Tracking
When GPS is integrated into IoT devices, both companies and customers are given real-time visibility into their products. The result is reduced operational costs, more timely deliveries, and advanced analytics capabilities that provide valuable insights into how companies can improve their efficiency. Here’s how it works.
GPS Technology in IoT Devices
IoT devices work by being embedded into the products they monitor. Once they’re embedded, they collect certain data on that product’s condition, and then transmit that data for further analysis. GPS systems work by sending signals to satellites to transmit information on an object’s precise location, so if a product’s spatial data is needed, it must be embedded with GPS tech.
Real-Time Data Transmission and Processing
After a product has been embedded with GPS, its IoT sensors can collect data on the object’s coordinates, as well as the condition of its environment. This data is transmitted to your network in real-time, and can be processed by advanced analytics technologies to help fleet managers make informed decisions about their inventory and their supply chain. The data that GPS IoT trackers emit can be used for:
- Order tracking: Suppliers can send notifications to customers about their product’s status
- Route optimization: Companies can reduce transportation costs and deliver products to consumers faster
- Inventory alerts: IoT-connected devices can notify teams of supply chain bottlenecks, so that they can adapt accordingly
By implementing IoT in supply chain operations, companies gain clear insights into how they can boost their operational efficiency, reduce costs, and elevate customer satisfaction — and GPS technology powers it all.
Top Benefits of GPS-Enabled IoT for Businesses
From clearer oversight over your supply chain to fewer operational expenses, GPS-powered IoT has become essential in today’s business world. A few of the benefits that IoT GPS trackers bring to the table are:
- Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility. GPS IoT devices provide real-time tracking for your inventory at each layer of your supply chain. The result is greater visibility into potential disruptions or areas for improvement, so that you can strengthen each link in the chain
- Reduced Asset Loss. Applications such as geofencing ensure that all inventory remains in its required location, preventing theft or misplacement. IoT GPS trackers reduce asset loss, cutting costs in the process
- Optimized Utilization. By sending real-time transportation reports on driving parameters such as top speed or braking, IoT GPS trackers help companies ensure that their operators are using best practices, and that their fleets are being handled with care. The real-time tracking also ensures that drivers adhere to their schedules, maintaining their productivity
Another key benefit of IoT GPS tracking is the increased safety it provides for employees. GPS IoT trackers deliver alerts that help companies enforce safety policies. This creates a healthier company culture and boosts their compliance with industry standards, helping them avoid costly violations.
Applications of GPS-Enabled IoT Across Industries
Because it offers so many benefits, GPS-enabled IoT can be found across many industries. The most common ones are:
- Logistics and Fleet Management. GPS IoT trackers strengthen supply chain resiliency and agility. They provide real-time data on products and fleets, which leaders can input into AI-powered solutions to make data-driven decisions on their logistics processes
- Inventory and Equipment Management in Manufacturing. Manufacturers can use IoT GPS trackers to monitor equipment functionality. IoT devices can send information to notify technicians of a need for repair, reducing downtime and mitigating the risk of a malfunction
- Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals. Healthcare supplies must be transported promptly and securely. IoT GPS trackers can monitor a pharmaceutical product’s position during transit, ensuring that it reaches its destination
Whether it’s tracking a product’s position or ensuring that it’s being handled with care, companies launch GPS tracker IoT projects so that they can gain greater visibility into their processes, streamline their operations, and take a more proactive approach to their supply network.
Embracing GPS and IoT for a Future of Smart Tracking
Greater operational efficiency, stronger safety and security, real-time visibility — these are just a few of the benefits that launching a GPS tracking IoT project can bring to your operations. IoT GPS trackers deliver transparency, agility, and resiliency to your supply chain, enabling your company to make smarter decisions and adapt to disruptions when they arise. The integration of GPS and IoT make such supply chain enhancement possible, making GPS IoT trackers the future of smart logistics. At Surgere, we engineer, develop, and deploy the supply chain solutions that conquer your logistics challenges. Our suite of solutions leverage GPS-powered IoT technology to drive stronger operability, and blend tagging, hardware, and software to equip our clients with the visibility and intelligence needed to make better business decisions in real time. The result is a logistics network that can overcome the hurdles of our ever-changing business world, so contact us to bolster your supply chain resilience today.
