Supply chains and logistics are some of the fastest-moving parts of any business, with plenty of different variables to keep track of, says Relay.

The logistics challenge

Location awareness is integral to operational efficiency in the context of logistics and supply chains, so businesses must have the right tools and processes for it.

Knowing precisely where goods, vehicles and personnel are at any given moment is crucial.

This capability streamlines operations and significantly boosts safety and security.

It can even be used to meet compliance.

Location awareness in supply chains and logistics involves using technology to monitor and manage the location and movement of resources throughout a supply chain.

This includes everything from tracking vehicles and shipments via GPS to monitoring the movement of personnel in warehouses with indoor location tracking systems that rely on WiFi AFPs or Bluetooth Low Energy.

The critical role of location awareness

Location tracking is used across many industries, such as construction, hospitality and healthcare to obtain the real-time location of team members across different sites.

Having real-time views of staff activities can help analyze traffic patterns, usage trends and potential bottlenecks.

It can also be extremely valuable in emergencies to identify who is closest to an incident to offer help.

Location tracking is additionally used to track assets that are easily lost such as keys and luggage carts, as well as assets that need additional security like art in a gallery or expensive equipment on a job site.

Knowing exactly where assets are can reduce wasted time looking for them.

If adopted early on, location awareness significantly benefits logistics and supply chain management across different parts of business operations.

Location awareness is crucial in the logistics sector for a variety of reasons:

Immediate location tracking: With real-time location awareness, businesses can ensure that team members and assets are always accounted for – even while on the road.

Location tracking is immensely useful in enhancing both safety and operational control.

Efficiency: Location tracking makes it easier to quickly assign tasks to the nearest available team members.

It increases operational efficiency, enables quick decision-making and reduces much of the manual processes that may go into assigning tasks.

Leveraging data: Integrating location data with operational insights gives businesses a more holistic view of performance, processes and overall operations.

The data collected allows logistics and supply chains to identify areas for improvement and where processes could potentially be streamlined for greater efficiency.

Passive data collection enables businesses to access real-time data without relying on self-collected data, which may be prone to errors and missed information.

Improved decision-making: Location awareness allows for better, data-driven decision-making both in the short and long term.

In the short term, the data facilitates faster processes and task assignments and provides a closer look at staffing decisions.

Over time, the data not only provides insight into processes and staffing but also a direction towards where future strategy and resources could potentially be allocated.

As businesses grow, having access to the current state of operations and insight into performance and other key trends provides a significant strategic advantage.

Enhanced customer satisfaction: Speed and accuracy in logistics operations, enhanced by location tracking, lead to faster delivery times and higher customer satisfaction over time.

Businesses gain greater agility with location awareness and greater insight into where they can improve moving forward.

Modernized operations: Incorporating cutting-edge technology keeps operations modern and efficient while providing a window into future improvements.

Location awareness is a modern addition to operations that streamlines processes and provides more visibility into performance.

Removed manual processes: Leveraging location awareness reduces the need for manual check-ins, status updates and other time-consuming processes that may not always be followed or are difficult to keep consistent.

Removing these manual processes allows teams to focus more on their primary tasks, uplifting morale and enhancing vigilance.

Enhanced safety protocols: Real-time location tracking provides on-the-go updates on the overall safety of teams and environments by enabling quick responses to incidents and routine safety checks.

It can be used to identify and find team members who may need immediate assistance and track real-time location during emergencies.

For teams looking to bolster their current safety protocols, location awareness can also be used in different training scenarios to provide additional safety information and instructions to team members.

Loss prevention: With both asset and team location tracking, loss prevention becomes less of a concern when it comes to missing devices.

Search times are minimized and items become easily traceable to reduce the risk of lost products and theft.

Location tracking and awareness have many benefits, especially in boosting supply chain and logistics operations.

To ensure everyone is on the same page – from team members to stakeholders – it’s important to address some of the common misconceptions around location tracking.

Contrary to popular belief, these systems are often easy to deploy, won’t strain your existing networks and can be extremely beneficial to employees.

This technology is used to increase safety, efficiency and operations, not to get people in trouble.

Location awareness technology is evolving

Location awareness technology for logistics and supply chains is already seeing rapid advancements, with innovations continually transforming how the industry operates.

With so many innovations happening quickly, early adoption is crucial.

Technology is fast-changing, but the earlier it is integrated into current processes, the easier it becomes to learn and familiarize yourself with what the solution can really offer.

Location tracking is already heading in many different directions, including within logistics and supply chains.

For example, GPS tracking has integrated AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) into products and uses 5G networks to make location tracking even more accurate moving forward.

Location awareness plays a key role in operations now and will continue to become a focal strategic point for logistics and supply chain management in the future.

About Relay

What sets Relay apart from other location awareness technologies is Relay’s ability to combine location tracking with real-time communication.

Not only do managers have complete oversight of the locations of team members, devices and assets all in one place, but they also have the ability to communicate additional details using the same device, whether that’s using the Relay app, dashboard or two-way radio.

Designed to match the needs of any industry, Relay offers a wide array of cloud-based, customizable features such as an unlimited number of channels, an integrated panic button, extended range and redundant connection to both cellular and Wi-Fi.

Relay’s new TeamTranslate enhancement translates conversations live on the same device, breaking down any language barriers that may have slowed down operations or caused confusions in the past.

The newest product in Relay’s hardware lineup, RelayX was engineered for the toughest, loudest job sites.

It was built to endure extreme conditions like shock, vibrations and temperature and can withstand complete submersion in water.

RelayX can last two full shifts with an all-day battery and delivers impressive loud and clear messages.

Its user-friendly screen, exceptional connectivity and smart accessories ensure robust performance even in the most challenging conditions.

RelayX does the heavy lifting to keep your team connected with fewer communication gaps and traceability every step of the way.

By integrating location awareness technologies like Relay into logistics and supply chain management, businesses can make a significant leap toward safer, data-driven and customer-focused operations.

This article was originally published in the November edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.