Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects — devices, machines, vehicles, sensors — embedded with electronics, software and connectivity that lets them collect and exchange data over the internet or other networks, often without human intervention. It extends the internet from computers and phones to everyday and industrial “things.”
In logistics and shipping, IoT is transformative: smart containers report location, temperature, humidity, door-open and shock events; reefer units stream their status; vessel and machinery sensors feed condition monitoring and predictive maintenance; and warehouse and yard assets are tracked in real time. An IoT system typically links sensors and devices through gateways and protocols (such as MQTT) to cloud or edge platforms that store and analyse the data — increasingly with machine learning — turning raw device readings into visibility, alerts and decisions. IoT is a foundational technology for connected, data-driven supply chains and smart shipping, and underpins real-time tracking, cold-chain monitoring and condition-based maintenance. It connects the physical movement of cargo and ships to the digital systems that manage them.
IoT is what makes a container, reefer or ship engine able to report its own condition in real time — turning physical cargo and machinery into live data streams that drive tracking, cold-chain alerts and predictive maintenance. It is the foundation of connected, data-driven logistics, linking the physical world of cargo and ships to the systems that manage them.
How is IoT used in logistics?
Smart containers and reefers report location and condition, vessel and machinery sensors enable condition monitoring, and warehouse assets are tracked in real time.
What connects IoT devices to the cloud?
Gateways and messaging protocols such as MQTT relay sensor data to cloud or edge platforms for storage and analysis.