Transparency and efficiency redefined in asset management for industrial and logistics operations
Among the many Internet of Things (IoT) applications, asset tracking is one of the mega trends. Being informed digitally and automatically at any time about the location, status, condition, etc. of resources such as machines, components or other objects can significantly improve processes and save companies a lot of time and money. Interest in the asset management module from Digimondo GmbH is correspondingly high. With its digital twin in niota, which brings together data from a wide variety of sources on one platform, the Hamburg-based IoT software specialist improves the efficiency of logistics, production and operations management processes in a way never seen before. Digimondo already has extensive know-how in this area.
Example industry
A chemical company uses IoT to track its diesel generators that produce construction power on the plant site. The scheduling department often does not know which machines are where on the extensive site and what their current operating status is. In this outdoor application, not only the respective position of the machines is tracked, but also the power consumption is automatically read out remotely. Position and measurement data are transmitted to the back end via LoRaWAN wireless technology and visualized via a dashboard.
Example hospital
Different industry, same problem, same effect: Although clinics and hospitals nominally have enough beds and medical equipment, all too often, when they are needed at short notice, they are not on the ward but may be being serviced, cleaned or used elsewhere. Searching takes time and increases the stress level of already overworked hospital staff. It's a completely different story when patient beds, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. are equipped with IoT sensors that are connected via Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE), for example, to IoT gateways installed in the building. The gateways in turn forward the data to the backend system, where the hardware is administered and all data is processed. Via dashboard, it is made visible where searched assets are located in the building. Depending on the technical localization concept selected, the localization works with area or even room accuracy.
Denisa Vlad, asset tracking expert at Digimondo: "The transparency created about the availability and location of beds and medical equipment means a considerable relief for daily care work. But the benefits do not end there: with the installed infrastructure, hospital processes can also be automated and improved, for example in areas and tasks such as storage, billing, hygiene, alerting, utilization, etc."
Diverse optimization potential
In particular, the combination of IoT and real-time location services (RTLS) data in Digimondo's digital twin enables highly effective asset management and complete process efficiency. Industries such as construction, manufacturing companies of all kinds, logistics companies, hospital groups and lessors are considered predestined target groups for the technology. Typical use cases at industrial and logistics companies include:
- Delivery reliability: Cross-location tracking of load carriers and their condition between suppliers and customers.
Loss prevention: Monitoring of cost-intensive workpieces and tools in the value chain.
Automation: Automatic triggering of downstream processes when materials arrive or leave, such as maintenance processes or posting of goods movements.
Transparency: Tracking and analysis of material movements, wait times and current positions.
Optimization: Reduction of search times for tools and materials.
Process fidelity: comparison with target processes and automatic notification of deviations.
Limitless application possibilities
"The spectrum of possible applications for asset tracking is almost limitless," says Denisa Vlad, looking toward the horizon. Even people can be tracked using IoT, as she knows from her own experience. At a previous job, Denisa Vlad was responsible for ensuring that children on ships were visible to their parents at all times and that their whereabouts were known at all times. To this end, the children wore a small IoT device - naturally with their parents' consent - which made them locatable at all times. IoT RTLS technology could also be used for the benefit of dementia patients who leave their area and often disappear without a trace - if their relatives agree to the tracking.
