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DHL is Bringing Internet of Things to Logistics

DHL Supply Chain is partnering with Cisco and Conduce to launch “IoT cockpits at three smart warehouses in Germany, the Netherlands and Poland.

Written By

Sue Walsh

May 12, 2017

DHL is bringing the IoT to the warehouse with the announcement of three new IoT cockpits at smart warehouses in Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. The new technology is the result of a collaboration with Cisco and Conduce. DHL Supply Chain stated its goal is to optimize operational efficiencies and lay a foundation for safer work practices.

DHL can now monitor operational activities in real time by visualizing data collected via sensors on scanners, other warehouse equipment, and their warehouse management system. The operational data can be visualized with heat maps, the company stated, which changes the way data is analyzed and used at the three pilot sites.

“Through our collaboration with Cisco and Conduce, we are integrating innovative solutions to build the digital supply chain of tomorrow today. This is changing the way we collect, analyze and use data, and ultimately, our ways of working at these sites. By monitoring operational activities in real-time rather than retrospectively, we can interpret data more meaningfully, and immediately re-engineer processes or warehouse layouts to boost operational efficiency and address potential safety blind spots in a warehouse,” says Markus Voss, CIO & COO, DHL Supply Chain.

According to a post on their website, DHL says their customers will benefit from Cisco’s expertise in Wi-Fi infrastructure and Conduce’s operational data efficiency. “The pilots have revealed valuable insights on activity peaks, warehouse layouts and processes by displaying concentrations of pickers and material handling equipment against a backdrop of warehouse orders in real time,” the post said.

“The platform does not just display operational data, it unlocks insights on how well warehouses are running. By pulling together data of all elements in a warehouse environment into one unified interface, Conduce helps decision makers at DHL to achieve improved, measurable results in the real world,” says Kevin Parent, CEO, Conduce.

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Sue Walsh

Sue Walsh is News Writer for RTInsights, and a freelance writer and social media manager living in New York City. Her specialties include tech, security and e-commerce. You can follow her on Twitter at @girlfridaygeek.