Supply chains have undergone significant changes in recent times due to factors such as the pandemic, armed conflicts, trade sanctions, and weather events. In the face of these events and the rapid development of the e-commerce industry, companies have been forced to abandon their previous business models and delivery strategies. Multi-channel strategies have become the norm in the new reality, encompassing a variety of order fulfillment and customer service methods. The transformation has affected a wide network of trading partners and logistics operators responsible for managing supply chains. Additionally, it has become necessary to develop a comprehensive approach that would enable transparent operation in the changing operating environment. This is where the concept of the Control Tower emerged.

The Role of Control Towers in Logistics

Control Towers are a key tool in today’s advanced logistics operations. They are a management center that enables real-time tracking, coordination, and optimization of all logistics processes.

Control Towers play a crucial role in ensuring effective management of the entire supply chain. They integrate various systems, data, and processes to provide full transparency and control over logistics operations. This allows logistics managers to track each stage of the process, identify potential problems, and make quick decisions to resolve them.

Benefits of Using Control Towers

• Transparency: CTs provide full visibility into the supply chain, allowing for quick reactions to changes and preventing delays.
• Optimization: By analyzing real-time data, CTs enable the optimization of routes, warehousing, and other logistics processes, leading to cost reduction and efficiency gains.
• Easier Risk Management: The centralization of data and processes in CTs enables the quick identification and minimization of risks associated with supply chain disruptions, such as transportation delays or system failures.
• Enhanced Customer Service: Through better coordination and faster responses to changes, Control Towers help in providing excellent customer service by ensuring timely delivery and responsiveness to individual needs.

The Future of CTs in Logistics

As technology advances, the importance of CTs in logistics is also growing. They are expected to become even more advanced and versatile in the future. Automation, artificial intelligence, and data analysis will be key drivers of CT development. Processes will become increasingly integrated and optimized, enabling even faster responses to changes and even better customer service.

The Use of IoT

The role of technology in transport is growing, particularly in improving efficiency, safety, and travel comfort, which shows the growing importance of the Internet of Things (IoT). Monitoring shipments at every stage of their journey is extremely important for the transport and logistics sector. The Internet of Things, often referred to as the third industrial revolution and is a key technological initiative for many transport companies.

Among the diverse technologies that form the IoT, wireless connectivity, sensors, and the cloud are particularly noteworthy. One of the biggest benefits of this solution is the continuous improvement of work efficiency and the increase in the efficiency of the entire logistics process.

The most important types of data that can be collected by IoT devices to improve the management of urban road networks include:

• Vehicle position, course, or route data using the most appropriate communication channel: in this case, the traffic light status and the time to change for the next intersection according to the direction (route), traffic intensity in parking lots, vehicle control operation and parking session duration.
• Data on the ability to detect and predict the maneuvers of other vehicles, predicted and actual travel time of vehicles, user comfort data (e.g., sensors).
• Traffic behavior data (including unprotected road users), as well as real-time infrastructure performance. This translates into real-time AI-based traffic flow management.

Summary

In today’s logistics, CTs are a tool that enables effective supply chain management, process optimization, and excellent customer service. Their role will only grow as technology advances and market demands change, making them an essential element of success in today’s global economy.

Supply chains need to become more flexible. For many years, this elusive goal has been a priority for many supply chain managers. However, with the combination of cloud platforms, advanced IT systems, cheap sensor devices, and ubiquitous connectivity, achieving it is becoming easier.

To achieve the goal of a flexible supply chain, full visibility into processes is essential, from the procurement stage of production to the final delivery to the customer.