In the industry of shipping and delivery, it is not always enough to know where a package is. What if companies could also see what shape it’s in, whether it has been damaged, or why it might be delayed? That’s exactly what new image-based tracking systems are starting to offer, and it’s changing how the logistics industry operates.
A professional at the forefront of this shift is Santosh Vinnakota, who has led the development of a system called PIP (Package Image Processing). This system uses smart cameras, real-time data, and cloud technology to give shipping companies a clearer view of every package they handle. Vinnakota stated, “Smart image analytics is poised to become as fundamental as barcode scanning in modern logistics. While barcodes confirm identity, images reveal truth, whether it’s a torn package, improper labeling, tampering, or a mismatch in declared vs. actual dimensions.” He added, “This shift is especially vital for meeting rising standards in quality assurance, customer experience, and regulatory compliance.”
Since its launch in major hubs, the results have been significant. Manual inspections dropped by around 25%, thanks to image analysis catching issues early. When something does go wrong, the time it takes to figure out what happened has fallen by nearly 40%, because teams now have a visual history to review. Altogether, the company estimates it could save up to $2 million a year through faster issue resolution and fewer delays.
But, as Vinnakota noted, building this system wasn’t easy. Traditional shipping networks aren’t designed to handle huge amounts of image data. There were also challenges with getting different systems to work together and making sure data wasn’t lost. To solve these problems, the expert shared that the team “Built a scalable pipeline for processing high volumes of image data in near real-time, a capability not natively supported by traditional logistics systems.” Another challenge was getting people on board. New technology often meets resistance, especially when it changes long-standing routines. But by showing clear results like fewer complaints, faster fixes, and more recovered packages, the team was able to win support across departments.
Beyond fixing day-to-day issues, this technology opens up new possibilities. It can help automate insurance claims, settle delivery disputes faster, and even make billing more accurate by confirming package sizes and conditions. One of the biggest advantages is transparency. Images don’t just show where a package is—they show what actually happened to it.
In addition to the technical contributions, he has also shared his work in academic journals and continues to push for smarter systems in logistics. His paper, “AI-Driven Route Optimization for Logistics” is one such example that discusses how AI is helping logistics companies plan better delivery routes by using real-time data and smart predictions. It also covers real-world examples, the challenges involved, and where this technology is headed in the future.
Looking forward, he suggested, “In the near future, logistics providers that fail to adopt image intelligence will risk falling behind, not just in operational efficiency, but also in customer trust and regulatory alignment.” As is evident, this shift isn’t just about adopting new tools. It’s about making the entire shipping process more reliable and responsive. By giving companies the ability to see every package clearly, smart image processing is transforming the supply chain, from warehouse floors to customer doorsteps.