How IoT is Modernizing Supply Chains Across Industries: From Manufacturing to Data Centers

Supply chains are the backbone of several industries ranging from manufacturing plants to data centers. Ensuring that products are stored well, moved efficiently, and delivered on time is a constant challenge. But now, with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT), businesses are finding smarter ways to manage all of it. 

IoT uses sensors and connected devices to track what's happening in real time. Whether it’s monitoring machines on a factory floor or checking conditions in a warehouse, IoT gives companies a better picture of their operations. And often, this helps prevent small problems from becoming big ones. 

A professional working closely with this technology is Deepika Nathany. Over the years, she has helped bring IoT into real-world business settings, showing just how much it can improve day-to-day operations. One key project involved placing sensors in a warehouse that stored high-value goods. These sensors monitored temperature and humidity—2 things that, if not controlled, could ruin the products. “The IOT would detect when the temperature or humidity went above or below a threshold,” she noted. “Using this alert we were able to turn on the humidifier or AC to bring the temperature or humidity back to allowable range.” Resulting from this setup, the company saw 22% less product waste and saved on labor costs too. 

This success led to something greater—an in-house IoT lab where more use cases could be tested. From there, new ideas kept coming in. One example involved trucks used for deliveries. By monitoring how fast they moved and how often they jerked or braked suddenly, the company could improve driver safety and reduce damage to goods. These small changes added up and one organisation saw a 4% drop in damaged items and improved employee safety at the same time. 

The benefits of using IoT can be noted easily. Sharing some examples, she mentioned, “Some of the biggest wins in the IOT space has been when a company improved its shelf life from average 12 days to 15 days. This improved company's top line revenue by 3%.” She also added, “Digital Twin capability which exactly shows the machine and its functioning is another feature which is enabled due to IOT and it is known to improve shop floor efficiency by at least 12%.” 

But getting IoT right takes work. Choosing the right sensors was one of the first hurdles Nathany faced. Some devices didn’t track data accurately, and others weren’t suited for the job. Once the right hardware was in place, organizing all the data became the next big task. Without a good system to turn raw data into useful signals, the insights IoT can offer are easy to miss. 

Nathany also wrote and shared insights through her publications, “The IoT Ecosystem: Understanding the Complexities and Opportunities of a Connected World” and “Digital Twin for Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains” Through these papers, she explains the value and complexity of IoT for other professionals in the field. 

Looking ahead, industry experts believe that IoT will keep playing a bigger role—not just in supply chains, but in areas like sports and health, where it can help track movement and improve performance. They see IoT as a way to connect the physical and digital worlds, offering smarter ways to work and solve problems. 

As more companies look for ways to be faster, safer, and more efficient, technologies like IoT are becoming part of the foundation. And with the right planning and practical use, it’s proving to be a valuable investment—not just for businesses, but for the people running them too.