URL Source: http://soti.net/resources/blog/2020/top-5-mobile-solutions-for-transportation-and-logistics/

Last Updated At: 2025-09-06 05:40:59 UTC

Description: Mobile technology ensures end-to-end visibility over your T&L operations. Follow the 5 tips in this infographic to keep supply chain goods & data secure.

Author: Shash Anand

Keywords: SOTI ONE Platform

---

# Top 5 Mobile Solutions for Transportation & Logistics

##### by Shash Anand Jun 4, 2020

When the world is upended by a [global pandemic](http://soti.net/lp/soti-commitment-during-covid-19/), or another unexpected disruption, it stresses the importance of having an efficient [transportation and logistics](http://soti.net/industries/transportation-and-logistics/) (T&L) sector and ensuring the [supply chain](http://soti.net/resources/blog/2020/level-up-your-business-critical-mobility-strategy-to-turn-your-supply-chain-pains-into-supply-chain-gains/) always runs smoothly.

## The Impact of Disruptions on the Supply Chain

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic^1^:

- Nearly 75% of companies have reported supply chain disruptions in some capacity due to COVID-19.
- 16% say they’ve lowered revenue targets by an average of 5.6% to compensate.
- Over 44% of companies did not have a contingency plan in place in case of supply chain interruptions originating in China.
- More than 53% are having difficulty getting updated supply chain information from China.

At the U.S. Port of Los Angeles, supply chain operations have dropped by 20%.^2^ International demand for cargo tonne kilometers (CTKs is a unit of measurement which represents the transport of one tonne of cargo over a distance of one kilometer) has slumped 9.1%.^3^ Goods are taking 8 to 10 days longer to reach port than before the pandemic hit.^4^

The widespread effects of the global disruption have been felt throughout the T&L industry:

Global manufacturing is expected to shrink 5% within the first six months of 2020, with supply chain disruptions negatively impacting the automotive (13% drop), textiles (8%) and electronics (7%) industries the most.^5^ In Canada, the top concerns are the procurement of medical and [healthcare](http://soti.net/industries/healthcare/) goods and the stability of the food supply chain.^6^

## 5 Critical Needs and Mobile Solutions for T&L, During and After COVID-19

Another lesson of COVID-19 is that when things are disrupted, it’s always a smart move to go back to the basics.

For the T&L and supply chain industries, 55% of organizations say they use, or have plans to adopt, [mobile technology to increase efficiency, sales and customer satisfaction](http://soti.net/resources/newsroom/2019/a-mobile-first-strategy-and-full-visibility-into-the-supply-chain-increases-efficiency-sales-and-customer-satisfaction/)^7^ to ensure critical needs are met.

## How Mobile and IoT Management Helps the Supply Chain Win From End-to-End

In *[Seven Strategies to Strengthen Your Business-Critical Mobile Operations to Weather COVID-19 and Beyond](http://soti.net/resources/blog/2020/seven-strategies-to-strengthen-your-business-critical-mobile-operations-to-weather-covid-19-and-beyond/)*, it’s mentioned that having full visibility into your supply chain is crucial. This is especially true if your business provides [emergency services.](http://soti.net/industries/emergency-services)

It’s a potential revenue stream too, as consumers may be willing to pay 2% to 10% more for products from companies that provide greater supply chain transparency.^8^

Here are some ways a [full suite of integrated mobile solutions](http://soti.net/products/soti-one-platform/) delivers end-to-end insight into your T&L and supply chain initiatives:

- **Digital documentation:** 55% of supply chain organizations use pen-and-paper manual processes to manage their logistics.^9^ [Using apps to digitize pen-and-paper processes](http://soti.net/products/soti-snap/) helps to streamline data entry and delivery, and reduce errors.
- **Asset monitoring:** Your workers, the cargo they’re transporting and the mobile devices they use, are constantly on the move. [Visibility into where these assets are and what they’re doing](http://soti.net/products/soti-mobicontrol/) can improve your operations.
- **Eliminate downtime:** Mobile T&L workers require a functional device for optimal efficiency. [Remote diagnostic and troubleshooting support](http://soti.net/products/soti-assist/) provides anytime, anywhere assistance to resolve device problems without having to ship it back to HQ.
- **Business intelligence:** Penalties from late or incomplete deliveries could cost suppliers $5 billion USD per year.^10^ [Analytics on app, data, network and device usage](http://soti.net/products/soti-insight/) helps you pinpoint and act upon any issues with the performance of your mobile deployments.
- **Tracking-and-tracing:** Suppliers need real-time insight into things like environmental changes to containers and the engine status of trucks on the road. [Taking control of your IoT devices](http://soti.net/products/soti-connect/) reduces downtime and improves operational visibility.
- **Regulatory compliance:** For a highly regulated industry such as T&L, an Enterprise Management Solution (EMM) like [SOTI MobiControl](http://soti.net/products/soti-mobicontrol/) ensures things like the quality of shipping documents, custom regulations and other requirements in specific settings are met.
- **Driver safety:** Drivers must keep their eyes on the road. [Distracted driving policies let you lockdown devices or apps based on vehicle speed.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPd1LA7ZA-0) You can also limit the functionality of devices on the road and restore it once the device has reached its destination.

## See How SOTI Can Help Your T&L and Supply Chain Operations

[Check out our customer stories for T&L businesses just like yours.](http://soti.net/resources/customer-stories/?Tags=Logistics,Transportation&Page=1) Read about the mobility challenges they faced and the solutions [SOTI](http://soti.net/) delivered.

You can also:

- [Download the *Managing Mobility in Transportation and Logistics* Brochure](http://soti.net/media/1632/soti_mobicontrol_transportation.pdf)
- [View previous SOTI webinars focusing on mobility in T&L](http://soti.net/resources/resource-library/?Type=we&Tags=Logistics,Transportation&Page=1)
- [Read our whitepaper: *How EMM is Transforming and Empowering Transportation and Logistics*](http://soti.net/resources/resource-library/?Type=wp&Tags=Logistics,Transportation&Page=1)
- [Watch our VP of Product Strategy Shash Anand’s YouTube interview with *Supply Chain Now Radio*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSyEI7Teqzw&t=1533s)

## Let’s Talk About Your T&L and Supply Chain Mobility

[Contact us anytime with your questions](http://soti.net/about/contact-us) about our products and services. Learn about the benefits and value they’ll bring to your supply chain operations. You can also [request a product demo](http://soti.net/about/contact-us) or [give the SOTI ONE Platform a try with a free, no-obligation 30-day trial](http://soti.net/products/soti-mobicontrol/mobicontrol-trial/).

1. Institute for Supply Chain Management, COVID-19 Survey: Impacts on Global Supply Chains
2. E&T, [Supply Chain Issues in a World of COVID-19](https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/04/supply-chain-issues-in-a-world-of-covid-19/)
3. IATA, [Air Cargo Demand Slumps](https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2020-04-01-01/)
4. Supply Chain Digital, [Supply Chain Risk Management – COVID-19](https://www.supplychaindigital.com/supply-chain-management/supply-chain-risk-management-covid-19)
5. Baker McKenzie, [Global Supply Chains Under Huge Pressure as COVID-19 Creates ‘Manufacturing Deserts’](https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/newsroom/2020/04/global-supply-chains-under-huge-pressure-covid-19)
6. CBC, [Pandemic ‘Poses Particular Challenges’ For Food Processing Plants](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/food-security-pandemic-freeland-1.5534372)
7. Modern Materials Handling, [2020 Warehouse/DC Equipment Survey: Making the Right Moves to Offset Pressures](https://www.mmh.com/article/2020_warehouse_dc_equipment_survey_making_the_right_moves_to_offset_pressur)
8. Harvard Business Review, [What Supply Chain Transparency Really Means](https://hbr.org/2019/08/what-supply-chain-transparency-really-means)
9. Freight Waves, [Survey Finds Manual Processes Still Dominate E-Commerce Logistics](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/technology/ecommerce-logistics-remains-a-manual-process)
10. McKinsey, [Deliver on Time or Pay the Fine: Speed and Precision as the New Supply Chain Drivers](https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/deliver-on-time-or-pay-the-fine-speed-and-precision-as-the-new-supply-chain-drivers)

##### About Author

Shash Anand

VP of Product Strategy

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