In the latest episode of the B2B Sales Podcast, Josep Maria Riera, Business Development at Geprom, and Pilar Río Maeztu, Business Development Manager for Logistics and Intralogistics at Telefónica, discussed one of the biggest challenges companies in the industry face today: the lack of visibility and traceability across the supply chain. Their conversation provided practical insights, real-world examples, and valuable takeaways for any organization looking to build a more efficient and data-driven logistics operation.
The Challenges Customers Are Most Concerned About
In her day-to-day conversations with customers, Pilar sees a clear pattern: many companies still rely on manual, disconnected processes that provide little or no visibility into what is happening across their warehouses and supply chains.
The consequences are significant. Products take longer to locate, inventory records become inaccurate, operators lose time on unnecessary tasks, and businesses struggle with either excess inventory or stock shortages. The impact extends far beyond the warehouse. When inventory data is unreliable, production lines may be disrupted, manufacturing can come to a halt, and customer deliveries may be delayed.
As Josep Maria points out during the conversation, understanding this domino effect is essential when building the business case for digital transformation. The key question is not only how much a digitalization project costs, but also how much it is costing the business not to implement it.
The Three Factors That Change Everything
According to Pilar, solving these challenges requires addressing three key areas simultaneously:
- A Solid Digital Infrastructure — Without the right technological foundation, digital transformation cannot move forward. This is the essential starting point.
- Process Digitalization — As long as business processes remain manual and paper-based, organizations will continue to have blind spots where no reliable information is available.
- Leveraging Data — Once processes have been digitized, the real value comes from collecting, analyzing, and acting on the data they generate. Decisions should be driven by facts rather than intuition.
Today, this third element represents one of the strongest competitive advantages. Data has become the most valuable asset in modern logistics operations.
How Is Data Captured in Logistics?
Moving from physical to digital operations requires the right technologies. Some of the most impactful solutions currently being deployed across the industry include:
- IoT Sensors — Used to monitor environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, or potential cold chain disruptions during transportation and distribution.
- RFID Technology — RFID gates, readers, and tags automatically identify and track every item entering or leaving the warehouse in real time.
- Computer Vision — AI-powered cameras monitor warehouse operations and production lines, enabling automatic incident detection and operational optimization.
These technologies are supported by a robust connectivity infrastructure, such as 5G networks, ensuring reliable, real-time transmission of operational data.
Case Study: The Würth Project
To illustrate these concepts, Pilar shared the example of a logistics optimization project developed for Würth, combining 5G connectivity and Computer Vision. The solution addressed four key operational challenges:
- Real-Time Conveyor Belt Jam Detection — Cameras instantly detect conveyor blockages and automatically alert operators, significantly reducing downtime.
- Automated Box Content Verification — The system confirms that each package contains the correct products, minimizing shipping errors and customer claims.
- Loading Dock Verification — Every box or pallet is checked to ensure it is assigned to the correct loading dock and truck, preventing distribution mistakes.
- Real-Time Yard Occupancy Monitoring — Live visibility into loading area occupancy enables supervisors to make faster and more informed operational decisions.
The outcome was clear: fewer errors, improved operator productivity, and an overall more efficient logistics process supported by reliable, real-time data.
Conclusion
Visibility is no longer a competitive advantage—it has become a business necessity. Companies that continue to rely on manual and disconnected processes are not only less efficient; they are making critical decisions without the information needed to respond quickly in an increasingly demanding environment.
By combining IoT, RFID, Computer Vision, and 5G connectivity, organizations can build truly intelligent logistics operations where every movement is tracked, analyzed, and transformed into actionable insights.
Want to learn how these technologies can improve your logistics operations?
Listen to the full B2B Sales Podcast episode and discover how we are helping companies like Würth transform their supply chains.
