With the trove of data from IoT comes an opportunity for safety managers: They can leverage information with predictive analytics to better keep employees safe on the job.

The Internet of Things has provided the transportation and logistics industry with an escape from the norm. Estimations and educated guesswork are no longer the fundamentals of making operational improvements.

With this trove of data comes an opportunity for safety managers: They can leverage information with predictive analytics to better keep employees safe on the job.

Predictive analytics thrives on IoT

Accuracy is vital in the logistics industry, and the implementation of more concise data is growing. By connecting various parts of the entire process—from warehousing management to transportation organization—managers can gain ground-level insight into every metric.

The business value of embedding sensors in everyday objects like forklifts or shipping trucks is obvious. It allows organizations to pinpoint potential areas to cut production, spend or other resources without affecting the bottom line. But there’s potentially even more value in using this gathered data to understand where the most accidents and incidents occur and incorporate predictive analysis in the form of Environmental, Health and Safety software to drive return on investment through safety.

With today’s technology, transportation vehicles can be equipped with sensors that relay information on certain diagnostics, such as:

• Travel speed.
• How many times a driver brakes or how much force is put into the action.
• Whether the truck was going over the speed limit. 

While this data is normally used for proactive repairs and maintenance, it provides a tangible jumping-off point for safety managers to evaluate current protocols in place.