The use of big data often focuses on analytics and performance measurement, and it can have major implications for yard management. It reduces downtime and helps your transportation network get freight on the road. While analytics will always be the behind-the-scenes, your organization needs to understand the benefits of big data in yard management processes.

Big Data in Yard Management Improve All Planning Applications

Collaboration throughout your supply chain network is critical to your success, but your individual systems must also work together. Warehouse management naturally leads into yard management, and yard management transitions into transportation management. Big data unifies applications and tracks their performance, reports Matt Yearling of Supply Chain 24/7.

It Offers Real-Time Visibility in the Yard

Internet-enabled sensors and smart devices contribute information about your existing yard operation to algorithms and analytics programs. Through analysis of both internal and external factors, supply chain managers can figure out how to make better use of wasted space in the yard, while trucks are loading or unloading, as well as optimizing routes and other stops before last-mile delivery. This includes tracking both inbound and outbound inventory in the yard.

Data-Based Systems Validates Yard Management System Return on Investment

Maintaining shareholder support of investments into yard management is essential to taking advantage of big data. While modern systems can derive insights and analyses faster than ever before, the biggest cost savings may require several weeks, if not months, to prove their value. Big data provides a means of tracking return on investment (ROI) for yard management systems. This immortalizes stakeholder support in your company.

Automation and Optimization Rely on Big Data

With growing interest in automation and robotics, warehouse managers will be unable to avoid big data. Data capture is essential to implementing automated asset tracking in yards, which may contain large-item inventory too. Since automation leverages the Internet of things (IoT), your company can explore the use of robotics and other automated systems by taking advantage of big data.

Advanced Systems Can Mine an Unlimited Number of Transactions

Big data in yard management is also scalable. Your company can avoid the pitfalls of rapidly expanding or contracting operations. This prevents bottlenecks during peak shopping seasons, and it reduces inconsistencies by measuring the performance of staff, equipment and drivers alike.

Big Data Leverages Third-Party Information in Your Company

Millions of businesses are contributing to big data, and their information could prove valuable to your organization. However, this information must be compared and utilized by your systems.

For example, third-party weather reports and in-person accounts of weather events can help prevent delays in yard management, including reducing damage to products stored in the yard. In fact, using information gathered through big data can improve supply chain entities’ reaction time and boost efficiency by 10 percent.

Complex Supply Chain Networks Need Big Data

Modern supply chains are growing more complex. The level of integration and accessibility needed to meet the demands of tomorrow requires knowing want consumers want before they do! Meanwhile, big data optimises complex supply chains, including your transportation networks, so shipments can flow through the yard faster, asserts Louis Columbus of Forbes magazine.

Complex supply chains may involve hundreds of square miles of yard space. Knowing how to make the best use of your space can create a revenue stream for your company as well as others. In other words, you could tap the resources of your supply chain partners’ yards through big data, increasing revenue and savings for all parties.

Big Data Runs Autonomously in the Background of Your System

Part of the allure in big data goes back to its ability to function within existing supply chain systems. Existing in the cloud, big data puts power in the hands of supply chain managers without sacrificing other systems or processes. Paired with smart devices and sensors, big data increases visibility and accountability in yard management. To stay competitive, your enterprise must use the power of big data in all supply chain management operations.