Cavalier Group, a vertically integrated provider of red meat to South African retailers, operates cattle and lamb livestock farms, feedlots, livestock trading houses, slaughterhouses and meat packing plants across the country. It had relied heavily on various sensors to manage its operations - such as thermistors that are used to ensure its chillers are operating optimally - and its security systems, such as access control and CCTV cameras. But because those sensor and security networks were in silos with separate interfaces, they were not always easy to use.

The complex nature of the supply chain in an era booming with digital data means a barrage of processes and systems to manage at all times, but it also means that numerous opportunities exist to improve efficiency and service for customers.

Real-time monitoring solutions and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can identify more problems in cold chains than incumbent systems, but a strong business case exists only for high-value products like vaccines or clinical samples, and commodities that suffer high loss rates, according to Lux Research.

The "last mile" is a telecom term for delivering telephone, cable or internet services to the customer's location. With the most connections to make, it's the bottleneck of the system. It's also the most expensive and difficult to upgrade.

The discrete manufacturing industry is entering a new era. Major technological advancements have inspired innovations right through the supply chain, from robotics to 3D printing, automation to autonomous cars. This has exponentially expanded the choices available to consumers, both in the range and selection of products and sellers, but also in their ability to dictate when and where they purchase and receive their goods. The customer is now in charge.

Seventy-eight percent of UK vendors expect the Internet of Things to have a significant impact on their ability to gather customer insights data across the supply chain. Many go so far as to say that it will also change the way they think and operate as an organisation.