IoT and Real-Time Visibility: The Foundation of the Digital Supply Chain in Modern Logistics

As global supply chains become increasingly complex and vulnerable to disruptions, the ability to track and control goods in real time is becoming a key factor that helps companies improve their competitiveness. In this context, IoT (Internet of Things) technology is playing a central role in building real-time visibility – the core foundation of the digital supply chain.

IoT Is Changing How Supply Chains Operate

The Internet of Things (IoT) allows devices, vehicles, and goods to be connected and continuously transmit data throughout the transportation and warehousing process.

Today, IoT is widely used in logistics with key applications such as:

• Real-time cargo tracking
• Monitoring temperature and container storage conditions
• Tracking transportation vehicles (trucks, vessels, aircraft)
• Warehouse inventory management
• Early warning for risks such as delays, damage, or disruptions

As a result, companies can monitor the entire journey of goods from origin to delivery point.

Real-Time Visibility – The “Key” to Modern Supply Chains

Real-time visibility helps companies not only “know where the goods are” but also understand the condition and risks of the goods at any given time.

Key benefits include:

1. Faster Issue Resolution

When delays or risks occur, the system immediately sends alerts, allowing companies to proactively adjust transportation plans.

2. Logistics Operation Optimization

Real-time data helps optimize routes, reduce transit time, and lower operating costs.

3. Improved Customer Experience

Customers can track orders in real time, increasing transparency and trust.

4. Reduced Risk and Loss

Continuous monitoring helps minimize loss, damage, and fraud in the supply chain.

IoT Is the Foundation of the Digital Supply Chain

The Digital Supply Chain is becoming an inevitable trend in the logistics industry. In this model, data plays a central role, and IoT is the most important data collection tool.

When combined with other technologies such as:

• AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• Big Data
• Cloud computing
• WMS/TMS systems

IoT helps companies build a supply chain that is:

• Transparent
• Flexible
• Predictive
• Highly automated

Perspective for Logistics Companies

In a competitive and volatile market environment, investing in IoT and real-time visibility is no longer optional but is becoming a necessity.

Logistics companies should:

• Implement real-time tracking systems
• Connect data across operational stages
• Integrate IoT into warehousing and transportation
• Use data to make faster and more accurate decisions

Conclusion

IoT and real-time visibility are reshaping how global supply chains operate. The adoption of technology not only helps companies better control the flow of goods but also improves operational efficiency and the ability to respond to risks.

EU Tightens Customs Control on Low-Value Imports

The European Union (EU) has recently approved a major reform of its customs system, particularly focusing on e-commerce goods and low-value shipments imported into the region. These new changes are expected to significantly impact import costs, customs procedures, and international e-commerce activities.

EU to Remove Tax Exemption for Shipments Under 150 EUR

One of the most important changes is that the European Union plans to remove the import duty exemption for shipments valued under 150 EUR. Previously, this regulation strongly supported the growth of cross-border e-commerce, as many small orders were shipped directly from overseas into the EU without import duties.

However, the EU believes that this policy has allowed a massive volume of low-value goods to enter the region, making it difficult to control taxes and product quality. According to statistics, the number of low-value e-commerce parcels entering the EU has reached billions of packages each year.

E-commerce Platforms Will Be Responsible as Importers

Under the new reform, e-commerce platforms selling goods into the EU will be considered importers and will be responsible for:

• Paying import duties
• Complying with product safety standards
• Ensuring product quality
• Submitting customs declarations
• Providing product traceability

If companies violate EU regulations, they may face fines ranging from 1% to 6% of their sales revenue in the EU market over the previous 12 months. This is considered a relatively high penalty aimed at tightening control over imported goods through e-commerce.

EU Plans to Apply Handling Fees for Low-Value Shipments

In addition to removing the duty exemption for shipments under 150 EUR, the EU also plans to apply a handling fee of around 3 EUR per imported e-commerce order. This fee is intended to cover the cost of customs inspections, product safety control, and processing the large volume of small imported parcels entering the region.

At the same time, the EU is also developing a centralized customs data system to better manage imported goods, especially e-commerce shipments.

Impact on Exporters and Logistics Companies

Changes in EU customs policies may create several major impacts on exporters and logistics companies:

• Import costs into the EU may increase
• Customs clearance time may become longer
• Documentation and customs declaration requirements will become stricter
• Stronger product quality control
• E-commerce companies must take importer responsibility
• Demand for customs and compliance services will increase

These changes will particularly affect exporters of consumer goods, cosmetics, dietary supplements, electronics, and e-commerce products entering the EU market.

Conclusion: Future Trends in Customs Management

The EU customs reform shows a major trend in international trade today: countries are increasing control over imported goods, especially e-commerce shipments and low-value consignments. Customs authorities are no longer only inspecting at borders but are shifting toward data management, product traceability, and post-clearance audits.

Countries Increase Cooperation to Stabilize Supply Chains Amid Geopolitical Risks

Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts affecting global trade, many countries are increasing cooperation to ensure supply chains are not disrupted, especially for critical industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and rare materials.

One notable development is the commitment by China and South Korea to strengthen trade cooperation and coordination to maintain regional supply chain stability amid rising geopolitical risks.

China and South Korea Strengthen Cooperation in Strategic Industries

According to official statements following meetings between the trade and industry ministers of the two countries, China and South Korea will increase cooperation in key industrial sectors such as:

• Semiconductors
• Lithium batteries
• Rare earth materials and permanent magnets
• High technology industries
• Industries supporting aging populations

The two countries also agreed to establish coordination mechanisms to respond quickly in case of logistics delays or raw material shortages, while improving forecasting capabilities and stabilizing supply chains for strategic goods.

This development shows that industrial supply chains are no longer just a matter of trade, but also involve national strategy and economic security.

The United States and Allies Promote Regional Supply Chains

At the same time, the United States and its allies are promoting strategies to build supply chains closer to the Asia-Pacific region to reduce dependence on certain countries and minimize risks from trade conflicts or geopolitical tensions.

These trends are commonly referred to as:

• Nearshoring
• Friend-shoring
• Regional supply chain
• China+1 strategy

These strategies are reshaping global supply chain structures as companies and governments seek to diversify suppliers, production locations, and logistics routes.

Supply Chains Are Increasingly Influenced by Geopolitics

Recent developments show that global supply chains are no longer driven solely by production costs or economic efficiency, but are increasingly influenced by geopolitics, national strategies, and economic security.

Major supply chain trends today include:

• Diversifying raw material sources
• Diversifying manufacturing countries
• Building regional distribution hubs
• Developing intra-regional logistics
• Increasing multimodal transportation
• Reducing dependence on a single transport route or a single country

This makes global logistics networks more complex, but also increases demand for international logistics services, particularly multimodal transport, regional distribution hubs, and regional logistics services.

Conclusion

Cooperation efforts between China, South Korea, and major economies indicate that global supply chains are entering a period of significant restructuring. Instead of relying on a single manufacturing hub or a single transport route, future supply chains will be built on multi-center, multi-route, and more flexible models to adapt to geopolitical and trade risks.

Weekly Logistics News Summary

Geopolitics, Customs Regulations, and Technology Are Reshaping Global Logistics

Over the past week, the logistics industry has seen several notable developments related to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, new customs regulations in Vietnam, fluctuations in transportation costs, and the growing role of technology in logistics operations. These factors indicate that global logistics is being shaped simultaneously by geopolitics, regulatory changes, and technological transformation.

Geopolitics Continues to Impact Logistics Costs

One of the most notable developments this week is the rising tension in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

This route handles approximately 20% of global oil supply, meaning any disruption could lead to:

• Rising oil prices
• Higher transportation fuel costs
• Increased fuel surcharges
• War risk surcharges
• Higher ocean and air freight rates
• Potential delivery delays

As many shipping lines and airlines adjust routes to avoid high-risk areas, global logistics costs are expected to remain under pressure in the near future.

This highlights a clear trend in recent years: geopolitics is becoming one of the most influential factors affecting global supply chains, sometimes even more than transportation supply and demand.

New Customs Regulations in Vietnam Will Increase Compliance Requirements

Another important update is that Vietnam will implement several changes to customs procedures and import-export tax management starting in 2026 under new Ministry of Finance regulations.

Key changes include:

• Increased responsibility for customs declarations
• Adjustments to procedures for incorrect cargo quantity declarations
• Removal of certain procedures related to changing usage purpose before re-export
• Implementation of electronic customs valuation consultation
• Stricter management of re-imported goods, destruction procedures, and Export Processing Enterprises (EPE)
• Adjustments to on-the-spot import-export procedures
• Clear regulations on conversion between EPE companies and regular enterprises

A major trend in customs management is the shift from border inspection to post-clearance audit and risk management. This means compliant companies may benefit from faster customs clearance, while post-clearance audits will become more frequent.

Therefore, import-export companies will need to focus more on:

• Import-export documentation management
• Production norms and BOM management
• Raw material inventory management
• Final settlement reports
• Customs document retention

AI, Robotics, and Data Are Transforming the Logistics Industry

In addition to geopolitics and regulations, technology continues to be a major trend in global logistics.

Currently, three key elements are considered the foundation of modern logistics:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Robotics and warehouse automation
• Data and real-time tracking systems

AI is being used for:

• Transportation demand forecasting
• Route optimization
• Transport planning
• Inventory optimization
• Order volume forecasting
• Supply chain risk management

Meanwhile, robotics and automation systems are transforming warehouse operations through technologies such as:

• Warehouse robots
• AGV and AMR autonomous vehicles
• Automated sorting systems
• Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
• Smart warehouses and fully automated warehouses

This trend shows that logistics is gradually shifting from a traditional transportation industry to a technology-driven, data-driven, and automation-based industry.

Global Logistics Is Entering a New Phase

Based on the logistics news this week, the global logistics industry is being influenced by three major groups of factors:

1. Geopolitics

• Conflicts and wars
• Shipping route risks
• Oil and energy prices
• Rising logistics surcharges

2. Regulations and Government Management

• Stricter customs management
• Increased post-clearance audits
• Higher compliance requirements
• Standardization of import-export documentation and data

3. Technology and Automation

• AI and data analytics
• Warehouse robotics
• IoT and real-time cargo tracking
• Digital twin and supply chain simulation
• Smart warehouses and intralogistics automation

These three factors are simultaneously reshaping the global logistics industry.

Conclusion

Overall, this week’s logistics news shows that the logistics industry is evolving in three major directions: increasing geopolitical risks, stricter customs and regulatory management, and technology becoming the core competitive advantage.

In this environment, logistics companies and import-export businesses should:

• Closely monitor geopolitical developments and oil prices
• Plan shipments early and secure space in advance
• Standardize import-export documentation and internal data systems
• Invest in technology and data management
• Improve supply chain flexibility

Logistics is no longer just about transportation and warehousing; it is increasingly becoming a matter of risk management, data management, and technology in global supply chains.