The world of logistics is rapidly shifting toward real-time visibility and data-driven operations. As supply chains become more complex and demand grows for faster deliveries and consistent on-time performance, companies are investing in cutting-edge tools that enable data-driven decision making.
The facility yard, a critical yet often overlooked link in the supply chain, is one place where this tech revolution is playing out. Yard operations have traditionally been seen as a backwater function, but in today’s highly complex logistics environment, they are gaining greater attention.
As companies strive to improve operational efficiency, precision, and resilience, real-time visibility into yard operations is becoming a must-have capability. Through greater precision in asset tracking, automated gate access, and better coordination across functions, warehouse and manufacturing yard operators can optimize performance and reduce costs.
The Role of the Yard in Modern Logistics
In the context of logistics, the yard is the place where goods flow into and out of a facility or are stored temporarily in trailers and containers before moving further along the supply chain. Key functions include asset management, gate operations, trailer movements, and dock scheduling. These activities are fundamental to supply chain performance, ensuring that resources are available when needed to meet production or distribution requirements.
However, inefficiencies in yard operations cause a significant ripple effect in the supply chain. Delays in the yard cascade throughout logistics processes, causing bottlenecks, increased costs, and missed delivery windows. If trailer movements are delayed or assets are misplaced, schedules are impacted. This in turn leads to costly downstream issues such as line-down events in production, stockouts, and dissatisfied customers.
Traditional yard management is rife with challenges. Outdated or manual processes, a lack of synchronization, and limited visibility often lead to wasted time and resources. Incredibly, many facilities still rely on paper-based systems and radio communication to track trailer movements, leading to delays, errors, and inefficiency.
The Evolution of Yard Technology
Historically, yard management was largely manual, relying on paper records, spreadsheets, and physical checks to track assets and monitor operations. As logistics grew more complex, early yard management systems (YMS) appeared in the 1990s. This opened the door to more streamlined processes for gate access control, tracking trailer movements and managing dock scheduling. However, even most current generation YMS still lack real-time capabilities and don’t offer the level of integration necessary for true supply chain optimization.
The introduction of real-time visibility over the past five years or so has been a game changer in the yard. AI-powered solutions leveraging yard vision capabilities enable real-time data capture through security cameras, automating asset identification, verification and tracking. This innovative technology, when integrated with YMS, provides instant updates on asset location and status, allowing yard managers to respond proactively to issues. It also facilitates greater precision and accuracy in the flow of goods, minimizing delays and increasing productivity.
This tech revolution is transforming the way yards operate, providing managers and operations leaders with insights and tools that enhance efficiency and improve on-time performance.
Benefits of Real-Time Yard Visibility
Real-time visibility leads to significant improvements in operational efficiency. Faster gate check-ins allow drivers to be immediately directed to the right docks or parking spaces to drop their trailers. With a live look at all assets’ locations and movements, yard personnel can eliminate hours spent searching for trailers, and drivers aren’t hung up waiting for their dock assignments. This reduces dwell time – with the added benefit of carbon reduction for sustainability efforts – and speeds up turnaround and throughput in the yard.
Improved Asset Utilization
Tracking trailers, containers, and equipment in real time allows managers to maximize asset utilization. When they know the exact location and status of each asset, they can
better plan for load prioritization, improve dock scheduling, and ensure that equipment is being used to its full capacity. This reduces idle time and ensures that assets are being deployed efficiently across the yard.
Reduced Costs
One of the most significant benefits of real-time visibility is the ability to reduce costs. Through optimization, companies can minimize detention fees, ranging from $50 to $150 per day per container, which often result from yard delays. Optimized yard management also reduces fuel consumption and labor costs by eliminating unnecessary wait times and optimizing truck and trailer movements.
Automated Gate Access
An AI-powered yard vision system significantly enhances efficiency by automating vehicle access control. The system immediately identifies trucks and trailers entering or exiting a facility by capturing dozens of identifying markings (license plate, DOT number, etc.). Drivers quickly scan a QR code at a gate kiosk for verification and access is granted. This improves security and eliminates manual errors in logging vehicle details, which often leads to discrepancies or delays.
Improved Decision-Making
With real-time visibility, yard managers can access data that enables proactive decision-making. When a delay or disruption occurs, they can respond immediately, minimizing the impact on operations. By leveraging data analytics, managers can identify trends, optimize workflows, and make informed decisions that improve overall yard performance.
Dispute Resolution
A common issue with shippers is claims management on misdeliveries, proof of delivery, and physical damages to goods. An AI-powered yard vision system allows them to provide a concrete, time-stamped proof of delivery, as well as visual evidence of the condition of goods upon arrival and unloading.
Improved Customer Satisfaction
Real-time visibility is also a key factor in meeting customer expectations. With tighter delivery windows and growing demand from retailers and partners for on-time in-full (OTIF) deliveries, companies must be able to execute shipments without delay. Real-time updates enable yard managers to adjust operations to meet deadlines, ensuring that shipments arrive on time and customer satisfaction remains high.
Integration with Broader Supply Chain Systems
For real-time yard visibility to deliver its full potential, it must be seamlessly integrated with adjacent supply chain systems such as TMS, WMS, and ERP. This ensures that data from the yard is synchronized with inbound and outbound logistics, enabling a more cohesive, efficient supply chain.
Rest APIs and cloud-based platforms play a crucial role in achieving system interoperability. These technologies enable live updates that are shared across the supply chain. Integration also enables dynamic workflows such as real-time dock assignments and load prioritization, so drivers, yard personnel, and receiving staff get timely updates and instructions.
By synching yard management more closely with the broader supply chain, real-time visibility drives greater agility and logistics efficiency. This leads in turn to faster responses to disruptions and a smoother flow of goods.
Overcoming Barriers to Adoption
While the benefits of real-time visibility are clear, many organizations face implementation challenges. Upfront costs, change management, and compatibility with existing systems are all perceived as barriers to adoption.
Some smaller operations may also perceive real-time visibility as a luxury reserved for enterprise players only. However, with the growing availability of scalable, user-friendly platforms, midsized companies can benefit from real-time yard management. Also, cutting-edge vision systems can map out a yard quickly and at low expense through satellite coordinates, making updates simple as well.
By choosing the right system and providing adequate training, organizations can overcome these barriers and implement real-time visibility with ease.
To ensure a successful implementation of real-time yard management, companies should:
- Invest in scalable, flexible platforms that can grow with their operations.
- Provide training and support to ensure that employees are equipped to use the new system.
- Start with pilot programs for testing and process refinement and to build stakeholder confidence.
The Future of Yard Management
Emerging technologies are poised to further revolutionize operations. AI and machine learning will play an increasing role in predictive analytics and automation, helping yard managers anticipate and mitigate disruptions before they occur. Autonomous yard operations, including drones, robotics, and robotic vehicles will further reduce labor requirements and improve efficiency.
The role of real-time visibility in enhancing supply chain collaboration will only continue to grow. Data-driven decisions and real-time communication will strengthen partner relationships, reduce delays, and drive sustainability goals. As they become standard in yard operations, the logistics industry will become more efficient and sustainable.
Real-Time Yard Visibility: True Innovation That’s Now Within Reach
Real-time visibility in the yard is no longer optional in modern logistics. From improving operational efficiency to enhancing customer satisfaction, the benefits are clear. By leveraging AI-powered technologies, companies can optimize yard operations, reduce costs, and stay competitive in an increasingly demanding market.
EAIGLE, a pioneer and leader in development of cutting-edge yard vision technology, marries the power of AI and predictive analytics with real-time location data to truly revolutionize yard logistics. Its AVAC™ (Automated Vehicle Access Control) solution takes in more than two dozen data elements from camera feeds to instantly register and validate incoming trucks and trailers. This ensures that only authorized vehicles are promptly granted entry and exit, improving both security and traffic flow.
EAIGLE’S YardSight™ technology similarly uses AI to analyze data from camera feeds, instantly identifying available docks and parking spots. Arriving drivers can quickly navigate to their destinations, speeding up loading/unloading and improving efficiency. Its real-time data capture also eliminates the need for labor-intensive, inefficient manual yard audits.
To learn more about how EAIGLE can transform your yard operations and drive measurable performance gains, request a demo today.