Data makes things possible. For example, if one tracks and traces all documents and all goods in an end-to-end supply chain, one can imagine that one will be able to implement the concept of the physical Internet of Things - using a multi modal logistics facilities to move standardized size parcels in a logistics network like the Internet is doing with information.

There is indeed a lot of data out there, much more than we could imagine. The challenge is to connect that data and turn it into manageable information. A lot of companies are progressing on this, in one industry already easier and faster than the other. As a global forwarding and logistics company, we have managed to turn available data into indicators predicting global trade evolutions, etc, which we can make available for our customers!
At a more operational level, we have as well the tools available on track & trace of movements of goods across the supply chain and the multi-model steps in the supply chain, by connecting our systems and the data in those systems. This can be on a shipment level, but as well on an individual shipper level usinng data loggers,..., which is used in case of high value goods shipments.

As the Internet of Things grows the capability to expand real time data collection (RFID) also grows. More and more devices could identify information as coming from RFID broadcast and share this information readily. All products would be manufactured with RFID broadcast capability. End to end (Air, Sea, Land) would be able to instantly identify where goods exist in the overall system. This information would be input to ERP systems.