WiseTech and Hapag-Lloyd test IoT visibility

A new pilot links smart containers directly into CargoWise, giving shippers live position and dynamic arrival data. The partnership signals how carriers and software providers are reshaping container oversight through real-time intelligence.

WiseTech Global and Hapag-Lloyd have launched a pilot that could change how shipowners and managers monitor container flows across global trades. The initiative will integrate Hapag-Lloyd’s Live Position and Live ETA data into CargoWise, shifting visibility from historical event reporting to real-time operational control.

Hapag-Lloyd has equipped its fleet of 2 million containers with IoT devices that transmit frequent location updates. The pilot will test WiseTech’s ability to ingest and process millions of data points each day, converting raw signals into usable information for planning and execution.

For ship management teams and logistics executives, the implications are practical. Instead of relying on periodic status messages, they will be able to monitor container positioning continuously, detect deviations, and anticipate potential delays before cargo reaches the next handover point.

Zubin Appoo, Chief Executive Officer of WiseTech Global, said: “The shipping industry has long relied on discrete and often inaccurate event updates that may lag by hours or even days. By bringing IoT-driven live container data and tracking into CargoWise, we’re revolutionizing supply chain visibility. This collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd harnesses data at significant scale to turn it into intelligence that customers can act on, to reduce uncertainty, improve efficiency, and make smarter decisions.”

A central feature is Hapag-Lloyd’s Live ETA, described as the industry’s first dynamic estimated time of arrival prediction. It adjusts in real time based on GPS data from containers across different transport modes. For shipments managed door to door by Hapag-Lloyd, delivery time accuracy improves by 75% compared with static schedule forecasts.

Karsten Schmidt, Director Live Position & Track & Trace at Hapag-Lloyd, said: “We’ve invested in equipping our entire dry container fleet with IoT technology to provide better service and reliability to our customers. Working with WiseTech, we can integrate the data from our smart containers into the systems our customers use every day, providing actionable predictive insights rather than just dots on a map. This partnership represents an important step toward a more transparent, resilient and digitally enabled global supply chain.”

As the trial progresses, both companies will refine data quality and usability with joint customers, aiming to embed real-time container intelligence directly into day-to-day fleet and cargo management.

source : thedigitalship