14 Oct Edge processing could significantly reduce cargo crime, claims IOTI at transport month event

South Africa, ranking fourth in global cargo theft incidents according to the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) in 2024, received a message at the recent Technology Innovation in Transport event highlighting ‘edge processing’ as a potential solution.

Held at the Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg on 9 October, the event was co-hosted by the Transport Forum and the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, with IOTI as a Gold Sponsor.

IOTI’s CEO, Norman Parkin, stated that the transport sector doesn’t need to accept theft as inevitable, pointing out that traditional asset tracking methods have proven ineffective over the past 30 years. He also advocated for edge processing as a proactive solution, allowing for immediate alerts when locks and access points are tampered with.

IOTI’s compact devices use edge processing to monitor local conditions autonomously, reducing the risk of detection by criminals. This enables real-time analysis and quicker responses to potential theft, with the added benefit of creating evidence for law enforcement.

Earlier, UJ’s Professor Joash Mageto discussed how transport connects economies and creates job opportunities, introducing the concept of ‘transport poverty’ wherein individuals struggle to access employment due to travel costs.