Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to Industries

Transportation

Infinite IoT: Is IoT Broken?

IoT is an acronym for the Internet of Things. According to iTech Post, “it describes devices that connect to the internet to send and receive information. IoT is similar to artificial intelligence (AI) in that it enables machines to perform certain tasks.” In general, we are interacting with AI more than we realize, and up…

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Transportation teams put it to work with Partner & Channel Enablement.

Share

IoT is an acronym for the Internet of Things. According to iTech Post, “it describes devices that connect to the internet to send and receive information. IoT is similar to artificial intelligence (AI) in that it enables machines to perform certain tasks.” In general, we are interacting with AI more than we realize, and up to “50 times a day,” said Mike Mulica, CEO of Alef. But to fully scale IoT to an enterprise level, the structure of the market model must change.

“Major carriers of 5G are not moving fast enough,” Mulica said. Mobile operators operate from a centralized market model, which is not conducive to the way enterprises use it. “The enterprise has a sophisticated view of what they need,” Mulica said. “They look at things from a business enterprise-centric perspective.”

First, let’s consider the cost hurdle. When it comes to the cost of running enterprise-level mobility that’s needed to operate IoT on an enterprisescale, the cost of setting up that mobility is a huge investment. According to a 2018 Forbes article, “the high costs of IoT has significantly slowed down mass adoption.” Mulica recommended that the cost be lowered to the point where it’s like adopting Wi-Fi.

IoT would also be more adaptable if it were as easy to set up as Wi-Fi. With Wi-Fi, once you have the router plugged in and turned on, it’s almost immediate connectivity. That connectivity is not comparable in enterprise mobility. Enterprises do not have the operations needed, the logistics of a mobile operator in-house and ready to deploy their IoT.

In summary, “it’s not unusual for the average consumer to require an expert service provider to make sure that their devices are on their network and functioning properly,”according to

Forbes

. Once mobile operators shift from privatized networks, IoT will experience growth, opportunity, and enormous benefits for enterprises. Mulica explains that IoT can be compared to more standard technology, like the cloud.“The main value of the cloud, the cloud itself, is the value,”he said. Simply put, enterprises don’t have the mobile DNA to replicate what the mobile operators have been able to do. Lowering the threshold of expertise and creating an open model is the best way forward

New to MarketScale?

MarketScale is the platform Transportation companies use to turn their own experts into content like this. Want the short overview?

Free workspace

You just read one expert. Imagine publishing your whole team.

This article was produced through MarketScale. Create a free workspace and turn your own team's expertise into articles, video, and social posts. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Transportation Insights

Autonomous trucks, warehouse robots, and drones converge as supply chain automation accelerates

Autonomous trucks, warehouse robots, and drones converge as supply chain automation accelerates

PepsiCo is operating 35 autonomous trucks commercially, while Volvo plans to achieve full automation by the first quarter of 2027. Amazon is introducing a new warehouse robot, marking a significant trend in supply chain automation with increased use of autonomous trucks, warehouse robots, and drones.

  • 01PepsiCo operates 35 autonomous trucks.
  • 02Volvo targets 2027 for full autonomy.
  • 03Amazon introduces a new warehouse robot.

Jun 23, 2026

ITS Logistics June freight index warns drayage and intermodal markets face downstream price surges

ITS Logistics June freight index warns drayage and intermodal markets face downstream price surges

The U.S. freight market is entering the 2026 peak shipping season under conditions not seen since the COVID era, with record truckload spot rates, sharply contracting capacity, and rebounding import volumes creating a volatile backdrop for drayage and intermodal operators. ITS Logistics warns that rate increases in container haulage are a matter of when, not if, as shippers accelerate a shift toward rail that is itself generating new bottlenecks. Geopolitical risk from the Strait of Hormuz and fuel costs running 50% above year-ago levels add further upside pressure on freight costs across all modes.

  • 01SONAR's National Truckload Index hit an all-time high of $3.83 per mile, with all-in truckload costs running more than 50% higher year-over-year, according to Transportation Insight.
  • 02U.S. containerized imports totaled 2,428,758 TEUs in May—a 6.6% month-over-month increase—while China-origin volumes surged 28.1% compared to May 2025, per Descartes Systems Group.
  • 03The Logistics Managers' Index placed Transportation Capacity at 28.4%, well below the neutral 50% threshold, signaling accelerating contraction in available trucking supply.

Jun 19, 2026

Geodis blog tracks escalating U.S. customs turbulence with weekly trade briefings

Geodis blog tracks escalating U.S. customs turbulence with weekly trade briefings

ITS Logistics' June Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index warns that cost pressures building at U.S. ports and rail ramps are poised to cascade downstream into broader supply chains. The alert arrives as tariff volatility, a Strait of Hormuz fuel shock, and structural carrier capacity constraints are all active simultaneously. Major 3PLs including GEODIS and Custom Goods are responding by repositioning customs expertise, bonded warehousing, and flexible routing as core client services.

  • 01ITS Logistics' June Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index flags imminent downstream price surges in drayage and intermodal, compounded by a Hormuz-driven fuel shock and a broker liability ruling identified in prior monthly reports.
  • 02GEODIS and Custom Goods are actively repositioning customs expertise, bonded warehouses, and on-demand storage as tactical responses to tariff-driven supply chain disruption.
  • 03Structural carrier capacity constraints — tied to regulatory compliance burdens and driver workforce demographics — are amplifying rate sensitivity when import demand surges.

Jun 18, 2026

Explore More Transportation Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Transportation.

Browse Transportation Hub