The Internet of Things for efficient medical logistics: a best practice review

The purpose of this review is to explore how supply chain management, specifically within the NHS, can be improved through the use of emerging information and communications technologies (ICT). There are a range of technologies, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and barcodes, available to logistics providers which expedite the processing of inventory at key nodes along a supply chain. However, the evolution of 2-D coding and new applications of RFID and ‘near field’ technologies, pairing them with sensors and the Internet, is enabling such devices to communicate between one another at all times wherever they may be. This ‘Internet of Things’ is allowing for greater levels of visibility and automation within logistics, therefore increasing the potential efficiency of supply chains across all industries.

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