Location forecast 2025: our round-up of need-to-know asset tracking trends

“Every single IoT device generates data almost every second,” Gino Ferru, HERE’s Senior Vice President and General Manager EMEA told HERE360. “This explosion of telemetry requires us to not only organize the data generated by these devices but also to optimize their efficiency so supply chains improve.”

With up to 90 billion IoT (Internet of Things) devices connected in 2024, the asset tracking industry is on the verge of a major transformation. Location intelligence is the key to unlocking this flood of data, helping companies pinpoint assets, predict movements and create a supply chain that runs smoothly. 

Whether tracking shipments, vehicles or high-value equipment, location intelligence is driving a smarter, more connected world.

Sixth sense

IoT sensors and devices have come a long way and they’re no longer just about knowing where an asset is. Today’s trackers are like Swiss Army knives—they can sense everything from temperature and vibrations to movement and even sudden shocks.

Ferru pointed out a few recent use cases, like using real-time tracking on school buses to ensure drivers park in designated areas, reducing the risk of children crossing busy streets.

Or when moving high-value industrial equipment, Saudi Arabian company iot squared uses trackers that monitor spare parts for critical machinery, ensuring they arrive on time and maintenance is carried out precisely when needed to avoid costly downtime.

“This isn’t just about location anymore,” Ferru explained. “Trackers are evolving to understand their environment, unlocking huge opportunities—not just in logistics, but also in areas like insurance, safety and predictive maintenance.”

Growing pains

Despite innovation, adoption hurdles remain. Businesses struggle with the “spaghetti infrastructure” of current systems, as Ferru described it—where enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, IoT devices and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms often fail to integrate seamlessly. Preparing data in standardized formats and allocating resources to launch successful asset tracking initiatives can be daunting.

“There’s still a lot of integration work to be done,” Ferru admitted. “But as standards improve and costs decrease, we are approaching a tipping point for widespread adoption.”

AI aboard

Artificial intelligence, especially generative AI and edge AI, is revolutionizing asset tracking. By processing vast quantities of telemetry data in near real time, AI can predict disruptions, streamline supply chains, and offer actionable insights.

“With elastic cloud compute and AI-driven models, we can analyze terabytes of tracking data to forecast anomalies and optimize all moving parts in the ecosystem,” Ferru shared. This is how asset tracking moves beyond monitoring and becomes a predictive tool for industries like logistics, healthcare and retail.

Sustainability first

Sustainability has become a top priority for businesses, and asset tracking is playing a key role in making it happen. By reducing unnecessary trips, lowering emissions and improving efficiency, companies can save money while making real progress toward their environmental and social goals.

Tracking technology is also helping businesses comply with stringent regulations, such as restricted zones in London designed to reduce air pollution. With the help of asset tracking, vehicles can be monitored to ensure they stay out of these areas, avoiding heavy penalties while adhering to sustainability standards.

“Every time we avoid sending a truck on an unnecessary route or eliminate a delay we’re helping to reduce the carbon footprint,” Ferru explained.

Shipping news

A standout use case in asset tracking is with global shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd. Equipped with HERE Tracking, more than 1 million of their containers are now IoT-enabled, sending precise location updates every 15 minutes.

“This means that as goods move through the supply chain via ships, trains and trucks, logistics can adapt in real time,” Gino explained. “The entire supply chain becomes smarter—predicting delays, redirecting resources, and reducing inefficiencies.” This innovation has transformed Hapag-Lloyd’s operations, establishing predictive ETA tracking as a pivotal advancement.

Location forecast

Looking beyond 2025, asset tracking is poised to integrate deeper into intelligent ecosystems. Advances in satellite connectivity, standardization of tracking data formats and the expansion of AI will enable hyper-automated, end-to-end supply chain operations.

 “We’re just at the beginning of something massive,” Gino said optimistically. “Over time, machine learning will get even better at predictive maintenance, route optimization and anomaly detection, creating a hyper-intelligent supply chain.”

Companies that adopt these tools will enjoy unmatched operational advantages in a world increasingly shaped by data and connectivity.

Guiding light

The asset tracking world is transforming at lightning speed, driven by a blend of IoT, AI and sustainability. With billions of tracking devices reimagining how industries interact with their assets, the future is brimming with opportunity—and location intelligence will lead the way.

Gino summed it up best: “This is about making the world a better place. Every piece of data, every optimized route, every reduced delay—these aren’t just technical improvements; they’re steps toward a smarter, more sustainable planet.”