Companies have more supply-chain data than ever, but many still struggle to turn it into measurable improvements. According to PwC’s 2026 Digital Trends in Operations Survey, 89% of US operations and supply chain leaders said their technology investments had not fully delivered the expected results, while 87% said poor data quality affected their ability to create value from digital initiatives1 .
We spoke with David Landerborn, Nefab’s Head of Digital Solutions, about what it takes to turn packaging and logistics data into action.
Manufacturers already use tracking tools and warehouse platforms. What makes it so difficult to act on the data they collect?
Each tool tends to tell you only part of the story. You might know where a shipment is and what left the warehouse but have to look somewhere else for packaging specifications or packing instructions. If there is a problem, bringing those pieces together can take time.
The answer isn’t necessarily to replace everything with one system. The customer may already have some of the systems and technologies in place for different purposes. We look at what information they have, what problem they’re trying to solve, and which information needs to be connected.
For us, the starting point of every digital project is always the packaging and how it moves through the customer’s operation.
What does turning that data into action look like?
Sometimes the value is simply knowing about a problem early enough to do something about it. We worked with a customer transporting large batteries and added location tracking, shock monitoring and temperature readings to the specialized packaging. When the temperature rose during transport, the team saw it immediately and removed the affected battery to protect the rest of the shipment. They could then review the data and consider improvements to the packaging and transport process.
Let me give you another example. A global electric vehicle manufacturer was losing track of some of its packaging. The teams had inventory records and location data, but it was still taking time to work out where an asset had gone or why the numbers didn’t match.
We brought that information together. Now they can see their tracked packaging in one dashboard, from a global view down to an individual box. They get a weekly inventory update, and when there’s a discrepancy, the right people get an email so they can look into it.
That’s made a practical difference: they can find racks faster, deal with discrepancies sooner and rely less on manual inventories. Fewer racks are permanently lost, and they have a clearer view of their empty packaging flows.
How can supply chain data help manufacturers as they expand across sites and regions?
When a company opens another site, it shouldn’t have to rely on individuals remembering how a product needs to be packed. Digital instructions and shared libraries can give teams access to approved packing methods. That gives each site a starting point, even when local materials, products or shipping conditions differ.
The information needs to flow back as well. We work with customers on packaging designs across regions and can help them see data from different sites. If the same issue starts showing up in several places, the customer and our engineers can look into the issue together and propose changes to the packaging or packing methods.
Accurate records matter for compliance, too. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is a good example. It applies to all packaging placed on the EU market, wherever it is made. Manufacturers need to know what packaging they’re using and , ideally, have the information about it in one place. Otherwise, it’s hard to see what the new requirements mean for them and what they need to change.
Can supply chain data also tell companies if their packaging is delivering the sustainability benefits they expect?
Absolutely. Take returnable packaging, for example. It may seem like the better environmental choice, but we also need to see how it performs in use. How many trips does each packaging complete? Is damage shortening its useful life? Does the packaging need service or repair?
That information helps us compare the assumptions behind the lifecycle assessments with what is happening in the supply chain. If the packaging isn’t being used as expected, we can look at whether the packaging or the process may need to change.
Where does AI fit into this?
AI is only as useful as the data behind it. You don’t need AI to tell you that one shipment experienced too much vibration. A sensor can do that. AI might become useful when you look across many shipments. It could help us find the right questions to ask sooner, then make sense of what the data tells us. For example, are high vibration readings more common on certain routes? Does a particular packing method make a difference?
How can manufacturers start turning packaging data into action?
Start with one packaging or logistics flow and ask three questions: What do we need to know? Who needs that information? What would they do with it? Once you can answer those questions, it’s easier to see if a digital solution could help, and where.
Want to learn more? Talk to Nefab about where disconnected packaging and logistics data may be limiting visibility, quality or efficiency in your operations.
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