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IoTPASS™ Revolutionizes Asset Tracking for Intermodal Transportation

Quick Facts

Company

Net Feasa

Customer Profile

Net Feasa is a global provider of supply chain management hardware and software focused on wireless IoT solutions for container transport. Their mission is to enhance the safety, security and integrity of intermodal transportation by protecting ports, vessels and assets while improving visibility at every supply chain stage.

Objectives
Net Feasa is transforming container logistics from manual processes to digital. Their network and IoT device solutions fully digitize the movement of refrigerated and dry box containers throughout the supply chain lifecycle. The Net Feasa IoTPASS™ is an all-in-one device to provide tracking, door open and close detection and heat detection for dry boxes, made possible by deploying with reliable, low-power IoT cellular and satellite modules along with LoRa® chipsets. This combination of LPWA cellular, satellite and LoRa technologies offers seamless coverage and visibility regardless of the container’s location.
Results

The Net Feasa IoTPASS™ solution offers:

  • Asset tracking with global coverage and satellite fallback
  • Real-time alerts for open/closed doors (patent pending) and device tampering
  • Real-time optimization of container movement for greater efficiency
  • Early detection of heat build-up through heat sensors
Semtech Products & Services

Introduction

Net Feasa is an innovative IoT solutions provider that is transforming the global logistics and supply chain industry through intelligent connectivity and asset visibility. Their mission is to deliver real-time asset visibility and intelligence within the logistics, maritime and intermodal transportation sectors. Net Feasa partners with industry leaders to enable a smarter, more sustainable global supply chain.

Shipping has a long history with complex regulations, which makes digital transformation challenging. Manual and offline processes are deeply embedded into existing supply chain workflows. Net Feasa strives to make the digital transition as smooth and easy as possible so that internal change management isn’t a barrier. Their solutions are equipped with comprehensive cybersecurity, are easy to use and are fully compliant with major global communications regulations

Challenge

Shipping containers are the heart of the global supply chain, and having real-time visibility and tight control of the containers ensures that goods get to where they need to be. It’s critical for global shipping and transportation companies to always know exactly where their containers are, where they’re going and what they’re carrying. It can be expensive to manage, locate and optimize containers, and logistics companies are looking for ways to automate, increase efficiency and save money. Containers travel across various locations, both on land and at sea. They may be transported by train, stored in a warehouse or distribution center, hauled by trucks on highways, or carried on vessels at sea or docked in port. The connectivity required to track containers varies based on their location. Cellular is typically not available at sea or in shipping ports and even ports with coverage experience congestion when a vessel arrives with many connected containers. Dedicated private networks introduce additional compatibility and roaming challenges. Cellular connectivity is accessible when the container is in a warehouse on land and is optimal while the container is in transit, such as on a truck or train. 4G or 5G IoT connectivity offers seamless communication between moving vehicles and external networks. The ability to fall back to satellite (NTN) in vulnerable, remote areas of the supply chain is groundbreaking, providing an essential redundancy. Some ships and ports have LoRa-enabled networks in lieu of cellular. This requires multiple means of connectivity to enable always-on coverage for a single asset-tracking device. Coverage blind spots are a security risk as theft and vandalism can occur when containers cannot be seen or visualized remotely.

Net Feasa wanted to provide seamless global coverage to deliver unparalleled asset visibility and business intelligence, as well as lower operational costs for their clients. They evaluated multiple technologies to provide global connectivity and ultimately decided to include LTE Cat-M and NB-IoT with 2G fallback, LoRa and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) 3GPP Release 17 in the IoTPASS™ device.

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Semtech’s groundbreaking technology is the driving force of IoTPASS™ redundant connectivity; elevating shipping containers into intelligent actors in a digitally transformed global supply chain–underwriting a more profitable, efficient and sustainable supply chain.

Mike Fitzgerald
Net Feasa Chairman & Company Founder

Solution

Net Feasa officially launched the innovative, always-connected IoTPASS™ in late 2024 for global distribution. IoTPASS™ incorporates the Semtech HL7812 LPWA module and the LR1121 transceiver to provide LoRa, cellular IoT, and cellular-over satellite technology for truly global connectivity. Satellite fallback is necessary when the container is in rural or remote locations with sparse cellular coverage. LoRa backhauls sensor data and location traffic in the absence of cellular connectivity e.g., on vessels, and can connect the IoTPASS™ to sensors inside the container. LoRa’s strong penetration and reach enable signal receipt even inside a metal container.

The IoTPASS™ is compact, cost effective and installs quickly; the device snaps on to the container lock bar and secures with a single bolt. Not only does the device allow the asset location to be tracked, but embedded sensors also monitor the container’s temperature. Sensors can also detect when the door is open, which can alert the owner and/or relevant authority to potential security risks. Sensor and location data are sent to either the Net Feasa Cloud Platform, Agentic Control Tower™, or to a customer’s own container management platform (control tower). This makes the IoTPASS™ solution a great choice for smaller companies who may not have their own cloud-based management systems. The device is Atex certified for use on vessels and in other sensitive environments.

Both the Semtech HL7812 module and the LR1121 transceiver feature ultra-low power consumption, which is important for device longevity. LoRa sensors are easily sourced from many partners and last for years on small batteries. IoTPASS™ has an expected lifespan that matches the container – between 10 and 14 years. The device has a primary battery and a rechargeable one, and it uses solar e-harvesting to recharge the latter. IoTPASS™ has built-in intelligence that is context aware. It knows when it’s on a vessel and stays in a semi-sleep state as it only requires infrequent scans or to report a heat alarm. When the container comes off the vessel, it wakes up so it can report valuable location and tracking data.

The HL7812 and the LR1121 in combination provide global connectivity coverage and offer a lower total cost of ownership. The data provided by IoTPASS™ gives a more accurate overview of a container than was previously possible. These valuable insights help Net Feasa clients achieve efficiency and optimize operations.

Benefits

Net Feasa solutions are commercially launched and live with clients with many of the world’s largest shipping lines currently trialing the technology. The key benefits include:
  • Always-on coverage that gives real-time container intelligence regardless of whether the container is at sea, in port or in a remote location on land.
  • Logistics decisions can be made in real time, increasing supply chain velocity.
  • Reduced costs by automating container tracking and optimizing container usage.
  • Patent pending security capability allows shipping companies to reduce illicit activities and the costs associated with resulting cargo loss and damage across the supply chain.
  • Proactive asset management will lead to fewer trucks on the road or ships at sea, which lowers carbon emissions of the supply chain industry.
  • A single supplier for cellular and LoRa creates efficient integration and smooth collaboration between engineering teams.
  • Containers with next-generation intelligence, enabling them to become autonomous participants in the global supply chain
The Net Feasa R&D team is working to deliver the next paradigm shift in this space, where IoTPASS™-enabled containers could interact with agentic AI to actively seek out their next assignment and coordinate directly with supply chain systems. This feature could enable containers to autonomously identify optimal jobs, schedule pickups and even book slots on vessels, all while providing a continuous stream of valuable data and enabling efficiency, responsiveness and profitability.
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Related Products

Client

Net Feasa

Location

 Ireland, USA (New-York)

Markets

Logistics, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer electronics, Industrial equipment

Products & Services

HL7812 LPWA module,
LoRa Connect™ LR1121

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