Check out this video explaining why most real-time asset tracking systems fall short of modern manufacturers’ expectations because they primarily show one thing: the movement of a dot on a map. It’s useful information, but limited.
This leaves teams to interpret everything themselves:
• Why is the asset there?
• Is the process on track?
• Did a compliance step get missed?
• What should happen next?
The core issue is that these systems present data without context. And recent research shows that this slows teams down. A 2023 study in Elsevier notes that practitioners are overloaded with information and must understand what is relevant before they can act. Simply showing more data does not help unless the system translates it into meaning.
This is where many visibility tools fall short.
When systems stop at “here’s the location,” the burden shifts to operators and supervisors. They must manually interpret deviations, identify bottlenecks, or spot risks using incomplete or outdated data from disconnected systems. This leads to gut-feel decisions, hallway conversations, and constant re-checking.
Context changes this.
A system that understands workflow logic can automatically surface insights such as:
• Out-of-sequence work
• Items missing inspection or documentation
• Emerging bottlenecks
• Quality or compliance risks
• Next expected steps in the process
This is the difference between observing a dot and understanding what that dot means for the business. Moving from observation to action strengthens decision-making and reduces daily uncertainty. It allows frontline teams to focus on running operations, not manually deciphering them.
Clausen’s research reinforces this shift: success comes from real-time data that enables fast responses before unplanned events disrupt production. Modern manufacturers are beginning to differentiate in exactly this way. Not just by knowing where something is, but by understanding what should happen next.
👉 Explore how Tego delivers real-time context that turns visibility into action at https://tegoinc.com/solutions/#smart-connected-solutions
