TechWeek Singapore 2026

At TechWeekSingapore2026, I have been looking at technologies from the perspective of freight forwarding and logistics: What operational problem does this actually solve?

One of the solutions worth looking at is SOTI (soti.net). We spend a lot of time talking about WMS, TMS, automation and AI.

But there is another layer we often overlook: the device the warehouse operator or driver actually holds in their hand.

SOTI manages and secures these mobile and rugged devices across platforms including Android and Windows, and supports manufacturers commonly used in logistics such as Zebra, Honeywell, Datalogic and Panasonic.

Where does this become operationally interesting?

A warehouse handheld can be locked down so the operator only has access to the applications and functions required for the job.

Different configurations can be applied to warehouse staff, drivers and supervisors.

Geofencing takes this further. Device policies can change depending on whether the device is inside an approved warehouse, depot or other location.

Then there is downtime. When a scanner stops working, the problem is not simply an IT problem. It becomes an operational problem. SOTI allows support teams to remotely diagnose devices, collect logs and examine device, application and battery behaviour without necessarily having the device physically in front of them.

Another practical logistics application is controlled photo capture. Images of damaged cargo, loading conditions or proof of delivery can be captured, automatically transferred to a central repository and removed from the device afterwards.

My takeaway

The easiest way to understand where SOTI fits into logistics is perhaps this:

The WMS manages the inventory.

The TMS manages the transport. The handheld connects the employee to those systems. SOTI manages and protects that connection.

As logistics operations become increasingly digital, the devices used on the warehouse floor and in the field are no longer just hardware. They are part of the operational infrastructure.