Smart Logistics in Agriculture: A Review of ICT-Enabled Web and Mobile Applications

Abstract

Agricultural logistics is critical for ensuring the timely delivery of fresh produce from farms to markets. However, traditional systems in developing regions often suffer from delays, communication barriers, and limited information access. These inefficiencies lead to post-harvest losses, higher costs, and reduced farmer profitability. With the advent of Industry 4.0, smart logistics services powered by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and mobile applications offer sustainable solutions. This review examines the role of web- and smartphone-based platforms in the transformation of Pakistan’s agricultural logistics. A survey among farmers revealed persistent challenges, such as the unavailability of transport services, a lack of monitoring, and weak communication with logistics providers. An ICT-enabled framework integrating GPS, RFID, wireless sensor networks, and cloud-based web services is proposed to address these issues. The findings highlight how smart logistics can improve efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance real-time decision-making, ultimately benefiting both farmers and consumers.