Data Infrastructure Engineering for Logistics & Transportation
A dispatch board that only updates overnight is tracking yesterday, not today. We build the streaming layer that gets shipment and fleet data current, and the database performance underneath high-write tracking data.
Where Logistics Data Infrastructure Actually Breaks
A dispatch board that pulls from last night's batch job is tracking yesterday, not today. Same-day routing, SLA alerts, and dispatch decisions need position data that's minutes old, not a day old, and a nightly sync simply can't deliver that no matter how well it runs.
The database underneath often gets blamed for a problem it doesn't actually have. High-frequency GPS and telemetry updates are a write-heavy, high-churn workload most databases aren't indexed or partitioned for by default, and the instinct is to provision bigger hardware instead of tuning the schema and write path for that specific pattern.
Meanwhile, warehouse management, transportation management, and inventory systems often each show a different position for the same shipment, because nothing keeps them in sync beyond a nightly reconciliation script somebody maintains by hand.
We scope real-time tracking, database performance, and self-service access to the specific dispatch and routing decisions that actually need it, not a generic IoT rebuild.
Five Problems We See Repeatedly, and How We Handle Them
Real scenarios, not a checklist of generic capabilities.
A dispatch board pulls position data from last night's batch job, so a driver's actual location is hours old by the time a routing decision gets made.
We build CDC and streaming pipelines that propagate position and status updates as they happen, scoped to the routing and SLA decisions that can't wait on a batch job.
Real-Time Data EngineeringA tracking database that's fine most of the day slows to a crawl during high-write periods, and the instinct is to just provision bigger hardware.
We tune the schema, indexing, and write path for high-frequency GPS and telemetry updates specifically, which is often cheaper than scaling hardware.
Database EngineeringDispatch and planning file a ticket to engineering every time they need a current tracking report, because there's no way to query the data themselves.
We build a self-service access layer, views, permissions, and documentation, so operations teams query current data directly.
Data EngineeringWarehouse management, transportation management, and inventory systems each show a different position for the same shipment, because nothing keeps them in sync.
We build CDC-based sync between the systems to keep positions consistent, instead of a nightly reconciliation script someone maintains by hand.
Data ReliabilityRoute and capacity planning still runs on last quarter's demand, so a lane gets over- or under-allocated until someone notices the pattern by hand.
We build demand forecasting and allocation models off your actual shipment data, so routing and capacity planning work from a current forecast, not last quarter's assumption.
Data AnalyticsFrom a Recent Engagement
For a US city traffic management system, we resolved PostgreSQL and SQL Server bottlenecks: 85% lower sensor ingestion latency, 12x faster operational reports, and 99.9% uptime maintained throughout.
Read the case studyTechnology We Work In
PostgreSQL for tracking and dispatch data, Kafka for position and telemetry streams, RabbitMQ for dispatch job queues, and Redis for caching.
We work hands-on with: PostgreSQL, Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, Kubernetes.
What's Included, By Category
Real-Time Tracking Infrastructure
- CDC and streaming pipelines for shipment and fleet position data
- Database schema and indexing tuned for high-frequency GPS/telemetry writes
- Warehouse, transportation, and inventory system sync
- Freshness and reconciliation monitoring across tracking systems
Database & Performance Engineering
- Write-path tuning for high-churn tracking and telemetry tables
- Query optimization for dispatch, routing, and reporting workloads
- Connection pooling and resource tuning under continuous write load
- Replication, failover, and backup/recovery for operational systems
Self-Service & Platform Engineering
- Self-service access layer for dispatch and planning teams
- Golden-path views and permissions for operational reporting
- Data platform engineering for cross-team reporting needs
- Cloud database cost optimization for high-write tracking infrastructure
Market Segments Served
We work with logistics and transportation companies where tracking freshness or database write performance is the actual risk.
- Logistics and fleet operators running dispatch on batch-synced position data
- Tracking databases that slow down under high-frequency GPS or telemetry writes
- Dispatch and planning teams that file tickets to engineering for tracking reports
- Companies syncing warehouse, transportation, and inventory systems that disagree on shipment position
- Supply chain teams needing SLA alerts or routing decisions on current, not day-old, data
- Logistics operators scaling fleet size faster than their tracking database was designed for
Delivery Lifecycle
Discovery & Assessment
We map which tracking and dispatch decisions actually need real-time data, and audit database performance under your actual write load.
Architecture & Design
We design the CDC and streaming pipeline and the database tuning plan for your highest-impact tracking and performance gaps.
Build & Integration
We implement the tracking pipeline and database changes end to end, integrated with the dispatch and warehouse systems already in place.
Testing & Validation
We verify latency and query performance against real operational traffic, not a synthetic load test.
Launch & Ongoing Coverage
We document runbooks, enable self-service access for operations teams, and stay on retainer for scaling and incidents.
Why Logistics Teams Work With Us
Depth Across the Whole Stack, Not Just One Layer
A tracking vendor watches position data. A DBA tunes one database. We bring real-time infrastructure, database performance, and self-service platform engineering as one team, so a problem that crosses two systems doesn't fall into the gap between vendors.
A Team, Not One Person's Calendar
A single in-house hire means business hours and one person's availability, with everything waiting when they're out. We bring a team behind every engagement, so a dispatch incident doesn't wait on someone's vacation.
Scoped to the Actual Problem, Not a Fixed Package
Every engagement starts with a diagnostic against your real tracking and dispatch data, not a generic IoT audit. You get a prioritized list of what's actually wrong before committing to fix it.
No Dependency by Design
Runbooks and documentation are part of the deliverable, so your team can run what we build without staying on retainer forever. If ongoing coverage is still the right call, we'll say why.
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Out Where Your Tracking Data Actually Breaks
We schedule a call to hear what's going on, then a second call to review your tracking pipeline and database and tell you directly which gaps carry real risk.