In short: A private 5G network in a logistics depot isn't an additional cost — it's the infrastructure that makes everything else work. Predictive maintenance, yard optimisation, network consolidation, energy monitoring, and drone inspections all pay for themselves when the connectivity is in place.
Key Takeaways
- One network replaces many — consolidating CCTV, access control, tracking, and WiFi onto a single 5G infrastructure cuts cost and complexity
- Predictive maintenance prevents expensive breakdowns — IoT sensors catch problems before they become emergencies
- The network pays for itself — when you add up avoided downtime, reduced energy waste, and consolidated network savings
Connected Depots, Lower Costs
Transport and logistics operators are squeezed. Fuel costs are up, margins are down, and the sector is under growing pressure to cut carbon emissions. Technology can help — but only if the connectivity is there to support it.
Most regional depots and distribution centres rely on a patchwork of legacy systems: basic broadband for the office, separate networks for CCTV and access control, and limited or no connectivity across the yard and warehouse floor.
A private 5G network replaces all of that with a single managed infrastructure. Here are five ways it pays for itself.
1. Predictive Maintenance Stops Breakdowns Before They Happen
Unplanned equipment downtime is expensive. A broken conveyor, a failed loading bay door, or a vehicle that won't start costs you hours of lost productivity and emergency repair callouts.
IoT sensors connected over 5G monitor equipment continuously — vibration, temperature, operating patterns. Machine learning algorithms spot the early signs of failure and flag problems before they become breakdowns.
The maths is straightforward: planned maintenance during quiet periods costs a fraction of emergency repairs during peak operations.
2. Real-Time Yard Management Cuts Idle Time
In a busy depot, vehicles spend a surprising amount of time idling — waiting for a bay, waiting for paperwork, waiting because nobody knows which trailer is where.
5G-connected yard management tracks every vehicle and trailer in real time. Drivers get directed to the right bay immediately. Loading sequences are optimised. The result is less time with engines running and more time with goods moving.
According to UKTIN research, the Greater Manchester Smart Decarbonisation Network uses exactly this approach — 5G-connected traffic management that reduces congestion and carbon emissions through prioritised flow.
3. One Network Replaces Many
Walk through a typical depot and count the networks: office broadband, warehouse WiFi, CCTV system, access control, vehicle tracking, perhaps a separate network for a refrigeration monitoring system. Each has its own hardware, its own maintenance contract, and its own failure modes.
Private 5G consolidates everything onto one infrastructure. Network slicing keeps different applications separated and prioritised — CCTV and safety systems get guaranteed bandwidth, while office internet uses whatever's left.
The savings aren't just the subscription costs of multiple networks. It's the maintenance overhead, the troubleshooting complexity, and the downtime caused by network-specific failures.
4. Energy Monitoring Identifies Waste
Warehouses and cold storage facilities are energy-intensive. Without granular monitoring, you're paying for energy waste you can't see — doors left open, refrigeration units working harder than necessary, lighting running in empty areas.
IoT sensors connected over 5G monitor energy consumption at a granular level. Temperature sensors in cold storage, occupancy sensors for lighting, door sensors for heat loss. The data identifies waste patterns that would be invisible without continuous monitoring.
For operators under pressure to report Scope 1 and 2 emissions, this data isn't just nice to have — it's becoming a compliance requirement.
5. Drone Inspections Replace Manual Checks
Warehouse roof inspections, yard perimeter checks, and facility surveys traditionally require people at height, scaffolding, or contracted specialists. It's slow, expensive, and creates safety risk.
5G-connected drones can survey a warehouse roof in minutes, stream high-resolution video in real time, and flag structural issues before they become expensive problems. Regular automated inspections catch small issues early — a loose panel, pooling water, damaged cladding — before they become emergency repairs.
The connectivity requirement is non-trivial: drones need consistent low-latency data links for real-time video and reliable command-and-control. A private 5G network provides both across the entire site.
The Bottom Line
None of these savings require cutting-edge technology. IoT sensors, yard management software, energy monitoring, and drone inspection are all established tools. What's been missing for most regional operators is the connectivity to make them work across an entire site.
A private 5G network isn't an additional cost — it's the infrastructure that enables everything else. When you factor in network consolidation savings, reduced downtime, lower energy costs, and avoided emergency repairs, the network typically pays for itself.
We keep pricing transparent. A managed private 5G network for a depot or distribution centre runs on a monthly subscription — not a multi-year capital project. Talk to us about what connected operations could look like for your site. Read more on our transport and logistics sector page.