Key takeaways: 

  • The complexity and sheer volume of problems faced by businesses with physical operations can’t be solved by people alone.
  • AI can help, and many leaders either rely on the technology today or believe it will revolutionize their operations soon.
  • Computer vision can be broadly applied to challenges beyond driver safety.

While AI’s potential in the digital economy gets a lot of attention, the physical economy – which consists of businesses that build our infrastructure, grow our food, transport goods, and supply energy to our homes – could benefit even more. Industries like transportation, logistics, construction, energy, field services, and delivery often struggle with limited visibility into their operations due to fragmented data and disconnected tools. These sectors face challenges that are simply beyond human capacity at scale. Consequently, leaders are frequently caught up in crisis management, attempting to maintain control and efficiency over million-dollar fleets and equipment, while also dealing with rising accidents and workplace injuries.

These businesses need technology that can handle problems at scale, help automate and improve tasks that are traditionally done manually, and make their work safer, more productive, and more profitable.

AI is the answer.

In the Physical Economy Outlook 2024, Motive surveyed 1,000 leaders in physical operations and found a strong belief that AI will revolutionize their operations in the coming years. Many leaders rely on AI to monitor assets and vehicles, optimize resources, and make data-driven decisions. Seventy-six percent of respondents want to use AI to gain crucial visibility across their operations, and 71% are interested in generative AI. However, only 25% are currently using AI, highlighting a significant gap in adoption and a vast opportunity for automation. The survey clearly shows that physical operations leaders are increasingly recognizing AI’s potential, with 69% acknowledging its positive impact on their roles.

Computer vision is the AI that goes to work for you.

Chances are, you’ve heard the term “AI” in the news recently. While AI is impacting our economy in a variety of ways, computer vision is a specific type of AI, and is unique as it can visually verify many things, like analyzing medical images, detecting defects in manufacturing processes, and preventing accidents.

It can also help you see and understand what’s happening anywhere you have a camera. This can bring significant benefits to safety and efficiency beyond fleets of vehicles, with wide applications across all sectors of the physical economy, including construction, oil and gas, field services, passenger transit, waste services, trucking and logistics, delivery, agriculture, food and beverage, and the public sector. 

Computer vision: Visual AI in action.

Computer vision’s ability to detect and help correct unsafe driving behaviors is well-documented. But it can help businesses off of the road, as well. The following two examples represent just a fraction of the challenges computer vision models can be trained to detect.

Compliance and quality assurance.

Video is proof. Computer vision can capture video proof so businesses can be confident that proper procedures are followed and that work results in high-quality outcomes. Computer vision can even be used to confirm that customers adhere to agreed-upon rules.

In the video below, computer vision is being used to detect and document overflowing trash bins. When clients overfill their bins, it reduces throughput and causes delays. In some cases, drivers may have to end their routes early to dump their load. Using computer vision allows waste services companies to document overfilled bins and automatically send notifications to non-compliant homeowners. Workflows can be built on top of these computer vision models, helping companies automate actions like issuing warnings or fines.

Cargo and equipment security.

It’s costly and impractical to hire people to watch your yard or trailer full of cargo around the clock. Thieves know this and are taking advantage of the situation. According to CargoNet, cargo theft saw a 33% year-over-year increase in the second quarter of 2024, with the most common theft locations being warehouses and truck stops. 

Cargo, vehicle, and equipment theft is a problem across North America, but it’s more prevalent in countries like Mexico, where a vehicle is stolen every 38 minutes. 

The stakes are high. People and property are at risk. However, computer vision has the potential to reduce that number significantly. Computer vision can be used to monitor vehicles, cargo, equipment, and job sites and alert you if someone attempts unauthorized access.

The video below shows computer vision detecting cargo theft in progress. In this example, the driver and manager would be immediately notified so they can take whatever action they deem necessary. CargoNet estimates that more than $68 million in freight was stolen across all industries between April 1st and June 30th of 2024. So, gaining visibility and being alerted to unauthorized access in real time has the potential to save businesses millions of dollars.

The time to act is now.

Ready to learn how your business can benefit from computer vision? Read our 2025 Guide to Computer Vision to discover more use cases, what to look for in a vendor, and how your business can prepare.