The logistics industry, once an opaque market that provided little information to consumers, is transforming into a customer-centric and transparent sector. In particular, Willog, a logistics condition monitoring solution company, has been drawing significant attention in the logistics and cold chain industries, leveraging the strengths of accuracy, reliability, efficiency, and transparency.
We met with Willog co-CEO Bae Sung-hoon, who is building "customer trust through transparency in logistics" in the logistics and cold chain industries, to hear his views on the present and future of cold chain.
Q: Could you introduce Willog?
"Willog is not simply a hardware company that makes sensors; we are a company that provides innovative logistics condition monitoring solutions. Through our proprietary devices and software, we support our customers in maintaining their cargo and assets in optimal condition at any time and in any place. Specifically, we help customers identify and resolve a wide range of issues that may arise during the logistics process in advance, while providing insights that save both time and costs."
Q: What prompted you to found Willog?
"While running 'Seohyeon,' a fresh food logistics distribution company, I came to understand firsthand that there are invisible gaps and blind spots in the logistics process. This led me to recognize the need for cold chain monitoring that starts from the field itself, and I devoted a great deal of thought and effort to developing the technology needed to achieve visibility in logistics, which ultimately led to the founding of Willog. Connecting trust to create a better everyday life, that is what motivated me to build Willog."
Q: Willog unveiled 12 sensor devices at KOREA MAT 2024. Could you briefly introduce them?
"The 12 devices we introduced are systems designed to collect and utilize optimal data across diverse logistics environments. We have built a hardware lineup that enables seamless data collection adapted to logistics environments anywhere in the world, whether by land, sea, or air. Analyzing and visualizing this data is the core technology of Willog."
Q: How does Willog benefit businesses and consumers?
"Willog provides transparency and reliability in the logistics process to both businesses and consumers, grounded in rigorous data. In the past, the logistics industry was characterized by a lack of visibility. Through our proprietary solution, we enable real-time verification of whether cargo is being transported safely and allow for swift responses even when issues arise. Our solution is especially useful when transporting temperature-sensitive products or high-value assets. Thanks to this level of management, consumers can feel confident that the products they order will arrive safely and in a reliable condition."
Q: What are the company's sales targets and export plans for next year?
"While I cannot disclose specific sales targets for next year, our global sales team is currently active in North America, and we have concluded partnerships with countries including Malaysia and Kazakhstan, and are preparing to engage with new customers. In addition, plans to establish a legal entity in Singapore are scheduled for either the second half of this year or the first half of next year, and we expect meaningful export revenue to begin materializing from next year onward."
Q: What are Willog's strengths and position in the cold chain industry?
"Willog holds a distinctive position in the cold chain industry, leveraging its technological capabilities, reliability, accuracy, and efficiency. Specifically, Willog's solution uses the latest IoT technology and sensors to monitor cargo location, temperature, humidity, and shock in real time, allowing us to continuously track cargo conditions and respond swiftly when issues arise. Our proprietary devices also enable accurate, real-time data collection, and the convenience of installation and operation helps reduce operating costs. In particular, by complying with the stringent standards and regulations of the global logistics and cold chain industries, we enable our customers to be free from compliance concerns, providing safe and reliable transport services. Through these strengths, Willog has established itself as a leading technology partner in the logistics market and cold chain industry, and we are pleased to have maintained high levels of customer satisfaction since our founding in May 2021."
Q: What is Willog's vision for the future of cold chain?
"I believe the logistics industry took a major leap forward through the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, as digital transformation accelerates through the application of advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, and blockchain, I believe customers will need transparent, reliable, data-driven solutions to manage an increasingly complex global supply chain. Willog continuously advances its device and software solutions by collecting and digitizing information about logistics environments."
Q: What are your future goals, and is there anything else you would like to say?
"Logistics is not a field that any single party can handle alone; it requires everyone to be connected. The essence of logistics is connectivity, and the essence of that connectivity is trust. Building trust requires a wealth of data by which that trust can be assessed. To that end, Willog is working to collect logistics data across all forms, including boxes, warehouses, vehicles, sea, and air, and to connect data across each sector. I believe that when all of this logistics data is brought together, our logistics industry will be able to drive economic development, human prosperity, and a better everyday life."