If one were to look at emerging logistical trends of the next century and understand which way the market is moving, one need not move further than the internet, quite literally.
One of the key emerging trends for logistics would be the Internet of Things. This is something that is set to transform every known industry over the next few decades and is already in the process of doing so.
How does the Internet of Things or IOT help in this industry?
IOT seeks to create smarter solutions for the most mundane of chores, thereby making processes more efficient, improving the quality of service as well as monitoring and acting upon real-time data.
Trucks and cargo carriers will have continuous monitoring as well as real-time feedback about availability to warehouse resources and traffic details. This steady flow of information is what makes IOT a standout too regarding future industry needs.
Moving on from IOT, the natural successor to this would be Data Analysis and Machine Learning.
Analysing large amounts data, being able to interpret them and coming up with actionable solutions based on that data is what makes Data Mining or Data Analysis an integral part of the future of the logistics industry.
Machine learning involves digesting the copious amounts of passive data and providing proper business solutions based on that raw data. It can forecast demand accurately as well as predict sales patterns and provide proper supply chain management solutions that make it easier to work in the industry.
With time fleet management and the availability of delivery vehicles will become more abundant as most of this data moves to the cloud. Cloud computing will in turn help bring about greater efficiency in the way even smaller companies manage their logistics. This easy availability of data will, in turn, make smaller businesses more viable because they will have greater access to solutions that were, till then, not quite within their grasp under the status quo.
RF Identification Tags
Another avenue where emerging technologies will make the logistics industry better would be in RF Identification tags. A lot of companies transport extremely perishable and expensive goods, and they would like to know at all times where their product is.
One such example would be Intel. Their chips or semiconductors as they are known are expensive to manufacture, and rough transportation can lead to losses with many being destroyed on the way. So it helps if they get to know their whereabouts via RFID.
ERP Solutions: Playing it old school
Basic ERP solutions including SAP solutions to your business is something that can transform millions of dollars as profit to the industry in the long term and make your business successful. ERP enables your business to bring in technology with a pro-people stance and enables you to manage a large workforce in the most seamless manner possible.
These were but a few of the emerging solutions that are going to take the logistics industry to a whole new era of efficiency and profitability. As long as the technology is regularly updated, the industry will continue to churn out winners.
