5 Emergent Technologies for Logistics
A virus with a global impact, new wars, and rising inflation, all of are explosive ingredients for supply chain stability.
Shortage of maritime containers, demurrage fees, and generally lack of visibility for logistic operations are the headaches of all businesses.
More than ever technology must come to rescue the manufacturing and distribution industry.
Here are 5 emergent technologies that have the potential to impact supply chains and help deliver faster and safer.
1. AI/ML
In the past 20 years, millions of consumer transactions have been done online through e-commerce. These sales generated huge amounts of data used by machine learning algorithms to identify patterns, and trends and make predictions.
These AI/ML technologies are starting to “invade” other industries beyond retail. Shipping also generates immense data, and making sense of all that information can unleash hidden insights, which can help optimize transportation routes, both on land and at sea, plus prevent and predict delays.
2. IoT
Of course, for AI/ML algorithms to be useful we must first collect data. Data about the location of the means of transportation, like vessels, trucks, and trains, but also the cargo itself! Having location on both vehicles and cargo helps identify cargo being loaded into the wrong vehicles.
Attaching a tracker to a pallet or maritime container allows not only to get their location but also the surrounding conditions (temperature, humidity, vibration, etc). A maritime container with a tracker and a sensor transforms itself into a smart container!
A smart container knows its location and if it’s not moving or how long it is stationary. It can also alert when it’s entering or exiting a virtual geofence.
3. Blockchain
All registration activities include two main activities: sharing and storing of information. Supply chains are a classic example of a collective operation requiring constant sharing of information. However, not all information can be distributed to all partners.
To solve this problem the best solution is to use a blockchain - the perfect hub to store and share sensitive information. Data is encrypted, and all interested parties can have a copy. However, due to the nature of blockchain, no single party can change that data. So, for all practical use cases, information is immutable. Ultimately, blockchain brings trust to information sharing.
4. Robotics
With its roots in the industrial revolution, robotics has long been used in manufacturing environments. The robotics usage expansion from production to distribution starts in warehouses. With millions of deliveries per day to be prepared and routed, the help of robots has become essential, as home delivery extends to all types of consumer goods: electronics, groceries, and even medicines.
However, automation is not limited to warehouses. Autonomous trucks are already a reality, and the technology is now reaching vessels that have already made experimental trips.
5. AR/VR
Virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) are starting to take their first steps in logistics. DHL already uses the support of special AR glasses to guide warehouse workers on which packages to collect. The worker does not need to interrupt work to consult information, as access is made available on the spot and blended with reality, facilitating operations and helping prevent mistakes.
Transport also benefits from these glasses by combining visual information with maritime containers with information about their content and the destination route.
Time to take action
The time is now. No matter your strategy: experimentation, piloting, or implementation, it’s important to start paying attention to all the cutting-edge opportunities technology has to offer us.
Let's start thoroughly embracing all of this technology to improve supply chains, logistics, and shipping today.