The 3 tech innovations shaping logistics
Like every other industry, logistics is changing at pace due to the influence of technology. But what trends are having the biggest impact, and what could they mean for your business?
?1.????? Generative AI
AI has been around for a while now, but generative AI (or gen AI) is seeing a sudden explosion in usage. Gen AI refers to artificial intelligence that can generate its own images, text, data or analysis – and research suggests a third of businesses are now using it (1).
What role can gen AI play in logistics? It can analyse large swathes of data and learn from it to make predictions and recommendations. This can help with demand forecasting and optimising inventory, mitigating risks, and rerouting. And with 96% of logistics professionals expecting to leverage AI for some aspect of their operations (2), this useful tool looks like it’s here to stay.?
?2.????? Robotics
Automated robots are being used across a number of logistics touchpoints – from sorting in parcel hubs, to warehouse robots used to not only pick and pack products, but even unload trucks, maintain equipment and construct pallets.
Some warehousing facilities are now using drones to remotely monitor inventory and pick orders stored higher-up. In in the not-so-distant future, drones may be regularly used to autonomously deliver goods to our homes, or to hard to reach locations, in a low-emission way.?
3.????? Intelligent interconnectivity
The Internet of Things – a network of connected devices that exchange data – has become extremely important in logistics. The continuous flow of data back and forth allows companies to see more information about their goods in real-time than ever before. Which in turn allows for interesting innovation of its own.
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Move Fresh, a food and drink 3PL, chose to partner with DHL eCommerce UK because “we saw them as a really forward-thinking business from a technology standpoint. We were really interested in integrations, and how that would support our customer experience,” says MD Ewan Reid.
These integrations provide a value-added service for Move Fresh’s clients: “We take tracking numbers from DHL and link those through an API into our warehousing system and then into customers’ e-commerce stores, so clients can access tracking information on their own native platform.”
The DHL API has enabled Move Fresh to create other delivery innovations, such as “a service through the DHL API to help us managed chilled and frozen services, in terms of routing priority. So if there are any service issues, we can do automatic upgrades.”
Want to know more about the future of logistics? Follow DHL eCommerce UK on LinkedIn!
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