The DHL Logistics Trends Radar highlights the trends that will shape the future of logistics.
Logistics is entering a decade of transformation and anticipating trends is more important than ever. In the fifth edition of the Logistics Trend Radar, DHL unveiled 29 key trends that will impact the logistics industry in the coming years. The Radar report is the result of a macro and micro trend analysis conducted through a partner network of research institutions, experts, start-ups and clients.
“For us, as experts in the field of logistics, it is important to anticipate future challenges and anticipate possible solutions so that we can help our customers. We are well aware of the megatrends that will continue to be relevant: new technologies, the growth of e-commerce, sustainability, says Katya Bush, commercial director of DHL. “But some areas will evolve faster than others, so it’s important to understand the major trends and their impact on logistics – not least because of the impact of COVID-19 on trade and workforce around the world. As a world leader in logistics, we have all the necessary knowledge and experience to assess the situation.”
More than 20,000 logistics professionals and technical experts have shared their vision of the future of the industry by visiting DHL Innovation Centers over the past two years. DHL experts combined the data and presented it in the Logistics Trend Radar report, which is a dynamic and strategic forecasting tool that tracks the evolution of trends identified in past releases, predicting current and future trends with each update. You can get acquainted with the Radar on the DHL website.
“The next challenge will be meeting the demands of the logistics of the future through training and development of personnel in increasingly technologically complex operations. This challenge will be high on the strategic supply chain agenda in the coming years,” said Matthias Heutger, Senior Vice President, Head of Innovation and Business Development, DHL. — Logistics trends radar is like a seismograph that determines the trends of the future. Based on data from the last seven years, we can make long-term forecasts and thus support our partners and clients in creating roadmaps for their business, as well as helping to structure and stimulate research and innovation. In this edition of the Radar, we already see that the impact of COVID-19 is accelerating the development of trends that were already underway – big data analytics, robotics and automation, and the Internet of things, which are driven by steady progress in the development and application of artificial intelligence.
Acceleration of transformational processes
The fifth edition of the Logistics Trend Radar demonstrates the fact that we have seen a general stabilization of trends over the past four years. However, as the logistics industry is now experiencing a global pandemic, like the rest of the world, the processes of transformation have accelerated. COVID-19 has brought about faster changes regarding the latest innovations in logistics, automation and digitalization, accelerating the digitalization of the industry by years. Conversely, many trends that were initially perceived as revolutionary in the logistics industry have not yet realized their potential. The adoption of self-driving cars and drones continues to be hampered by legislative and technical issues, as well as a lack of unequivocal public acceptance. Logistics markets are stabilizing on several leading platforms, and established freight forwarders are stepping into the game with their own digital offerings backed by robust global logistics networks. From cloud computing to collaborative robotics, big data analytics, to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, logistics professionals need to understand the huge market for new technologies. The modernization of all contact points in supply chains is the new imperative for long-term success. Those companies that are the fastest to implement and scale new technologies, as well as improve the skills of employees, will receive a significant competitive advantage in the market.
The rise of e-commerce continues to drive innovation and sustainability
E-commerce continues to show rapid growth, but it accounts for only a small portion of global consumer spending on FMCG. B2B e-commerce is expected to be three times the size of the consumer market. The coronavirus pandemic has not only served to accelerate the growth of e-commerce and innovation in supply chains. Key steps to scale and embrace new technologies, such as intelligent physical automation, IoT-based visibility tools, and AI predictive capabilities, will ultimately determine the ability to meet increased customer demand and secure industry leadership in the future.
With governments and cities committed to reducing CO2 emissions and waste, sustainability is now an imperative for the logistics industry. Driven by the growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions to reduce waste, as well as the use of new motion technologies and equipment optimization, this imperative is also extremely relevant for supply chains. Today, there are over 90 national bans on single-use plastic, and the use of bulky, unwieldy packaging leaves 40% free space in drawers, making packaging rethinking inevitable. Sustainable logistics (optimization of processes, materials, new traffic technologies and smart objects) offers great potential for making logistics greener. Smart containerization will also be important to develop sustainable delivery formats in densely populated cities.
International maritime container transportation, as well as air cargo transportation, is successfully carried out by M&M Ukraine (head office in Kiev, subdivision in Borispol and Odessa) in all promising and popular global destinations. “M&M Ukraine” provides high-quality and safe cargo transportation from European countries to Ukraine, from Ukraine to Europe, to China and to the USA.
The service of sea freight from China is especially popular, allowing customers to receive goods from Asia reliably and economically. Regardless of the scale of your business, the company’s experienced specialists guarantee a professional approach and optimal solutions for your logistics tasks.
Based on www.stattimes.com, www.dhl.com and open sources.