Change is a very important aspect of life. Today society is not like what we were born into. The world is now moving towards automation and is less interested in things that require human intervention or manual work. Technology is helping society to evolve. Technology is improving different industries, and businesses by providing good results as customer demands and good strategies help in making more money and reducing competition. One industry that has been largely impacted by technology is the logistics industry.
Logistics in simple terms is managing a complex operation in an easier and more efficient way. In business terms, logistics is defined as the flow of things between the initial point and reaching the end-user to meet the needs of customers or corporations.
There are various technologies that are changing the future of the logistics industry.
Automation
Automation is the process of using data from software to improve the machine’s productivity to achieve the best results with high accuracy. Starting from improving package labeling to efficient warehouse sorting systems to fast deliveries automation is really helpful. Companies that employ automation sooner will be leading the logistics business in the future.
Shipment Tracking Systems
It allows users to monitor and track their shipments. It provides notifications related to shipments and messages, customized reports, and customer accounts with information related to the consignment assigned to them. These systems enrich the user experience.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The IoT is a network in which physical objects are embedded with microchips, and software, which allows them to communicate with the network of devices. The logistics industry has been using IoT devices where it can collect data, reduce unnecessary workloads and make the process smooth.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
RFID uses radio waves to detect the data encoded in RFID tags or smart labels. These radio waves help to track, search, identify and communicate with items and people. RFID systems consist of three components: RFID tag, RFID reader, and an antenna. RFID tags consist of an integrated circuit and an antenna, used to transmit data to the RFID reader, also called an interrogator. The radio waves with the help of the reader is converted into more useful data. Information retrieved from tags is shared with the operating systems through a communication interface where it gets stored in a database and analyzed at later stages.
Autonomous Trucks and Drones
Technology is making it feasible to receive our orders from drones. Autonomous cars are already a reality we can witness with trucks in coming years.
Enhanced GPS Accuracy
Earlier printed maps were used to travel to faraway places, but now with so much technical era, we get GPS built-in cars. The accuracy of these devices has significantly increased throughout the years, not only helping frustrated, lost drivers but also improving the supply chain. The advanced accuracy of GPS allows for increased productivity and satisfied customers, by tracking truck’s locations and providing an easy path through access to updated traffic data.
Social Media
The power of social media is improving the logistics industry and operations as a whole. These platforms are becoming the easiest and most efficient way for companies to communicate with customers, quickly transmit urgent information, industry news, and customer responses.
Blockchain
Blockchain has many advantages in the logistics industry. It enables companies to increase efficiency by making the process automated, reducing paperwork, and enhancing transparency and traceability of inventories. The supply chains are more secure as all the data gets shared from leaving the manufacturing site till reaching the end-user.
Robotics
Robots are designed to perform tasks similar to humans just like automated machines. It looks like a human being and does human movements and functions. This feature is useful in the logistics industry. Due to the expansion of e-commerce business on large scale, it has become difficult for the logistics industry to meet the market demand which, robotics have solved. It takes less time than humans and also has a higher productivity rate.
Conclusion
Technology has reshaped the logistics industry by increasing productivity in the supply chain and reducing costs and errors. All areas of the logistics industries like transportation, international transportation (ocean and air), supply chain management, and shipment tracking have benefitted. Many companies are providing solutions for the logistics industry to make their work easy. Aeologic Technologies is one of the companies which provide the best real-time tracking services, RFID solutions, etc.
