Technological advances are changing the way businesses operate across the globe. As the world turns ever more digital, consumers have an expectation that their requests can be met instantly at the touch of a button. Businesses must adapt and change to meet these increasing demands, with the logistics industry in particular facing challenges that new technology brings. So, what are the key technological advances that have changed the industry?
24-hour Tracking
It may seem a distant memory now, but previously, customers who ordered a product would only receive a rough delivery date. They would not be able to gain more information unless they called the company. Now, high-speed internet and tracking apps allows customers to track their parcel every step of the way, 24 hours a day. This isn’t limited just to nationwide deliveries, as companies such as Tuffnells provide online tracking for deliveries outside of the country too. This improves customer satisfaction by giving them real-time information, allowing them to plan the collection of their parcels. Plus, it reduces the amount of time spent liaising with customers providing data, reducing overall costs.
Driverless Vehicles
No longer a figment of our imagination, driverless vehicles are now a reality. Some of the biggest car manufacturers in the world such as Mercedes and BMW are developing autonomous technology. The UK government’s Innovate UK scheme has granted millions of pounds of funding into testing driverless vehicles on UK roads, so will the logistics industry soon see the rise of driverless delivery vehicles? Tesla have already begun testing the Tesla Semi – a fully automatic truck with the capability to move goods from A to B. This could cause a huge shift in the industry, making deliveries more efficient than ever before.
Delivery by Drone
Amazon have announced their intention to deliver packages to customers in less than 30 minutes using drone technology. The service, called ‘Amazon Prime Air’ is being developed in testing centres across the globe and they state their ‘vehicles will be built with multiple redundancies, as well as sophisticated “sense and avoid” technology’. If or when this technology is approved, it could have a huge impact on the way the logistics industry operates.
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Internet of Things (IoT)
Now, the advancement of Wi-Fi has meant that we can connect to more devices than ever before. We can simply whip out our phones to turn the heating on, switch lights on and off, and even connect to cameras around our homes to enhance safety and security. These capabilities have been integrated into the logistics industry, with sensors being introduced in transit vehicles to improve monitoring and tracking. Data can be shared on both sides of the delivery journey, helping both staff and consumers to monitor the process.
Advancing technology has had a huge impact on the industry, streamlining services, connecting consumers and making deliveries faster and easier than ever before.
