Taking Stock Of A Changing Industry
As warehouses become the engine room of the logistics operation, it is increasingly imperative for supply chain operators to embrace next-generation intelligent automation, IoT, smart platforms and workforce productivity solutions.
Consumer demands have dramatically changed expectations for operational efficiency, meaning robotics and AI have already made their mark on e-commerce fulfillment and goods distribution. This trend continues to gather pace, with 4 million robots forecasted to be operational in global warehouses by 2025.
Thanks to asset tracking and the deployment of machine learning at the supply chain management level, intelligence and visibility have also become critical success factors for supply chain excellence, from the first mile to the last. The role of the human worker is also undergoing constant change as innovation continues across technologies such as augmented reality, voice-directed solutions and location tracking, resulting in the smooth integration of human and machine. As these technology trends drive the industry forward, they also disrupt the traditional relationships between goods producers, owners and transporters, shifting the dynamics of the logistics value chain.