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The state of Digitization in Logistics
A data-driven business and technology trend report on supply chain digitization, sustainable logistics, workforce transformation and omnichannel distribution.
Logistics in the post-pandemic era
Over the past decade, advanced technologies and social and business trends have disrupted the logistics industry. This was further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated about the most relevant technological and societal trends in the logistics sector and their business implications. The research was conducted using Reply‘s SONAR Trend Platform, to create an overview and mapping of relevant trends based on their occurrence within expert media articles, mass media, patents and scientific publications.
Upcoming trend No. 1
Sustainable Logistics
Welcome to the age of sustainability: Green logistics has gained significant traction within the last years, as the transportation sector is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as well as environmental resource depletion. Businesses are rethinking and realigning supply chains from sourcing, design, production, delivery and return to end-of-life - aiming for enhanced sustainability through resource efficiencyy and optimization, emission reductions, fleet electrification, carbon offsetting, circular solutions, and the integration of new technologies. On the road towards a clean future environmental dedication moved from carbon neutrality or zero emission to carbon negative or climate positive goals, supported by technological development and data.
Upcoming trend No. 2
Workforce transformation
The reality and future of logistics workforce is shaped by two contradicting developments: Rising talent demand and competition due to the digital retail boom and technological progress and automation. The latter results in less demand for frontline workers as well as changing job requirements. Remote and agile working models enable a virtual workplace which will translate into hybrid models in future. Workforce related trends are flexibility and scalability of workforce models, the tech-augmented workforce, required re- and upskilling to bridge upcoming knowledge gaps, worker’s physical and mental heath and safety to improve future employer-employee relationships for talent retention.
Upcoming trend No. 3
Omnichannel logistics and supply chain resilience
The pandemic-induced acceleration of e-commerce and home-delivery has been disclosing the significance of a seamlessly integrated and flexible omnichannel retail ecosystem. Changing environmental conditions ask for highly dynamic fulfillment, delivery and returns management. The corresponding reconfiguration of the supply chain and distribution strategy and infrastructure acts as the essential backbone, allowing businesses to react fast and agile. Logistics companies are also facing fierce competition by third-party players like e-commerce giants, start-ups and brands with in-house logistic capacities. The customer experience imperative is forcing retailers to adapt and redesign their offline and online retail strategy, service ecosystem and partner network.
Business implications for logistic companies: maximize omnichannel logistics resilience & elasticity
The next generation of customer experience will be led by an omnichannel retail paradigm based on a respective logistics and supply chain infrastructure and network able to leverage tech and data intelligence. Companies succeeding in setting up a digitized, data-driven and well-integrated supply chain network will outperform others in the long-run.