OREANDA-NEWS. August 17, 2015. “eCommerce customers are increasingly demanding more from their logistics partners who, in turn, are looking at the most effective ways to meet these expectations—often with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT),” says Prasad Satyavolu. “Disruptive technologies, which include social, cloud, analytics and mobile (SMAC) capabilities, coupled with sensors, can help in collecting data easily and help in forecasting agile logistics with real-time analytics and mobile integration.” Excerpts:

“Companies will need to invest in and wisely implement these technologies in order to make the most of them.

The rapid proliferation of these technologies is impacting logistics in every area, and, as a result, the way goods are transported. Instead of transporting the finished product such as cars to the country where they will be sold, only parts will be shipped and the products will be assembled locally. The economics of such strategies are rooted in changes in labor costs as well as local demand sensitivity to taxation rules.

As organizations and their customers work and plan in real-time, managing every aspect of the transportation process, they also want to be able to track their goods in real-time. They can use crucial data such as delivery times and traffic problems to make scheduling decisions.

SMAC and sensor technologies coupled with the cloud have the potential to completely transform the way logistics companies work and will make it possible for companies to gain competitive advantage and new levels of profitability by dramatically lowering costs through enhanced efficiency, reduced inventories and lower transportation expense.

The next step in logistics is modernizing and fully embracing the digital, real-time age. Logistics companies need to make use of these technologies to save time, make faster deliveries and ensure satisfied customers.”