What technologies will dominate the logistics sector in 2020?

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Technology is key to productivity in logistics operations. With the growing influence of e-commerce on the global economy, the sector is forced to find new ways and means of making processes more efficient and agile , both for the benefit of the business and for the benefit of the customer.

Hyperconnectivity, globalization and digitalization are driving companies in the sector towards logistics 4.0 . A world where the implementation of cutting-edge technology will be the basis of all activity, contributing to the reduction of costs and losses through, for example, the automation of transport, efficient monitoring of warehouses or the use of tools based on Big Data , through which it is possible to obtain vital information for the management of the entire supply chain, ensuring an excellent service provision .

The evolution of this sector has been enormous and there are technologies that will be a trend in 2020. Here are the main ones:

1. Internet of Things and Big Data (IoT)
A true double whammy, Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) are changing kuwait whatsapp number database in the logistics sector. As a result of this union, devices and sensors that perform tasks automatically will be the stars of 2020.

It is estimated that the number of devices connected by IoT will be around 25 billion in 2020 , a factor that will lead to the total transformation of the supply chain, forcing companies in the sector to look for new ways to restructure operational processes , resorting to heavy investment in technologies.

On the other hand, the intelligence generated by the analysis of large amounts of data will produce increasingly accurate predictions about consumption patterns and, as e-commerce is an unavoidable reality today, this possibility will promote greater preparation of companies in the sector in the face of market variations , greatly reducing the risk rate .

2. Digital Twins
Digital Twins are virtual models of physical assets . Through them, it is possible to monitor and simulate the behavior of assets in the real world. Applied to logistics, this technology has the potential to considerably transform operations. According to Matthias Heutger , the Director of Innovation and Business Development at one of the largest logistics companies in the world – DHL – digital twins can be used to optimize fleet management and the order tracking process . On the other hand, they can be used to design and control warehouses and inventory , gathering a vast amount of operational information that is extremely useful for logistics management.

3. Blockchain
In addition to being a buzzword and particularly fashionable, in recent years, the word Blockchain has become one of the biggest buzzwords associated with the logistics sector. Repeatedly used in this context, Blockchain technology , contrary to Gartner 's expectations , has not demonstrated great applicability in logistics.

However, some small-scale projects are now beginning to emerge that rely on this technology to ensure transaction security . Examples of this are the projects funded by the startup CargoX or the American multi-billion dollar UPS . However, these are very recent projects, with few tangible results yet. The reality is that, despite its acclaimed potential, the expected breakthroughs in the development of this technology have yet to emerge, and 2020 could be the year for its flowering.

4. Warehouse Management Systems and Machine Learning
Given the dynamic and irregular nature of logistics procedures, Machine Learning has been explored to streamline the execution of tasks. In WMS (Warehouse Management System) systems , Machine Learning (ML) is used, for example, to determine the time that should be allocated to the execution of a given task , taking into account a specific and varied set of circumstances.
Thanks to the ML algorithm , the data generated in the WMS system is quickly and automatically analyzed. This, combined with a good management strategy, will enable pertinent conclusions to be drawn, optimizing decision-making.

5. Logistics automation: collaborative robots
Increasing consumer pressure for quick responses and fast service has led the vast majority of multinational logistics companies to look for new ways to automate the processing of individual orders . This, combined with the lack of workforce, has resulted in a pressing need to increase investment in collaborative robotics ; a trend that promises to be in vogue in 2020.

The collaborative robot enables the automatic distribution of orders, in accordance with the orders placed . With this in mind, Toyota is developing a range of robots called the Partner Robot FAMILY . These technological specimens will be tasked with assisting in the execution of logistical tasks, performing support functions during the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With the promise of ensuring that these games are "the most innovative ever" , the robots developed by Toyota will play a key role in the 2020 edition, in Tokyo.