The onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic upended lives, livelihoods, and life as we knew it took a drastic turn. From a business standpoint, companies around the world, regardless of their size or industry, saw their activity disrupted. However, the logistics and storage industry was at the forefront.
This crisis underlined the importance of efficient and optimized logistics operations. In these last almost two years, the logistics industry has undergone a great transformation, adapting to the volatile global scenario and growing with new trends. Here are the main logistics trends and innovations in 2021.
Accelerated growth of technology
The logistics industry has largely been operating on manual processes until a few years ago. But more and more technology is being adopted and as a result of the pandemic this has accelerated even more.
Warehouse management
Storage is one of the keys to an efficient logistics ecosystem. Almost every aspect of the chain has begun to be automated to ensure that human resources are dedicated to the important and complex tasks that ensure good warehouse management. Although the years leading up to the pandemic already witnessed the integration of technology, 2021 has been the year of breakthroughs.
The rise of the D2C model
In 2020, with global lockdowns and teleworking, remote purchases increased exponentially. This resulted in a large-scale change in consumer behavior, preferences, and expectations regarding purchases and delivery of shipments. This change has led to a need to increase efficiency in logistics platforms.
The rise of the D2C model
Logistics platforms are deploying technologies like AI, IoT, and Big Data to gain insight into consumer preferences and personalize their experience to meet growing demand.
sustainable practices
In addition to teaching us to prioritize our health and safety, the pandemic has also underscored the importance of going green. Logistics platforms have jumped on the sustainability bandwagon and are aware of the impact of their operations on the planet. Sustainable logistics aims to increase profitability and reduce environmental impact for long-term success. These sustainable practices range from ecological packaging materials, transport with low environmental impact and even the opening of warehouses closer to the client's location.
The rise of the D2C model
In 2021 many brands and sellers adopted the D2C (Direct to Consumer) business model. This implies that more and more brands are looking for platforms that offer end-to-end logistics services and it is hoped that this trend will continue in the future.
last mile deliveries
Efficient last-mile deliveries, with real-time updates and better synchronization with your partners are going to be increasingly important to meet customer expectations.
contactless deliveries
The pandemic has created widespread apprehensions about physical contact with others, and consumers now prefer contactless services for almost all purchases they make. The logistics industry offers validated contactless deliveries through technology. These contactless services are likely to become a standard for the industry.
Fuente: The Economic Times