The Digital Transformation Journey has taken organizations across industries by storm. And, the logistics industry is no alien to this growing phenomenon. The future of the Transport and Logistics (T&L) Industry looks bright with an increasing number of organizations realizing the immense potential that the web, mobile, cloud, analytics and IoT offer towards their business growth. However, technological adoption has not been as much as it should be for the industry to achieve exponential growth. Yet the pace is fast catching up in the logistics industry.
According to a PwC survey, industry experts report that the enthusiasm in the T&L industry regarding the adoption of new digital technology surpasses that of any other industry – 90% in the T&L industry as opposed to 83% in other industries. But the survey also opines that the lack of digital culture is by far the biggest hurdle that the industry faces, as evident from the illustration below.
Transportation infrastructure and streamlined business processes are key factors that determine the growth of the L&T industry. Digital technology is a boost to the infrastructure of industries, and logistics industry is no different. Improved infrastructure, in turn, positively contributes to flexible and scalable business processes.
Let’s discuss the smart technology solutions that are driving the Digital Transformation Journey in the L&T industry today:
Automation
Automation has been the root cause for the acceleration and disruption in the L&T industry. It helps in tracking and monitoring of freight while they are on transport. This enables effective workforce management and operational cost efficiencies. Big Data Analytics has emerged as the game-changer in the industry as it offers valuable insights with enhanced accuracy, which aids in crucial business decision-making.
Tracking shipments
Digital technology has brought about transformation in the freight booking industry as well. Digitalised barcode equipment equip these companies in tracking and monitoring – the location of freight, the trucks they have been allotted for delivery, the routes that the trucks will take and keep clients updated regarding the time their freight is expected to reach the destination.
Mobile Applications
Mobile applications empower logistics companies to be at the top of the game with end-to-end tracking of the freight of their clients. All that the organizations that need freight transportation solutions need to do is to opt for truck booking. Apps reflect the addresses of the pick-up location and destination, enabling a streamlined method for freight transportation. Further, they also enable clients to track the route being taken by trucks, show estimated time of freight delivery and offer online payment.
This ensures that companies which provide truck booking services can enjoy complete transparency in process management and achieve better outcomes. Accountability to clients and improved operational efficiencies also become achievable with mobile apps. Moreover, they do away with the hassled and time-consuming manual processes that were followed before the advancements in digital technology came into being. Further, there are also car-pooling apps that offer real-time tracking of freight.
Digitalised toll plazas
Toll plazas now leverage the power of technology to Radio-frequency Identification (RFID), number plate detection. Trucks would not have to wait at toll gates on state and national highways, saving valuable time and doing away with the concept of heavy traffic.
