“Smart glove”, robocars and other innovations in warehouse logistics.

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Logistics is always relevant in all business sectors. The logistics market is one of the most developed and voluminous. In 2013, its value was determined as $4 trillion. This amounted to 10% world GDP!

But you can't live for yesterday. Modernity dictates new rules. The future of logistics is the introduction of innovation and technology.

What trends are contributing to this, you will learn from today's infographic.

New logistics technologies

The future of logistics is the introduction of innovation and technology. What trends are driving this?

Facts and figures

Logistics has always developed through the introduction of new technologies and increasing their efficiency.

  • The global logistics market in 2013 was estimated at $4 trillion. This amounted to 10% world GDP.
  • The fastest growing sector is the transport services market. Every year since 2011 its volume has increased by 7% .
  • 42% The global services sector belongs to the United States.
  • In 2016, the transport sector generated revenues of $3.8 trillion.
Logistics of the future

The logistics industry does not stand still. Let's get acquainted with the research data from EFT (the world leader in the field of business analytics for transport, logistics and supply), conducted on Third Party Logistics (3PL Third party logistics refers to the concept of purchasing logistics services. The service provider side is intermediate between the producer and the consumer).

3D printing

Current situation

  • More 40% 3PL clients expect 3D printing expertise from the company.
  • 19,2% Manufacturers and retailers are already using 3D printing in their business.
  • However, only 1,5% can guarantee the quality of such services.

Role in logistics

  • Market development: 3D printing allows you to establish local production (decentralized), which is beneficial for the development of regions. This allows you to be closer to sales opportunities. 3D printing can satisfy any customer needs.
  • “Last mile”: there is no longer a need to send goods halfway around the world. It can be produced close to the buyer. This stimulates the development of local markets and production sites, and as a result, the speedy satisfaction of customer requests.
  • Spare parts are no longer needed: there is no need to produce in advance and store a large number of spare parts for equipment, as they can be printed on demand. You only need to store a digital layout of the publication.
Internet of Things (IoT)

Current situation

  • 26.25% 3PL companies are currently using M2M technologies (“machine to machine”).
  • 46.62% plan to do this in the future.
  • 47% respondents stated that IoT will have a huge impact on logistics.
  • Only 3% deny this fact.

Role in logistics

  • Communication: the Internet of things allows you to maintain communication with production sites and control the processes occurring on them: machine performance, conditions environment, energy indicators, reserves of resources and materials.
  • Increased process visibility: IoT provides the ability to remotely monitor the entire logistics process.
  • Workflow monitoring: The Internet of Things allows you to monitor the operation of equipment and employees, which increases work safety and efficiency.
UAVs (unmanned aircrafts)

Current situation

  • 36% respondents believe that an unmanned form of delivery will appear within 5–10 years.
  • 6.3% They say that in 10 years this will be commonplace.
  • 27.31% They think that such a rapid emergence of unmanned delivery is unlikely.
  • 5.88% I am sure that robotization in this area will not happen at all.
  • 31% Manufacturers and retailers would like to see logistics companies use drones to deliver products.

Role in logistics

  • First and last miles: UAVs could be successfully used for urban delivery: for the first (from the starting point) and last (final stage) miles.
  • For rural areas: unmanned vehicles can significantly facilitate delivery to areas with poor infrastructure, where there are no roads or other means of communication. Google is working on Project Wing, which is already being tested in Australia.
  • Surveillance: In the future, the customer will probably also be able to observe in real time the movement of the UAV delivering its cargo.
Autonomous transport

Current situation

  • 42% Manufacturers and retailers would like 3PL companies to have the knowledge and experience in truck management.
  • But only 0.75% 3PL representatives can boast about this.
  • Only 1.5% not only know, but also know how to independently manage transport efficiently.
  • 12.78% 3PL companies claim to have a theoretical understanding of auto delivery.
  • 6.02% want to improve their competence in this area.

Role in logistics

It's cost effective: Insurance company AXA UK has suggested that autonomous vehicles could save the logistics industry £34 billion.

Why develop technology

Here are a few trends that will have an irreversible impact on logistics in the future.

New development models

  • Logistics today does not end with exports from Asia to North America and Europe. Export trajectories are becoming more variable.
  • The development of urban infrastructure is a powerful driver for the evolution of logistics.

Flexibility

  • Delivery methods are becoming more diverse. This allows consumers to choose methods and timing that are convenient for them.

Closeness to the client

  • Investments in logistics are constantly growing. Delivery is becoming closer to the client: new warehouses, offices, and delivery points are opening.

Multichannel

  • The modern buyer actively uses all possible channels and devices to make a purchase.
  • Logistics should not lag behind retail. A multi-channel strategy is also relevant and effective here.

Information Technology

  • Logistics development requires implementation advanced technologies. This is one of the main areas for investment today and in the future.

Continuity

  • To quickly bring products to market and minimize risks, it is necessary to monitor the continuity of the logistics process and develop outsourcing.

Stability

  • Today, more and more often, buyers prefer the “correct”, proven product. Delivery must also be reliable, because this is an integral part of a successful purchase.

Transparency

  • The availability of logistics information allows you to monitor deliveries at any time, which is beneficial for planning.

Many modern technologies are used in the field of delivery and storage. Logistics processes are numerous, multifaceted and dynamic, they require constant development of the means for their implementation. Therefore, do not be surprised if one day your package from an online store is delivered not by a person, but by a miniature peaceful drone.

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An efficiently operating transport and logistics system can act as a fairly powerful argument that guarantees a stable supply of enterprises with material and technical resources and sustainable sales. finished products and his positive work in general. In this regard, optimization of logistics product distribution management processes, reduction of logistics costs along the entire path of logistics processes, organization of flexible functioning of a transport and logistics system capable of absorbing the achievements of scientific and technological progress is one of the strategic objectives of the enterprise.

Logistics is a science that requires constant development and improvement. Therefore, innovation is a necessary phenomenon for the productive functioning of modern logistics systems.

What innovations are being successfully applied today?

1. Electronic declaration. This is a complex of hardware and software that allows for customs registration of goods and transport in electronic format. Communication between the customs broker and the inspector takes place via electronic communication channels, which can significantly speed up the procedure for releasing goods.

2. Remote release of goods. This innovative technology involves performing all customs actions in the internal customs department when placing goods and vehicles in temporary storage warehouse areas in places close to the border of the Russian Federation. In this case, information is exchanged electronically, the declaration is submitted to the internal customs department, and control is carried out at the border unit. This allows you to optimize logistics schemes, minimize the influence of subjective factors, and reduce document flow.

3. Cargo tracking is a development that allows online control over the passage of cargo through the main points of the logistics chain. Using a secure account, the customer can receive accurate information about the cargo and plan further actions at any time of the day or night.

4. Radio terminals - devices that allow you to enter data into the database a few minutes after the declaration is issued. Information about this is reflected in cargo tracking, which ensures the movement of cargo without loss of time.

5. Satellite monitoring is a system that allows you to track the location of a container with cargo as accurately as possible.

An innovative direction in organizing logistics activities will be the process of concentrating logistics functions around the supply of enterprises with materials, raw materials, components and around the sale of finished products within the framework of compliance modern methods providing transport and logistics services and doing business. The set of activities carried out on these issues can be conditionally attributed to the first stage in the formation of a transport and logistics system in Russia.

The second stage will involve the implementation of processes related to the grouping of logistics functions into individual areas of activity, for the provision of services for the delivery of goods from manufacturers to consumers.

The third stage will be a set of measures to create a unified logistics system at each enterprise, when all logistics operations will be transferred to more high level management and subordinate to one division. As a result, the status of logistics services will increase and the range of their duties, powers and responsibilities will significantly expand.

At the fourth stage of the formation of logistics structures, the tendency will be to group logistics functions through organizational structures and combine them into a single logistics system with general leadership and responsibility. The planning and coordination activities of such structures will be aimed at improving the management of material and technical flows in order to maximize profit through the reduction of all types of costs and expenses and at the same time improving customer service.

The experience of organizing logistics relations in developed countries of the world shows that the effectiveness of their functioning is largely determined by the level of development of contract logistics. The introduction of a contract form of transport and logistics services ensures a reduction in total transport and logistics costs in industrial and trading enterprises by 15-20%. In addition, the effectiveness of outsourcing technologies for transport and logistics services depends on the quality of these operations carried out at industrial and commercial enterprises.

The conclusion of long-term logistics contracts for a period of 3 to 5 years should be preceded by a set of measures that include:

* analysis of the financial and economic activities of enterprises with a preliminary determination of transport and logistics costs as part of the price at which the products will be sold;

* development long-term plans development of enterprises to reach parameters that ensure the fulfillment of concluded contracts, taking into account the reduction of total transport and logistics costs by 15-20% for large-tonnage cargo and 25-30% for small-tonnage and high-value cargo;

* development of a business plan for organizational and technical measures to fulfill all terms of the contract;

* development of options for creating a working group for the business plan and an operational group to service the provisions of the contract for the entire period of its validity.

In the context of large-scale targeted deployment of the contract form of transport and logistics services, the logistics component in the total volume of services provided by the Russian transport complex can reach 25% by 2015 and provide three-quarters of the increase in profit. Accelerated development logistics component, based on the contract form of servicing industrial and commercial enterprises, is one of the most important conditions increasing the profitability of the transport complex.

The introduction of a contract form for the provision of transport and logistics services in the economic sector is possible in several ways:

* through creation joint stock company(or associations) performing all types of transport and logistics services on the basis of contractual agreements. With the prevailing form of state ownership and contractual coverage of at least 40% of the total volume of transport and logistics services by 2015, the resulting economic effect from its implementation will belong to the state;

* through the formation at the state level of regulatory and legal legislative framework, which will ensure the creation of conditions for the dynamic introduction of a contract form of transport and logistics services, which will open free access for European and Russian companies to the Belarusian market, including in the field of transport and logistics services provided to domestic industrial and commercial enterprises. Russian enterprises will gain experience in organizing high-quality services in the field of transport and logistics operations, but most of the profits received will remain with foreign companies;

* through the creation of joint transport and logistics enterprises with a certain share of state ownership and foreign partners, which ensures the economic interests of the two parties.

The transition to a contract form of transport and logistics services involves the development and implementation of specific organizational and control measures in the form of a special program for large-scale outsourcing coverage of the maximum number of domestic enterprises. It is possible that, as an experiment, it would be advisable to first introduce a new form of logistics relations at one or several large industrial or commercial enterprises, during which the features of transport and logistics management actions should be established. various forms property and on this basis develop a package of documents for the phased transition of other organizations, with the participation of specific foreign companies, future strategic partners to improve the operation of the transport and logistics system, including when servicing export-import deliveries.

The introduction of a contract form of transport and logistics services will help accelerate the implementation of processes related to the integration of the transport and logistics system of the Republic of Belarus into the pan-European transport and logistics system, increasing the competitiveness of the national transport sector, and raising the status of our country at the international level. In this regard, certain provisions of our country’s road transport policy should be clarified in terms of its correlation with European transport policy, especially in compliance with international environmental parameters, easing the load on the road network, reducing road accidents and other problems.

Automation of information flows accompanying cargo is one of the most essential technical components of logistics. Modern trends in information flow management consist of replacing paper transportation documents electronic. Attempts are being made to simplify transportation documents, freight tariffs, and a system of mutual payments for transportation between senders, recipients and transport organizations. But, in fact, the outdated technology of commercial work is superimposed on modern technical means of automation.

The organization and formation of the transport and logistics system must be structured in such a way that during its operation the changes made do not violate its integrity and it continues to function as a single, well-coordinated mechanism, subordinate to the achievement of a common goal - adaptation and adaptation to market conditions, a specific environment, while simultaneously improving the quality of services provided and reducing all types of costs. Below are the shipping methods:

Rice. 1. Transportation methods

The transport services market today is very promising. Improving transport technologies involves not only changing traditional ways transportation, but also a change in the traditional physical state of the cargo. This achieves a significant reduction in cargo transportation time, energy and labor costs.

The problem of providing High Quality The implementation of logistics operations can be solved by introducing innovative ways and methods of their implementation, also using all technical and technological innovations. One of these methods is the use of modern transport and technological logistics systems (TTLS). TTLS is a set of mutually agreed technical, technological and organizational measures in the field of transportation of goods from supplier to buyer at specific sites in the transport chain in order to achieve maximum efficiency from use modern methods transportation of cargo.

Rice. 2. Types of transport in logistics

Innovation processes transport company We also touched upon such an important area as warehouse operations. A bunch of technical means(carts with automatic direction movement, transport and loading and unloading technologies, etc.) was created in response to the problems posed by optimizing warehouse activities.

The logistics of transport and warehouse complexes is based on the use of modern achievements in the field of computer science and automation. Important from the point of view of control over the implementation of transport operations is the GPS (Global Positioning System) system - an automated global satellite system designed to determine the exact location of a vehicle, which allows car owners and cargo owners to control the movement of goods. On transport company various computer systems. With their help, the tasks of increasing the efficiency of transport operations are solved, as well as control over the movement of goods. The ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is quite common, with the help of which in logistics the volumes and directions of material flows, the sequence of movement of goods to storage locations are determined, warehouse activities are managed, the movement of vehicles with cargo goods is controlled, issues of packaging, labeling, loading are resolved. - unloading works. transport logistics cargo innovative

Thus, we have identified the main directions of technical, technological and organizational innovations in transport and technological logistics systems, which make it possible to ensure the effective functioning of a transport company in modern conditions.

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Innovations in logistics can be called any technology that allows you to speed up the process of delivering cargo from one point to another, as well as optimize storage conditions. And ultimately, they increase the efficiency of the company itself, the quality of its work and reduce various costs.

In this article we will talk about some of the know-how that world leaders in the field of logistics are already implementing.

Unmanned transport

Transportation of goods is one of the largest expense items for all logistics companies. And naturally, everyone wants to minimize them, including with the help of new technologies. One idea is to replace conventional cars with driverless ones. This transport is now being developed in full swing, dozens have appeared various models. The benefits here are obvious - you can seriously save on salaries and social benefits for employees. In addition, the robotic car always builds the most optimal route, taking into account traffic jams. And finally, she will never break the rules because she simply “doesn’t know how to do it.” But such transportation is still only a theoretical future of the logistics sector, although perhaps not so distant.

But what is already being actively used are drones. With their help, you can deliver goods to their destination much faster, because there are no traffic jams in the sky. And the drone market itself is already quite developed today and can offer a huge number of different models. And such a well-known global giant as Amazon is already actively implementing these technologies.

True, there are also significant disadvantages. Thus, drones cannot yet carry large-sized cargo on board (no more than 2-3 kg), in many countries there are restrictions on the use of drones, and most importantly, there is a high risk of accidents (collision with a building, bird, unsuccessful landing), which means the company risks losing both the package, the drone itself, and then the client. Such an incident recently occurred with Russian Post, which decided to use a drone for the first time. But already during takeoff, the “flying postman” crashed into a house.

Packing machine "E-Jivaro"

Another serious part of the costs in logistics is the warehousing of goods. The “E-Jivaro” car that will be discussed was produced by French company"Savoye" Its essence lies in the fact that it automatically determines the height of the boxes depending on the volume of goods in them. This made it possible to immediately reduce the cost of packaging itself, and also made the storage and transportation process more efficient, since parcels began to take up exactly as much space (in the warehouse and in the car) as needed. The analysis showed that E-Jivaro's boxes were several centimeters lower than when people handled them. It might seem like a small thing, but in fact it allowed the company to reduce costs by 25%.

Plus, the machine itself works much faster than a person. She packs up to 15 boxes per minute, and about 4 thousand per day. Not to mention the fact that the parcels look much neater in appearance, and this improves the company’s image.

Unfortunately, Russia is still lagging behind in terms of innovation in logistics. So, good indicator costs in this area in the world are considered to be 11%. Our figure is 18%. Well, the leaders are the USA, Japan and France. So there is something to strive for and someone to look up to.

Question 4. Innovation in logistics systems

With development in Russia international standards commodity circulation is increasing and the need for high-quality logistics services is increasing. Modern conditions require comprehensive innovative approach to storage and processing of products.

Innovation is a process of scientific and technical activity, the result of which is innovation of a technical, technological, organizational or managerial nature. In technical terms, innovation is manifested in the emergence of new products, both industrial and consumer, with higher technical, economic and operational characteristics - quality, reliability, power, productivity, efficiency, environmental friendliness. From a technology perspective, innovation is the manufacture of products using technological processes that are more advanced than existing ones, allowing to reduce the labor intensity of production operations and reduce production costs.

Innovation in the field of organization is considered in two directions. The first direction is the development of organizational structures of business entities that allow establishing an optimal balance of structures with the external environment. The second direction is associated with the development of rational options for organizing labor - cooperation, specialization, division of labor, which make it possible to reduce costs during organizational interaction within and between business entities. Innovation from a management perspective is considered in the form of projects of planned management changes - the number of management levels, the degree of management influence, control over management decisions, as well as their subsequent implementation, which allows obtaining a certain economic or social effect.

Almost all types of innovations listed above are relevant to logistics and logistics decisions.

At the beginning of 2011, the Coordination Council for Logistics conducted a traditional annual study of the logistics of companies in Russia. The materials were presented at the plenary session of the XIV Moscow International Logistics Forum. The annual study involved managers and employees of 47 companies from various sectors of the economy. The responses received showed that innovations in logistics are very important and there is a need for their development and implementation.

How important is it for your company to use innovative solutions/technologies in logistics?

1. 51% recognize the importance of innovation and technology in logistics, but plan to engage in this work in the medium term.

2. 38% are already using innovative solutions in their practice.

What methods of optimizing logistics processes do you consider the most effective?

As a result of summarizing the answers, the list included:

1. Introduction of innovative solutions, systems and technologies - 24%;

2. Better control personnel and their motivation -18%;

3. Effective management supply chains - 12%;

4. Increasing the efficiency of warehouse logistics - 11%;

5. Reducing logistics costs.

Innovative logistics is the most relevant component of logistics activities, designed to study the need and possibility of introducing progressive innovations into the organization of current and strategic management of flow processes in order to identify and use additional reserves by rationalizing (optimizing) this management.

Structurally, logistics consists of a number of subsystems, which are already established independent areas - “supply logistics”, “production logistics”, “warehouse logistics”, “ transport logistics", "distribution logistics". Accordingly, “innovative logistics”, by its purpose, is also considered as an independent direction of logistics activity, which faces its own specific tasks.

Objectives of logistics activities:

1. creation of new ideas in the field of flow process management, based on the use of general scientific and technical achievements and their application in innovative logistics;

2. development and creation of a system of logistics innovations and logistics systems for various purposes through their element-by-element and stage-by-stage formation.

In this case, innovative logistics systems are understood as: specialized innovative logistics business centers; industry research institutes and departments of functional logistics subsystems; scientific research departments of higher educational institutions; consulting centers conducting research on existing and evaluating new logistics projects; public logistics structures - international, national and regional logistics associations.

Logistics innovations in theoretical terms are based on four logistics concepts, which represent the initial basis for the development of flexible logistics models for various areas of production and economic activity.

The following logistic concepts are accepted:

1. concept of general logistics costs - determination of differentiated logistics costs;

2. the concept of reengineering business processes in logistics - identifying the relationship between functions and the degree of intermediation and cooperation;

3. concept of an integrated logistics strategy - quality of customer service based on demand and supply forecasts;

4. logistics concept for managing the complete supply chain - organizing the entire process of product distribution - from the initial supplier to the final consumer.

Logistics innovations are used in the organization and management of material production and the service sector, as well as the improvement of operations and procedures used in logistics systems. At the same time, logistics innovations, experiencing the need for regular renovation of technical means, actively influence the development of scientific and technological progress, which stimulates research and development work (R&D) in the field of new equipment, technology and materials used in logistics systems. In terms of processes, modern logistics consists of 90% information technology. Only the remaining 10% is directly transported goods. Without information technology, the modern cargo transportation industry will simply cease to exist - IT is used in all areas and at all stages of cargo transportation. Two levels of IT application can be identified as key: “strategic”, which represents the automation of cargo transportation and logistics management processes, and the “application” level, aimed at automating cargo flows. The demand for automation of cargo transportation is growing at an accelerated pace. According to various estimates, costs increase annually by 15-20%, while costs for automating management processes increase by 8-10% annually. Let's look at examples of information technologies used in logistics. The functions of a 3PL provider, that is, a full-fledged logistics partner of the company, are gradually beginning to be introduced into the practice of Russian organizations. The functions of a 3PL provider are extensive and include not only direct transportation, warehousing management, shipment consolidation, forwarding and other basic services, but also customs brokerage services, design and support information systems, tariff negotiations, consulting services. Each organization must monitor and control the accuracy and order of both sending and receiving cargo to ensure efficient and uninterrupted operation of the organization, which will help avoid production costs. Let’s say that if an operator delivers a pack of flour not at 10 o’clock, but at 10:30, he will pay a fine for an idle shelf. And if he does not remove the products from the factory, this threatens to stop production. A study of the logistics services market showed that 3PL operators are already working in Russia, but mainly in the field of consumer goods. In the field of manufacturing logistics, the 3PL market is at an early stage. Another example of innovation in logistics is information technology, which is being successfully implemented in the Russian market by the Microsoft Dynamics AX program. The system is a comprehensive solution for automating the entire life cycle of production, accounting, control and analysis of cargo flows. This system supports the work of a transport and logistics company. The introduction of an automation system will lead to the following results: warehouse productivity will significantly increase, processing will be completely eliminated, costs for processing goods flows will be reduced, stable work object in the established mode. In addition, this system will help increase staff motivation, improve control over the work of the organization’s employees, improve the processes of interaction between employees of various departments, and the speed of processing customer requests will increase. When working with cargo, logistics companies use RFID tags to mark transported goods, which help track the location of the cargo or the contents of the cargo. A goods control system that allows the owner to determine the condition of the goods (damaged as a result of impact, shaking / packaging opened).



Transport logistics is unthinkable without the active use of information technology. It is difficult to imagine the formation and organization of the work of goods delivery chains without intensive operational exchange of information between participants in the transport process, without the ability to quickly respond to the needs of the transport services market. The determining factor in management is the speed of data processing and obtaining the necessary information. Turnover

information affects the efficiency of enterprise management, its financial success. Practical implementation innovation in logistics is becoming a powerful tool for increasing the competitiveness of enterprises and organizations, as well as increasing the competitiveness of the products they produce and the services they provide.

Maxim Tolstobrov - Operations Director of SDEK

How are modern technologies, including Big Data, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, and even the Internet itself, changing the logistics industry? It is hardly worth arguing that, as in the case of other business sectors, logistics with the advent of innovative technologies The most radical transformations await in the near future. By the way, the latter are gradually coming and winning their place in the sun in a variety of sectors of the industry - from production logistics to online delivery and last-mile delivery.

E-commerce sets the tone for logistics

In global trade, Internet commerce is growing at the fastest pace today; It is with this segment that the key innovations that come to logistics are associated. They affect the timing and quality of delivery, they can be seen and assessed by the buyer. In the near future, technological development, including covering the entire planet with the Internet and providing access to it for the entire population, will inevitably turn the world into a giant marketplace. Competing for their customers, online stores and logistics operators will change the system of distribution, distribution and delivery of goods.

Already now, customers can notice that instead of a courier, the order delivery time is clarified by a robotic service over the phone; home delivery is being successfully replaced by networks of parcel terminals, which can be accessed using individual codes, and the order itself can be delivered to your home. A delivery robot that moves on the ground can already do this today. Starship Technologies has, one of the owners of which is Ahti Heinla, who launched Skype. These robots are currently delivering only in 4 cities in the UK, but the developers expect that over time their creation will replace the regular courier. They come to a place convenient for the recipient and issue a package upon command, which can be given via mobile app. Such a delivery driver can carry up to 9 kg of cargo at a time.

Some companies are actively using drones for city delivery. This is an environmentally friendly and fast mode of transport: it does not stand in traffic jams, does not require fuel and, depending on the model, can fly up to 200 km without recharging. They are used not only by individual giant companies like Amazon or Wallmart. For example, in China, one of the companies that makes pizza delivers it to customers using drones; in Russia, DoDo-Pizza and Sberbank have experience delivering by drone.

Automation comes to the warehouse

Not long ago I had an internship in Leipzig at a DHL sorting warehouse. The time it takes for cargo to pass through the terminal is 15 minutes - that’s how long it takes to accept cargo, unconsolidate it, pass through the sorting line and send it to its destination. At the same time, cargo arrives at the warehouse not by car, but by plane! Only 15 minutes pass from the moment the cargo “enters” the warehouse until it is ready to be sent by a new plane to the delivery address.

This suggests that innovative technologies are already coming to the backstage of logistics - here it often happens even faster. For example, the use of barcodes on goods can significantly speed up sorting using robotic terminals. Warehouses use robotic systems for voice search for the desired product, as well as selection systems based on color signals. These technological innovations do not eliminate the need for a human employee in the warehouse, but they make the sorting and picking process much more accurate and, most importantly, faster. For example, voice search – Pick-by-voice technology – speeds up processes by half! These technologies are already used in Russia: for example, by the X5 Retail Group.

Amazon has been using Kiva warehouse robots since 2014 (there are currently about 80,000 of them). And if you go by the Deutsche Bank report, such robots turned out to be five times more efficient than human staff. What's the result? For example, the operating costs of each warehouse decreased by 20%. There are examples of automation storage facilities and in Russia - for example, today the automated sorting line of the express delivery company SDEK is capable of processing and sending more than 6 thousand parcels through 160 sleeves in an hour. This figure is 70,000 items per day.

I'm not even talking about the changes in logistics that will cause the development of, for example, 3D printing - after all, it is possible that in the future there will simply be no need to transport very many goods. Data about them will be transferred to production mechanisms, which will accurately reproduce copies of the desired product using a 3D printer.

Some time ago I was at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg (Germany), by the way, the first for the automaker. In addition to tourists, buyers of the German brand often go here to pick up the collected individual order auto. The order can be placed remotely, the car itself is assembled within a week from scratch: from iron sheets to individual finishing. The buyer simply goes online, selects the options for the future car, in accordance with which the car is already produced. In fact, we are talking about mass production of an individual order.

Of course, new technologies will not completely cancel logistics: in any case, you will have to supply materials for the production of copies of goods, but it will fundamentally change, including from the point of view of pricing and the use of human resources. It will be necessary to transfer not goods, but data, and this function, by the way, can also be taken on by logistics companies, simply updated and appearing on the market in a new capacity.

The price of innovation

What is the reason for the arrival of innovative technologies in logistics? The main reason why this happens is the globalization of international relations and trade. Companies from different countries enter into cooperation agreements with each other. People want to buy from online stores not only in their own country, but all over the world. Thus, trade turnover is constantly growing and, as a result, the burden on logistics companies. Manual labor is gradually fading into the background; people are being replaced by machines capable of performing hundreds of times more operations in a minute. Another bonus of innovation is savings on labor force. This is one of the most significant expense items today, especially in Europe and the USA. For example, in France, the labor cost of a storekeeper is 2,000 euros per month, and this does not include taxes. Technology is helping to replace workers with robots.

Of course, initially all innovative things are always very expensive. When they become available, then they can cancel ongoing expensive operations. Remember the very first computers, which occupied huge rooms. Their acquisition was only possible for government agencies. We now have smartphones in our pockets with more performance than the first computers. The same thing happened with mobile communications, which were initially extremely expensive, and then, with a fall in cost, replaced landline communications, became popular and greatly changed the speed of information exchange - and the speed of business. This was the case with any technological innovation.

Does a similar prospect await Russia? Significant technological barriers I'm in in this case I do not see. If we produce missiles and tanks, why can’t we, for example, make sorting lines for logistics hubs? There is nothing complicated about this; similar developments are already on the domestic market - and at the same time they are an order of magnitude cheaper than their Western counterparts. Another issue is their widespread use. Here everything very much depends on the payback period and the company’s client portfolio. So far, not all logistics operators can afford to introduce innovations on a large scale - this is a serious expense. Today in logistics (as, perhaps, in other areas of the economy) the situation does not allow making investments, the return of which is estimated at 5 or even 7 years; we all live in the future for a maximum of 3 years... Add to this the inaccessibility of credit resources and the fact that labor workers are still not as dear to us as in European countries or USA. As long as human labor is cheaper than the cost of a similar operation performed by a robot, including taking into account the cost of its implementation, this topic, if at all, will be applied only by innovators and activists.

Sooner or later, robots, of course, will come to Russian logistics - there is simply no other way out in the future. Another thing is how long it will take to do it. In this case, it is not a matter of production capabilities or technical thought, but of resources.

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