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Looking Ahead: What are the Next Big Trends in Logistics?

By: Doug Henrriquez on Aug 1, 2018

Shipping Software Freight planning Freight shipping Logistics and supply chain Operations

Technological advances and new, inventive strategies have touched processes in every industry, including shipping and logistics. These emerging innovations have allowed managers to have more visibility over their fleet and into their shipping processes while working to exceed rising customer needs.

What's more, game-changing trends aren't poised to slow anytime soon. For this reason, it's important that shipping and logistics managers keep their eyes on the horizon for the next big thing that can differentiate them from the competition and help them achieve internal goals.

Let's take a look ahead at the trends that are just starting to make waves in the shipping and logistics industry:

The Internet of Things (IOT) and connected endpoints

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of those concepts that appears to have taken hold everywhere. And, as Capterra contributor Andrew Marder pointed out, buzz surrounding IoT capabilities certainly won't die down this year.

A Guide to Digitizing Logistical Supply Chains

The IoT can mean many things to many people, but within shipping and logistics processes, it often translates to improved sensor and tracking capabilities, alongside RFID- and GPS-enabled handheld devices. These help bring a layer of automation and added efficiency to logistics processes, and can provide key, up-to-the-minute data for managers, enabling them to make the best decisions about routing and warehouse activity.

This means that shipping and logistics managers can't be afraid of the ever-rising connectivity, and should look to take advantage of the newly available data that IoT devices and processes can offer.

"If you don't have smart devices or business intelligence in place right now or if your business lacks the capital to deploy anything, at least put a plan in place," Marder wrote. "IoT devices and insights can help you cut costs by finding inefficiencies in your work."

Choice of delivery mode

Another trend emerging in the shipping and logistics and retail industries is providing a choice for customers as to how they'd like to receive their delivery. Material Handling & Logistics contributor Kushal Nahata pointed out that while only a few companies supported this feature last year, but will no doubt continue into the future.

This makes shipping and logistics managers much more visible to consumers, and will require them to offer competitive prices for a range of shipping types if they hope to carve out a niche in the marketplace.

"This could be a game changer for logistics companies, as they can no longer afford to be in the background," Nahata wrote. "They have to compete against each other with differentiated, customer-oriented services."

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Supporting unified visibility and management

In order to capitalize on these above-described trends and other shakeups coming to the shipping and logistics industry, managers must have in-depth visibility into the processes impacted by these changing strategies. What's more, stakeholders shouldn't have to navigate multiple platforms to find the data and capabilities they need to manage their fleet, support customer satisfaction, shop for the best freight rates or glean centralized tracking details.

A transportation management system is imperative in the current shipping and logistics industry, and will only become even more critical as advanced trends and strategies emerge. To learn more about how a best-in-class TMS can support your business, connect with FreightPOP today.