• Robotic warehouses

Many of warehouse activities are managed by robots.

Some distribution centers have already established part of automations in their warehouses. This prism is far from complete automation, which some corporate giants have already been able to apply. Although the consequence of the incorporation of robots to the logistic centers will cause a reduction of staff, many companies start using robots to do multiple tasks.

• Automation and Digitalization

The digitalization of the processes and automated production will help the industry to an efficient operation of the storage and transport centers, the chains seek the adoption of tools that allow them to optimize their operations and costs.

• Autonomous transport

Referring to both terrestrial and aerial vehicles (drones).

The semi-automatic trucks are becoming a reality and little by little this new technology will be improved to the point that the trucks are fully automatic.

In addition it is possible to see another type of autonomous “vehicles”. It is about autonomous forklifts that are driven by vision, which improve the speed of tasks in a warehouse. And it is also about drones, focused as not on transport and distribution, especially in urban environments.

• More green logistics and sustainability

The carbon footprint is increasingly evident on our planet. Pollution remains one of the pending subjects but it is also true that more and more companies are concerned about polluting less. Not only companies and the private sector will be made aware of the environmental impact.

Governments are to applying increasingly restrictive regulations that will affect both vehicles and circulation in large cities. It is important to pay attention to alternatives such as the new ecologically responsible supply chains, the distribution of small packages in large cities with alternative means such as bicycles or the collection of parcels in different centralized locations.

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• Development of the last mile

The system, which is designed to streamline and simplify aid delivery, consists of a handheld computer with an integrated touch screen, barcode scanner and camera, and a laptop that acts as a roaming server. It uses a local ad hoc wireless network that does not depend on connectivity though the capability is there. Since information is exchanged wirelessly – without the need for mobile phone networks, internet connections, or electricity – the technology can be used anywhere.

• Artificial Intelligence

In the era of “big data”, artificial intelligence will also have a role in transportation, where it will help optimize routes and organize the transport of goods in terms of cost and speed of arrival, and will be able to organize the delivery and collection of goods, taking into account not only current data, but also historical data that you can take advantage of thanks to your learning capacity.

• Big Data

Millions of data are handled in the logistics industry, and their analysis will allow carriers to improve efficiency, track routes, products and know delays in real time, as well as locate and avoid the risks of the supply chain

• 3D printing: New challenge in Logistics

The fact of getting to print is something that would reduce delivery times to the maximum, since it would not be necessary to wait until it was produced or arrived at the warehouse.

It is possible also start to print three-dimensional in the own stores of the different companies, what would transform the way of working, reducing manufacturing costs in small batches, and thus reducing storage budgets.

• Collaborative logistics

One of the clearest trends in transportation is based on collaboration and vehicle sharing. It is a potentially disruptive trend for the supply chain strategy.

• Blockchain

Technology that functions as an encrypted and distributed database. For some, blockchain is a new paradigm called to transform existing models in many businesses with the definition of new distributed platforms in which the figures of intermediaries or trusted third parties lose validity in favor of consensus and trust approaches (Logistec).

• ERP software for logistics

Cloud Computing as storage in the cloud, will set a trend again.

• Augmented reality

Right now it begins to be used in warehouses, specifically, for picking tasks.

• Internet of things

The internet connection between objects continues to grow as a trend in the logistics sector. The protagonist of this trend is called Smart Logistics or Intelligent Logistics.