The logistics industry has evolved to the point where it can no longer run without digital solutions. But what are the key solutions helping businesses to create modern, future-proofed logistics strategies?

Here, we take a quick look at the developing industry landscape and highlight some of the trending technological approaches that can truly help build resilience for your logistics company.

Bouncing back from the brink

It wasn’t just the global pandemic that sent a shockwave through the logistics sector, but the political conflict that severed supply chains. However, unlike some of the more long-suffering economic areas, such as retail and hospitality, the transport and logistics industry was able to bounce back quite rapidly, as demand for goods and services dramatically increased.

According to a report by Statista, the global container shipping market alone is forecast to grow at an annual rate of over four per cent until 2027. The market is also predicted to increase in value from £6.4 billion to £8.8 billion by that same year. 

From this, it’s clear to see how the sheer volume of trade taking place makes it infeasible to continue relying on outdated and conventional approaches to transport and logistics. The age of digitalisation and technology is reshaping industries across the board – and this sector is no different.

One of the main learnings that logistics businesses can take is that processes must operate far more efficiently. Future success will require improved agility, as well as visibility of door-to-door transport operations. And what better way to do this than through the power of digital logistics solutions?

A brave new world

The pandemic made a compelling case for digitising major elements of logistics operations, mainly to reduce in-person interactions. However, the crisis exposed the potential perils of going digital, too – namely cybersecurity risks. 

Failure to put protective processes in place can lead to supply chains being critically affected, and customer trust crumbling. Despite the risks of implementing digital solutions in logistics and transport, the potential benefits far outweigh the dangers, as long as they are managed properly.

So, what are some of the more effective digital solutions that logistics businesses are turning to? Here’s a quick look at some of the trending approaches and how they can help your transport enterprise to perform better.

Natural language processing (NLP)

This form of artificial intelligence (AI) has been found to significantly improve the way logistics organisations function, through the analysis of large amounts of natural language data. NLP helps companies keep a check on their financial processing through identifying errors or irregularities by the close examination of invoice data. 

Not only can this technology help your logistics company save on overheads, but it also allows for improved freight planning and more efficient resource distribution.

Autonomous vehicles

It’s undeniable that autonomous vehicles are becoming more prevalent within the logistics industry, and some have boldly predicted that one day soon, the transport of the future will be fully autonomous. 

As the pandemic and political factors slashed numbers of truck drivers in the UK workforce, we’ve seen a growing adoption of driverless lorries, following the precedent of autonomous forklifts. It’s definitely worth watching this space and keeping an eye on how this technology develops.

The use of blockchain

Blockchain technology has proven to be massively beneficial in transport and logistics, simply by checking the history of various goods carriers and suppliers. The decentralised technology of blockchain ensures a completely secure exchange of key information through the help of smart contracts. These can reduce the risk of fraud, as well as the possibility of mistakes and bottlenecks. 

Smart contracts can save companies a great deal of time and money, too. More and more logistics companies are having their heads turned by the long list of blockchain benefits.

Cloud-based systems

Cloud technology is one of the biggest trends in the transport industry right now. By including cloud-based technology in transportation and logistics management, organisations can achieve massively enhanced operational efficiency. Cloud computing helps businesses when it comes to real-time vehicle tracking and logistics-space planning. These systems also mean key data can be accessible to your entire team, regardless of location or time.

Sustainability software

Industries like logistics and transport have a responsibility – and increasingly an obligation – to look for solutions that mitigate their environmental impact. One of the key ways to make a difference is through implementing software programs that can help to balance loads and accurately calculate your overall carbon footprint. Knowing exactly how much pollution is being created by your company’s logistics efforts is the first step towards a more sustainable business model. This type of software will also make it easier to plan more sustainable transportation routes and loads.

So, as we can see, there’s a lot in store for the future of transport logistics – and we’ve only scratched the surface here. It’s clear that this industry, like so many others, is moving in a decidedly digital direction, with more effort, investment and resources being ploughed into clever technical solutions that can enhance productivity and performance. As a result, it’s never been more important to have expert support from a trusted network supplier that can pull out all the stops to underpin your evolving digital strategy. 

Let's talk logistics

Here at TalkTalk Business, we’re proud to have been helping transport and logistics firms make sense of the digital world for many years now. We’re also proud of the extensive range of intelligent, efficient and innovative solutions we’re able to offer our logistics customers, with packages tailored to the evolving needs of your business.

With TalkTalk Business, you’ll enjoy all of the benefits that come with partnering with one of the UK’s leading networks. This means products and services that can easily keep up with unforeseen circumstances and help you stay ahead in an industry that’s only going to get more connected. 

That includes easily adjusting your bandwidth to keep up with fluctuating demand; staying connected however far and wide your business travels, through the UK’s most far-reaching network – offering access to more mobile providers and alternative networks than anyone else; and protecting operational continuity with multiple back-up options and industry-leading break/fix SLAs. All on one straightforward contract. 

In short, it’s everything else you need to be truly successful. Find out more about how nobody backs logistics like us.