Technology innovations have made huge impacts on many different industries in recent years.  From healthcare and medicine to fields such as design and architecture. Technological advancements have made major changes to each of these industries, often, for the better. The logistics industry is one of the most demanding industries today. With the increase in online shopping and e-commerce businesses, logistics is a field that’s constantly looking to make improvements. Luckily, due to technology, there has already been major changes and improvements within the logistics industry to make processes not only more efficient but also more cost-effective.  Here are a few major tech innovations that are currently improving the logistics field:

Mobile Capabilities

Mobile apps and tracking capabilities have made efficiency between logistics providers, shippers, and consumers much more seamless.  Mobile apps in logistics can be used for multiple purposes, from fleet and inventory management to shipment tracking and customer service.  Having these capabilities in the palm of your hand makes the entire logistics process much easier. Days of a consumer not knowing when a package will be delivered, or where it’s coming from are over. Today, with mobile applications, consumers can track their package to every destination it meets, up until it lands on their doorstep.

Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed multiple industries to improve efficiency, accuracy, and product development. For logistics, AI is improving the ability to compile data, improve costs and forecasting, as well as connect and respond to consumers in a more efficient manner.  From an autonomous standpoint, AI is also contributing to the potential for autonomous delivery systems that will ultimately save on labor costs, with the potential of improving customer satisfaction. Robotics and autonomous machinery are improving delivery times to much shorter periods.  For organizations such as Amazon, the use of robotic technology has condensed delivery time into a 24-48 hour window.

Cybersecurity Systems

With the increase in online shopping and e-commerce businesses, individuals are inputting personal and financial information into the internet constantly.  For this reason, many logistics organizations are focusing on making serious improvements within their safety and cybersecurity measures. National companies have experienced serious cyber hacks, which have put sensitive consumer information at great risk.  Using technology to improve these measures is the first step to making the cyber work safe for buyers.