Ways to think about the Supply Chain of the Future: Artificial Intelligence

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Ways to think about the Supply Chain of the Future: Artificial Intelligence

The fact that supply chains and logistics companies already have a vast amount of data and processes that could be turned into actionable insights rather quickly, just means that there is potential for AI to take supply chains on a journey from very good to perfect.

Artificial intelligence techniques allow for vast amounts of data to be analyzed, categorized, and then turned into actionable insights with reduced or no human input. As an example,

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Long-Haul Trucking: The First and Best Use Case for Level 5 Self-Driving Vehicles

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Long-Haul Trucking: The First and Best Use Case for Level 5 Self-Driving Vehicles

Transportation has been the source of some of the greatest innovations in human history from the invention of the wheel to automobiles, ships , trains, planes, and rockets. These innovations have profoundly impacted how we move around, how we trade, and how quickly and cost effectively this all happens. Autonomous vehicles may very well be the next great innovation in transportation but the journey will likely be a long one.

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Automation in Logistics and the Future of Work

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Automation in Logistics and the Future of Work

Several recent studies have suggested that nearly half of all jobs are susceptible to automation in the next 20 years. Robots and artificial intelligence are poised to displace jobs in various industries, and the logistics industry is highly vulnerable to job loss. Recently notable tech leaders have made statements in regards to how to deal with automation displacing jobs. Bill Gates has argued for a robot tax to recapture money that displaced workers would have paid as income tax. Elon Musk advocates for a universal basic income...

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The 2016 Techgistics Year in Review

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The 2016 Techgistics Year in Review

2016 was an incredible year for tech in logistics as companies both large and small are working on some transformational technologies not just for logistics, but for society as a whole. Here’s a few interesting tech advancements in 2016 that were important for the year, but could also point to what’s to come in the near and long-term future.

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Ways to think about Last Mile Delivery

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Ways to think about Last Mile Delivery

Last mile delivery is going to change significantly over the next few decades. A sea-change is upon the Logistics industry and as is often the case when an industry is about to be turned upside-down, there are a number of converging factors, both societal and technological, that are accelerating the pace of change.

 

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The Future of Last Mile Deliveries: Mercedes Vision Van makes Logistics Look Cool

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The Future of Last Mile Deliveries: Mercedes Vision Van makes Logistics Look Cool

Mercedes Benz and Matternet, a drone technology start-up, have partnered to create an integrated vision of the future for urban deliveries. Mercedes showcased the concept cargo van at the IAA Commercial vehicle show in Hannover, Germany last week. The future, not all that surprisingly, is an electric vehicle with a range of 270 KMs (168 miles) combined with drones that make package deliveries.

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Uber is a Logistics Platform, Not A Car Service

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Uber is a Logistics Platform, Not A Car Service

Last week Uber announced that they would begin testing self-driving cars in Pittsburgh and that they had acquired Otto, a 90-person start-up that focuses on technology for self-driving trucks. Otto develops sensors and radars that can be quickly outfitted onto existing trucks. Otto’s goal (for now) is for the truck to be fully autonomous on the highways while the driver rests, and the driver takes over for exits and driving in cities. The technology is pretty compelling as...

 

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Tesla’s Master Plan Part Deux and the Future of Line Haul deliveries

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Tesla’s Master Plan Part Deux and the Future of Line Haul deliveries

Genius, Blowhard, Bond-Villain extraordinaire Elon Musk, depending on your point of view, published his Master Plan Part Deux for Tesla. In general the manifesto was in line with the assumed direction of the industry - fully autonomous cars, autonomous commercial vehicles, and the ability for your Tesla to drive other people/cargo around for money while you are not using the car. From a line-haul transportation perspective, self driving cars offer enormous potential...

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