Data Challenges the Transportation Industry Must Overcome

Data is transforming the transportation industry. To keep pace, transport companies must plan accordingly. Otherwise, they risk missing out on data they can use to optimize their operations. They are also prone to data management, storage, and analysis errors that hamper their productivity and efficiency. 

For all companies, including those in the transport industry, a clear understanding of industry-wide data challenges is a must. The only matter for debate is how exactly transport companies can overcome these challenges. 

1. Data Paralysis

Although there may be challenges within big data, it presents plenty of opportunities for transport companies. With its help, these businesses can quickly and easily access large volumes of structured and unstructured data. With this data, transport companies can generate insights and base future business decisions off of them. 

To realize the full value of big data, transport companies need systems and processes to collect and organize information and retrieve insights from it. Otherwise, companies are prone to data paralysis.

Data paralysis occurs when the sheer volume of information available becomes too much to handle. In these instances, transport companies may struggle to manage their data and garner insights. Even worse, companies may fall behind on data collection and analysis to the point where it damages the business’ operations. 

Transport companies must plan for data paralysis. These companies can invest in data collection and analysis systems and establish processes for them. In addition, they can gradually integrate big data systems and processes into their operations. Over time, they can evaluate these systems and processes and consistently explore ways to get the most value out of them. 

2. Data Silos

Transport companies can collect data that they want to share across a myriad of departments. Yet they may encounter problems as they try to provide authorized personnel with seamless and secure access to this information. 

Ultimately, data silos can arise in transport businesses. If they do, the silos can lead to miscommunications among staff. These miscommunications can result in errors that damage business operations. 

Implementing integration software offers a great starting point to protect against data silos. The software can help a transport company manage and secure its data and ensure it is accessible to authorized personnel. It can even drive collaboration among employees, as the software can help these workers share information. 

3. Inability to Fully Integrate Data into Supply Chain Operations

To date, big data has had far-flung effects on the supply chain for transport companies. Big data enables these businesses to make data-driven projections and forecasts. Plus, it empowers transport companies with insights they can use to simultaneously reduce their supply chain costs and maximize their results. 

However, the transportation supply chain is complex. If data is not properly integrated into all areas of the transport supply chain, data silos and other problems can crop up. 

Data must be integrated into all aspects of the transport supply chain. Fortunately, technologies are available to help transport companies do just that. 

For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to connect front- and back-end supply chain data. AI can be used in conjunction with big data to identify supply chain problems in their early stages. In addition to addressing these issues, AI can also prevent them from recurring. As a result, AI and big data together can help transport businesses streamline their supply chain operations. 

4. Evolving Customer Expectations

Customer data is a difference-maker for transport companies. It enables these companies to learn from their customers and find the best ways to support them. At the same time, data can be used to assess customer patterns and trends and ensure transportation businesses are well-equipped to fulfill customer requests. 

Transport companies need systems and processes in place to track customer data. These businesses also need to ensure customer data can lead to actionable insights. They need to obtain these insights in real-time, too. 

Furthermore, customer expectations are constantly evolving. As such, transport companies must update the technologies they use to track and analyze customer data 

Transport companies must examine their customer data management and analysis technologies regularly. They can then transform customer data into insights and analyze the effectiveness of these technologies. Transport businesses can integrate these technologies into their day-to-day operations and keep them up to date. By doing so, they can manage and analyze data with ease and use it to drive business growth. 

The Bottom Line 

Data is powerful, particularly for transportation companies. But these businesses must plan for data challenges. Failure to do so makes it virtually impossible to mine data. It also can cause transport businesses to miss out on insights they can use to boost their sales and revenues, improve their operations, and become more productive and efficient than ever before. 

Lastly, transport businesses must remain diligent with their data. By establishing and maintaining systems and processes for big data, transport companies can identify and address data challenges in their early stages. As a result, transportation companies will stay ahead of the game and benefit their business in the long run.