Third party logistic companies (3PLs) and the supply chain have always relied on technology to meet the speed, costs, and quality demands. Technology has always been the driver to meeting customer demands, especially when it comes to supply chains. The emergence of the railroad systems in the 19th century, as well as the proliferation of trucks and other automobiles in the 1900s, had a big impact on the supply chain. These cost-effective technologies helped companies make deliveries faster and in larger amounts. We are in the 21st century now, and the internet is on the verge of transforming the supply chain in ways that we couldn’t have anticipated.
When Amazon announced Prime Air services program two years ago, people were stunned- which is understandable. Has logistics technology become so advanced that orders for online shopping can be delivered with drones? Well, not yet, but this is not a joke. Tests are underway on similar programs in Israel and the United Kingdom. The 21st century is the age of the internet that is quickly transforming everything from customers‘ shopping experiences to how companies go through with their orders. Here, we are going to shed some light on emerging supply chain technologies expected to prove extensively disruptive in the near future. Take a look.
3-D Printing
3-D Printing is still in its infancy stages. There are some interesting developments in the sector but we are still a few years from being able to use the technology in the supply chain industry. When 3D printing technology is fully developed and ready to be put in different applications, experts believe that it can be used to shorten the chain of supply. Instead of warehousing and shipping products in advance, companies will be able to print finished products in-house on demand. There might be other applications of 3D printing technology in the supply chain industry, but only time can really tell.
Real-time Reporting Via Cloud-based Quality Management Systems
Companies are increasingly continuing to invest in enterprise quality management systems in response to stronger consumer demand for high-quality products, outsourced manufacturing services, and increased regulatory compliance they are facing. Quality management systems help keep everyone on the same page and mitigate upcoming issues easily with real-time reporting.
Internet of Things
Mobile applications and RFID tags are examples of IOT technologies companies are using to keep tabs on their products and how consumers are behaving towards them. Companies can now tell customers‘ attitudes regarding their products regardless of whether logistics make sure that the products reach customers on time or if a company is operating under optimal conditions.
Collaborative Robotics
Collaborative robotics is on the verge of a breakthrough. Technological advancements have made it possible for companies to adopt lightweight, more flexible robotics that can work side by side with people for faster delivery. These new robotics can even learn through experience as their programming allows it. This has been made possible by advancement in the field of artificial intelligence. The application of collaborative robotics is a huge stride towards the development of automated warehouse. Collaborative robotics and automated warehousing has helped by cutting out most of the hard ‘picking’ work and companies can make quick turnarounds to meet product demand faster.
How these initiatives and technological innovations come to life in the future will be interesting to watch. There are more game-changing technologies under development. As the industry continues to discover more ways to take advantage of digital technology and the internet, we should expect to see more ground-breaking innovations. Most of the emerging technology is at the moment limited by finances. It’s hard for these companies to come up with a financial model that allows the provision of affordable services to consumers.
