Logistics: The Digitization Success Story

The Smarter Logistics trendbook mentions a helpful way to classify and prioritize innovations. It refers to the McKinsey three horizons model. From a strategic viewpoint, the model allocates different ideas and measures to three time windows, stating that for long-term growth all three horizons must be covered.

Hiring external digitization experts is in many cases the order of the day. They have an eye on both technical know-how and long-term trends.

Today, companies must develop a sustainability strategy and bear the environment in mind if they are to achieve lasting growth. Customers and business expect them to do so. According to a Forbes study 92 percent of respondents would tend to trust a company that supports social and ecological concerns. This is an area in which the Internet of Things (IoT) can make an important contribution. By using information from the IoT companies can go easy on resources and boost their efficiency. Better fleet management with fewer empty runs and low-congestion routes (Green Logistics), predictively maintained machines with a longer service life (Predictive Maintenance) or consignments equipped with sensors and connected with the cloud that are better protected from loss or spoilage (Smart Tracking) are all IoT solutions that have long demonstrated in practice what the technology can accomplish. They are ways in which Green IoT converts a cost factor into a genuine competitive advantage.