In order to know what the keys will be in the evolution of logistics chains in the next decade, we must first know how the needs and consumption of customers will evolve, so that companies can adapt solutions based on these changes. According to a study of several logistics companies, these consumption habits will demand greater speed, precision and simplicity, regardless of distance.

Therefore, we are going to be faced with the demand for a faster logistics network, with a strong increase in cutting-edge technology and a wide range of solutions and services. These important changes in the face of 2030 are driving the supply chain to streamline and make logistics processes more flexible, allowing it to manage inventories and ship earlier. To do so, the logistics sector must be prepared with the appropriate technological tools to respond to this challenge: SMA, WMS, Software ERP logistics, CybersecurityCommunications...

Investment in Technology for Logistics Operations

In 2030, logistics operators are expected to make regular use of the tools that are starting to rebound today. Within a decade, there is some consensus that they will have become common industry tools.

In particular, the digital tools most mentioned by experts and professionals of transport and logistics are mainly: blockchainbig data, IoT or AI. "Blockchain will probably be the standard technology for tracking," says Maite Gilarranz, Co-Founder of Piperlab.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on society has also led to an acceleration in the digitization of the logistics sector. In the next decade, "everything will be more telematic, shops will have to develop much more their way of selling at a distance in order to bring the product closer to the consumer," says the general manager of FM Logistics Iberia.

The role of Sustainability

In the next few years, the logistics chain will have to adapt to new criteria for managing and regulating urban traffic and new models of collaborative logistics, as well as a major change in delivery fleets towards autonomous cars and drones.

The increasing automation in production and logistics favours the development of new technologies, which will result in a decrease in the cost of labour, so perhaps the current model of offshored production will be changed to come closer to consumer markets, which would favour a more sustainable model.