Raman : Increased productivity for carriers , complete order visibility , and easier-to-use systems will dominate the landscape for carriers in 2025 . Watch for these trends :
1 . Employees will be more productive due to AI : Ten percent of carriers ’ revenue goes towards front and back-o ! ce tasks that AI could automate . These tasks include order entry , tracking , scheduling , and even quoting for routine orders . In an industry with narrow profit margins , carriers that adopt technology correctly will have employees who become ten times more productive and will see increased profitability and expansion .
2 . Shippers will demand complete order visibility : Shippers demand accurate and live transit tracking , delivery times , warehouse location , environmental impact , and more . The carriers that reliably collect and share all these data points will be able to earn more business , all while running more e ! cient operations . Carriers unable to service these data requirements will be forced to turn down work .
3 . Carriers want technology that works : The tech that many logistics professionals use today is frequently clunky and disappointing , especially compared to consumer products like Netflix and Uber . Poor business technology means ine ! ciency , demoralized employees , and mistakes . The entire ecosystem of next-generation TMS , driver apps , and ELDs will give every carrier the tools to build a modern business operating system .
CLDA Mag : Why will these trends be significant to those in the final-mile ?
Jagad : As the supply chain becomes increasingly complex , the convergence of AI , cloud technology , and last-mile innovation is shaping a more agile and responsive supply chain that will better meet the demands of logistics and commerce in the future .
The rise of AI-based technologies and cloud solutions has made building applications with fewer resources significantly easier . AI is automating a significant portion of the coding process , reducing development times and costs . Cloud technologies are eliminating the need to maintain costly , in-house hardware infrastructure . Together , logistics companies can have a more cost-effective , reliable , and scalable approach to managing delivery operations . With cloud deployment , logistics organizations can focus on optimizing their service offerings without worrying about IT infrastructure , enabling them to adapt to fluctuating market demands faster than ever before .
As the logistics industry evolves , shippers and carriers require more versatile delivery management solutions . Traditional systems that only support limited , point-to-point delivery operations are no longer enough in today ’ s more sophisticated supply chain environment . Previously , carriers were only focused on a handful of industries and the technology aligned with those industries . Today , last-mile TMS platforms provide greater flexibility and visibility that enables logistics providers to manage deliveries across various sectors – furniture , clothing , hardware , or even hazardous chemicals – in a single system with comprehensive tools to handle planning , execution , and customer communication . This flexibility is crucial as carriers continue to broaden their portfolios to serve additional industries and meet the demands of these industries , as well as more complex last-mile operations with operational e ! ciency and a superior customer experience .
30 customized logistics & delivery Magazine I fall / winter 2024