The technology world time-travelled into the future in 2020, going years ahead of the original upgradation schedules. No one would have imagined that the services from healthcare to education will be delivered in a complete virtual fashion at least before the year 2030. However, it still doesn’t mean that food, healthcare supplies, clothing, raw material, hardware supplies etc. can be experienced remotely. Things need to be moved. This is precisely why the supply chains across the world were stretched, overstretched and often broken during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the tech-savvy logistics entities magically survived!

Delivering deeper into the heart of those mainstream companies, they not only had a well-defined business strategy in place, but also centered their services around end-to-end automation systems, including CRM and ERP systems hosted on cloud and smart warehousing systems. Looking closer, it’s also important to note that when roads were locked and flights were grounded, most of them oiled other modes of transport like Railway and Seaway and ensured seamless movement of their goods. In other words, it’s not just the technology that helped them survive the pandemic, but proper planning as well.

From now on, every logistics company is going to have situations like these in the back of their minds. Technology will continue to play a pivotal role in the coming years, and AI, Big Data Analytics and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are expected to redefine procurement & planning phases of supply chains, helping organizations to fathom improved demand forecasts & real-time route optimization, and predict supply chain risks such as delays, noncompliance and lack of transparency.

With a step further, Blockchain can also be a breakthrough in terms of supply chain data centralization and ensuring more seamless, transparent relationships between suppliers, customers, exchanges and carriers. In this issue, ‘10 Most Recommended Freight Management, SCM & Logistics Solutions Providers - 2021’, we endeavor to bring the stories of tech-savvy organizations who are hosting this novel revolution.

Do let us know your thoughts.