Logistics companies in the APAC region are investing in IoT, warehouse automation and electric vehicles to improve their daily operations.

FREMONT, CA: Covid-19 has disrupted and revealed vulnerabilities in supply chains, placing  logistics firms that rely on traditional processes for their daily operations at a disadvantage. To be able to pull themselves out of a slump, logistics firms are employing new technologies. According to a new study from HERE Technologies, a location data and technology platform, almost a third of logistics organisations in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region are evaluating IoT, warehouse automation and electric vehicles as significant investment priorities for the next two years.  Over half of the logistics companies are also leveraging map-based solutions with real-time location data for fleet tracking. 'The State of Movement’ white paper, in collaboration with Frost & Sullivan, examined 152 logistics companies in six countries (Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand).

Logistics organisations may achieve real-time tracking by combining IoT with location data and location-based services. Companies can improve operational efficiency while reducing difficulties and asset misplacement. This is especially important for temperature-sensitive shipments like cold chain items and dangerous goods. According to the study: More than a third of logistics companies (36%) use IoT to monitor cold chain items and a third (33%) use IoT to monitor dangerous goods.Logistics companies are moving beyond traditional methods of route planning as the APAC region continues to feel the effects of Covid-19. Real-time events that happen daily can impact route planning and delivery times. Companies are considering logistics service delivery and asset tracking solutions to tackle these challenges. The white paper revealed that, about (77%) of respondents want to achieve better route planning and real-time routing. They also found that three quarters (75%) say they want the convenience of real-time vehicle tracking and data reporting. .

Simultaneously, despite their desire to make use of such technology, logistics firms often confront difficulties integrating new solutions with their existing infrastructure. To address this, businesses frequently resort to the cloud, with the data from the study indicating that logistics firms have a strong preference for cloud-based solutions. In the next two years, half of the respondents plan to implement cloud shipment monitoring solutions, while 27% plan to use a hybrid approach.