Technology will continue to transform the surface transportation market in 2019, making new transportation tools available and allowing for more robust data analysis. Data flowing to industry stakeholders has already found a place in advanced analytics, and this can be a significant competitive advantage for savvy supply chain companies that partner with a provider that transforms data into actionable information.
The most obvious new source of data for carriers is the electronic logging device (ELD) program, and carriers will continue to refine their operations based on the influx of feedback they receive from their drivers’ devices. But shippers are also using analytics in conjunction with real-time visibility data to identify shipping bottlenecks. Visibility from today’s technology solutions allows them to estimate when shipments will arrive at the intended destination with greater certainty. Shipment visibility will only improve, as the technology gets more robust.
With unfettered access to information comes data overload. The expanding cloud of data floating through the supply chain will only become larger in 2019. Companies that aren’t prepared for the technological future risk being enveloped by a thick fog of information. These companies need intelligent systems that leverage the data to create tangible business solutions.
Change is the one constant in transportation technology. Rapid advancements in technology are changing the industry for the better, and it’s important for supply chain companies to partner with a trusted technology solutions provider. These partners need to be stable and trustworthy but should also have a well-fashioned growth plan that makes strategic sense but can adapt as the industry changes. It’s difficult to predict what new technologies are coming down the pipeline, so a company’s adaptability and the ability to change course quickly is an extremely important attribute for any company creating technology products.