Monday, March 18, 2013

Big Data in the Logistics Industry

Big Data in the Logistics Industry


In this article Sundar Swaminathan writes about the effects of big data in the logistics industry.  He believes that data will be a new source of competitive advantage for shippers, third-party logistics providers, and carriers. He begins the article with an overview of how data has growing in the last decade, and how it will continue to grow through the next decade. Decision makers can gain new insights on their customers, operations, and partner networks.

Swaminathan writes about how not only is data being generated faster, we are able to get unprecedented levels of real time visibility through mobile devices.  He refers to several data sources that are supplying real time supply-chain data. 

The Council of Supply Chain Management defines logistics as “the part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services and related information”  Swaminathan informs the audience that Electronic On Board Recorders (EOBRs) in trucks, RF tags, and personal hand held devices have an increasing impact on the data available to logistics professionals. He provides a chart of new technologies and how they will have an impact on logistics.



The new technologies that are becoming available must be embraced by the logistics industries.  Processes need to be reinvented to further accommodate and take advantage of the new technologies. 



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