source: http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/profit/opinion/021512-sswaminathan-1523937.html
Big data has shown that it can change an industry and it proves to do the same for third party logistics. So what does logistics mean? Logistics can mean a lot of things. Mainly it contains the section of supply chain management business that controls, implements and plans the transportation of goods and its efficiency in doing it. It also accounts for the storage of items and goods and services between salesmen and customers. Big data gives shippers, 3PLs (third party logistics), and carriers a whole new advantage over their market. Companies that use big data in the correct ways will get increased visibility of future opportunities.
Below are some ideas and applications of Big Data analytics in Logistics:
Source | Opportunity |
| Weblogs | Patterns that customers show when shopping at certain times of the year |
| Trailer tags | Insight into the times of which trucks arrive/leave and finding reasons for delay |
| Pallet/Case/SKU tags | Insight into the times of which packages arrive/leave and finding reasons for delay |
| Electronic on-board recorder | Insights into travel times, load/unload times, and driver hours |
| Mobile devices | Insights into mobile application usage by customers, partners, and employees |
| Social platforms | Customer insight —who “likes” your products, who has advocated your products, who has issues, and what their issues are |
Large parcel companies are/have been using big data to improve their efficiencies. These companies, such as UPS and Federal Express, use the applications listed above, as well as others to collect data. Monitoring this information can lead to a great deal of insight. They can then interpret and use this data to learn, for example, traffic tendencies in specific cities at specific times or dates. They use this information to determine time per delivery. This can then be used to determine how many trucks they need on the road in these areas to complete deliveries on time.
ReplyDeleteThis is just one example of how parcel companies use big data to improve their businesses. The possibilities are great in number.