TRANSPORTATION PARCEL EXPRESS
BY AMBAFLEX | WWW.AMBAFLEX.COM
As the market leader in spiral conveyorsin the logistic industry we think of solutionsfor handling cases & SKU’s. It’s whatwe do. At AmbaFlex it’s not just aboutbuilding the right equipment, it’s aboutdeveloping a special solution for you.Here’s to spiral conveying.
Spiral elevators for goods-to-man systems,picking modules and sorting systems.
Spiral conveying. Straight up!
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26 DC VELOCITY JUNE 2020 www.dcvelocity.comeven lower cost,” he notes. “That will change the mindsetof people pushing to work from home. There are benefits toa company from employees coming together at the office.”
A TECHNOLOGY WAKEUP CALL
Technology necessarily will play a critical role as well, helping all freight transportation firms adapt and adjust to whatever the “new normal” ends up being. For some, the currentsituation has been a technology “wakeup call,” says Bart DeMuynck, research vice president, transportation technologyfor research firm Gartner Inc.
Transportation management systems that can easily interface with warehousing and e-commerce ordering and fulfillment systems—and particularly, help with digitization offreight-tendering practices—are in high demand.
“I have never heard somany companies come tous and ask about electronic bills of lading,”shares De Muynck.
Volatility in demand,delivery patterns, freightmix, capacity, pricing,and service levels as wellas the impact of socialdistancing all are stressing the effectiveness ofthe technologies currently deployed by both shippers and parcel carriers.And it’s uncovering gapsthat need to be filled, DeMuynck observes.
“Now, truckers don’twant to come out of theirtrucks or touch paper, sothat is creating a new need for a different process, one wheretechnology plays an even larger role,” he notes. These trendsand behaviors “won’t completely reverse when we come outof the pandemic. And that means we will have to have better,easier-to-use technology” that is mobile-based, intuitive,and easier to install and implement.
The message for shippers and carriers: Prepare for moreinvestment in newer technology to keep up. “It will be aninteresting time for parcel carriers, domestic retailers, andtransportation technology firms,” De Muynck says, citingthree keys to success: 1) effectively handling increasingvolumes, 2) providing the best end-to-end customer experience, and 3) lowering costs to stay competitive.
“E-commerce volumes will only continue to grow in thedouble digits. But there needs to be more collaboration inthe future between [retailers, carriers, and technology] market players,” he advises. “With this growth, there is enoughpie to go around for everyone.” ;
