The advent of the Internet of Things and smart technology has expanded the responsibilities of logistics providers. Here are the top challenges that the industry will face in 2017:
1. Rapidly Changing Delivery Orders
More and more customers are demanding a greater window of time to change orders. With better transport facilities, companies are in a position to fulfill that demand. Now the question is, just how much time can reasonably be given to customers to change the details of their order without costing the company an arm and a leg?
The window of time may shrink from 10 days to a day or less in 2017, and logistics providers will have to accommodate this change as best as they can.
2. Full Transparency
An increased demand for complete transparency will be seen in 2017. The entire cycle of delivery, from getting the raw material, turning it into a finished product to delivering it will need to be accounted for in real time. Each detail about the order and its associated item level will need to be shown to customers to satisfy their desire to oversee every aspect of the transaction.
3. Global Customer Base
Globalization means the solutions you offer will need to be tailored to accommodate customers under different government regulations for different countries, in addition to other challenges at the ground level.
4. Global Competition
Having a global customer base may result in greater opportunities to do business, but you will also have to contend with competitors from other countries who offer the same services that you do, and often at reduced rates if the company resides in a developing country with lower costs of living.
