In recent times, the logistics industry has moved to the forefront of everyone’s attention. This can be attributed to events like the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact on the transportation of goods, services, and people; and the Suez Canal incident, which became a hot topic for jokes and memes amongst younger generations on the internet. 

 

This podcast is a deep dive into the state of the logistics industry, analyzing different perspectives on how professionals and the C-suite can help bring the global supply chain to its full potential with the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 

Capturing the Human Element of Tech Innovation

 

In the simplest words, logistics has always been described as the act of bringing something from point A to point B. However, there is plenty more to discover beneath the surface. 

 

The increased number of nodes across the supply chain that contribute to the end product, the additional pressure to make transportation more efficient, and a world that continues to demand for more from international suppliers pressure the industry to continuously reinvent. While it is inspirational to see that the pace of technological innovation is accommodating these concerns, our discussion dares to ask: does this pace make room for the human element?

 

The human element of tech innovation refers to whether we are capable of maximizing the potential of gadgets, processes, and standards. It’s a concern that consistently pops up for big data across different industries: the capacity of businesses to make the most out of these silos.

 

How Can Logistics Professionals Push for Change

 

Adopting modern technologies can be difficult because of the initial learning curve. It will, inevitably, disrupt the way that certain processes and workflows have been carried out for decades. In some cases, entire occupations may be rendered obsolete. The reality is that there is still some resistance to making this transition because not many people see the importance of bearing this temporary disruption to get the long-term benefits.

 

“You can create new technologies but unless people choose to adopt it, it’s not going to do anything fantastic.” Alex pointed out..

 

Ruben Huber mused over the possibility of careers in logistics taking on a more consultative aspect. This would be part of their efforts to bridge the gap between the dearth of knowledge offered by big data in the industry, and their clients.

 

“We need to be more than just transporters of cargo from A to B. I always see this in our industry as an opportunity to do a lot more,’ he explained, “It’s very true that we still do things like we used to do them instead of questioning it.

 

Dare to Question Status Quo

 

Malcolm Mclean was a truck driver who was sitting at the port and started wondering why he had to wait ten hours for cargo to get offloaded from the ship. He eventually worked on developing this line of inquiry into a full-fledged business idea— one that is credited to have revolutionized the shipping industry.

 

To put this in the perspective of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it’s not just about how labor is going to get disrupted by these technologies. It’s also a call for people to come together as a global community so that the technologies can be utilized to solve real world problems.

 

Closing Thoughts

 

As the pandemic continues, we continue to be bombarded by new and exciting ways to restructure the way we work.

 

The globalized economy we are privileged to experience today is built on the foundations of a supply chain that stretches across multiple countries. Businesses and corporations source all their raw materials and labor from beyond their geopolitical borders, as part of their efforts to provide the end products and services that we enjoy on a regular basis.

 

With so much emphasis on delivering these goods to the communities that need them, it is safe to say that logistics and the supply chain are people-oriented industries. It will be important to continue optimizing technologies and making the most out of big data. In addition, everybody must be transparent and made to understand the process so that a mutual understanding is fostered towards that common goal of progress for humanity as a whole.

 

What’s your data worth? www.tartle.co

 

TCAST is brought to you by TARTLE. A global personal data marketplace that allows users to sell their personal information anonymously when they want to, while allowing buyers to access clean ready to analyze data sets on digital identities from all across the globe.

 

The show is hosted by Co-Founder and Source Data Pioneer Alexander McCaig and Head of Conscious Marketing Jason Rigby.

 

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