Legal basis:
Not applicable.
Relevance for the logistic market:
The technological improvement and pending usage of 3D printers in the manufacturing process is expected to decrease transport and vehicle performance by reducing the distances due to the division of labour;
The discussion about if and to what extent 3D printing will influence the global economy ranges from expecting the “third industrial revolution” at the upper end to “no major influence” at the lower end. What is sure is that 3D printing is not expected to become a common sight in the next few years, but will certainly influence the logistics sector to some degree, although there are still some issue to be solved such as the high costs of materials and processes, as well as copyright.
Information and communication technologies (Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS))
Description:
Information and communication technologies (ICT) related to transport and logistics are of crucial importance, and a basic prerequisite of ensuring further improvement of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Information and communication technologies can easily be defined as a key element of our time, both for business and private life. ICT was one prerequisite of globalisation and is now fundamental for every aspect of today's life. In fact there are some main areas in which ICT plays a major role for logistics and manufacturing. It is obvious that ICT has a cross-sectional character, relevant for several logistic strategies, which becomes apparent even more when looking at the amount of influencing logistic strategies.
Legal basis:
Directive 2010/40/EU91 on the ‘framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport’, establishes a framework of deployment and use of ITS within the EU, in particular across Member State borders, and sets out the general conditions necessary for that purpose;
COM (2008) 88692 ‘Action plan for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in Europe’ (non-binding) accelerates and coordinates the deployment of ITS in road transport, including interfaces with other transport models;
COM (2007) 60793 ‘Freight Transport Logistics Action Plan’ (non-binding) (c.f. chapter 4).
Relevance for the logistic market:
Planning tools: Companies, shippers and logistics service providers have to make various decisions on different timescales in order to run their businesses. For the support of the decision process, several IT tools have been developed;
ICT in transportation/logistics: Transportation, on the other hand, has evolved from transporting goods from A to B towards an information-based flow of valuables from A to B. Information is - aside from transportation - one of the most important elements in a competitive market for logistics service providers;
Supporting technologies: The group of supporting technologies covers applications like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), barcode, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), magnetic inks, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), voice recognition, touch memory as well as smart cards;
Within ITS, the important technologies concern various systems related to many areas of traffic and transport as regards management, safety, information provision and monitoring. With the ever-growing complexity of logistic chains and numerous partners involved, a smooth, common information system (e.g. tracking and tracing tools) becomes a pre-condition for managing the whole transport and logistic chain. This becomes even more important, since information systems increase transport safety, and facilitate customs procedures and short-term capacity planning at the transhipment points (in the case of multimodal transport chains).
R&D and innovative solutions for logistics
Description:
Contrary to the common misconception of logistics as a simple transport service, where only low innovation potential is assigned, the logistic industry is obliged to constantly improve its processes. In particular, innovations in cargo handling, storage systems and packaging, and innovative business models within the supply chain, are daily business for the logistic industry;
The Commission has been and is supporting innovative solutions along the supply chain through specific programmes (e.g. Marco Polo, Connecting Europe Facility or Horizon 2020);
Top innovators amongst the LSP are able to increase the EBIT margins by an average of 8.5%, while all shippers and logistic service providers are potentially able to reduce logistics costs by 7% to 14%95. Innovation management systems are expected to significantly improve the delivery reliability and delivery time. To gain such benefits, the top innovators within LSP and shippers concentrate their innovation activities on method- and process-related improvements as well as technological improvements. Adaptability and flexibility of logistics systems and networks have the highest potential within logistics innovation efforts. Innovative measures concerning cooperation across the supply chain are considered to be crucially important for the realisation of improvement potentials. Furthermore, virtual reality and automated controls (agent systems, RFID) have been identified as the most important growth areas for innovation.
Legal basis:
Not applicable.
Relevance for the logistic market:
Given the relatively low net margins in this business, constant investments in innovative logistic processes can be seen as leverage for creating competitive advantages for logistics service providers. Thus, companies with an effective and efficient innovation management system can significantly decrease their logistics costs;