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