As a whole, material handling is a constantly evolving industry. New technologies, new ideas, new practices, and new innovations emerge on a daily basis. Digitized trucking is where convention logistics meets the edge of tomorrow. This creation is literally changing the logistics game. Are you are interested in this phenomenon but are unsure of how it will impact your business? Are you unsure of how this will apply directly to your forklift fleet? Well the good news is there are many benefits and tremendous upside.
Appropriate utilization, enhanced efficiency, and fostered integration are three of the most notable impacts digitized trucking can make in your material handling operations. Here is how:
- Higher Rates of Utilization – One of the biggest sources of operational bottlenecks for many enterprises is inappropriate rates of utilization. However, digitized trucking changes all of that. These programs and regimes introduce and implement cutting-edge supply chain platforms, such as SAP. These applications establish and retain connections with forklift trucks in disseminating and communicating details regarding contents and destination. There is also the possibility that pertinent data such as hazardous materials and MSDS can also be disclosed to these vehicles, seamlessly. In doing so, the appropriate vehicles are selected for the right task and there is a host of ergonomic upside in installing digitized trucking. As has been covered previously, one of the biggest sources of losses for any business is the unbalanced use of appliances and selecting the wrong vehicle for the task.
- Higher Integration of Logistics – Emerging advancements in technology such as the use of digitized trucking promote an increase in the integration of trucks in the logistics chain. In fact, digitized trucking enables vehicles to be primed with real-time data on shipping needs, estimated arrival times of shipments, and external information regarding departure times to factories, warehouses, and customers. In doing so, these integrations assure all deliveries are executed in a timely manner while also offering complete transparency to external stakeholders. Many of these integrations have been seen in some of the leading organizations of shipping, such as UPS. This affords customers more flexibility in that they can remotely track the location of goods, products, and materials. Furthermore, key performance indicators and metrics are available to identify areas of improvement to existing processes and protocols. Digitized trucking puts the entire supply chain at anyone’s fingertips.
- Enhanced Efficiency – It is no surprise that digitized trucking enhances and boosts efficiency and productivity. From both micro and macro level perspectives, these practices adopt trendy material handling practices into daily operations. Furthermore, these ideologies promote an advanced business acumen. Kaizen, LEAN, and Six Sigma are some of the trendiest procurement, logistic, and supply chain management schools of thought in the industry today. Digitized trucking takes these ideas on board and institutes them into the functions and duties of material handling applications. With an emphasis on cost reduction, inventory optimization, and safety awareness, efficiency and productivity are bound to soar through the ceiling with digitized trucking.
This story was written by Tom Reddon. Tom is a forklift specialist and blog manager for the National Forklift Exchange. He also sits on the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) Executive Dialogue team. Follow him on Twitter at @TomReddon.
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