1. Introduction
"Digital transformation" has become a cliché across industries, even impacting traditional logistics. Despite numerous attempts from startups, major corporations, and even non-logistics global tech companies, there hasn't been a clear-cut success story in global logistics' digital transformation. Instead, news of startups facing liquidity issues raises concerns. Is digital logistics really the way forward?
2. Persistence of Challenges and Opportunities
Despite this, challenges persist. For instance, in 2023, major Korean IT companies like the three largest telecom companies and Kakao Mobility entered the freight transportation platform market. Why then are many still venturing into "digital logistics"? What possibilities are they envisioning? Alongside these reasons, the text outlines three trends in the 2024 digital logistics strategy. These insights are shared by Professor Song Sang-Hwa from Incheon National University's Northeast Asia Logistics Institute.
3. Exploration of Trends
Drawing from global logistics and IT companies such as UPS, XPO, Uber Freight, Flexport, and Amazon, the text forecasts the direction of digital logistics in 2024. The first trend is the spread of digital waves reaching SMEs, followed by digital services encompassing indirect costs beyond direct expenses. Lastly, the anticipation of a digital logistics alliance is discussed, detailing what each trend signifies.
4. Conclusion
While there isn't a definitive answer to digital logistics yet, the anticipated "expected value" of digital logistics hasn't diminished. The text suggests pondering the goals and focus of the ongoing endeavors toward digital logistics. It encourages understanding the fundamental value driving these efforts.
CHAPTER 1
If someone asks about the longstanding challenge in logistics, one could point to the synchronization of 'demand and supply.' Whether it's freight transportation, logistics center-based fulfillment, or forwarding, every logistics service needs sufficient logistics supply—infrastructure and networks—to handle customer demand proactively.