Innovations in logistics are constantly evolving and changing into faster, more reliable, and easier-to-use versions of themselves to keep up with the demands of modern time. Sustainability has become a top priority for organizations targeting the ever-growing logistics market. For many of us, it is impressive to see how fast orders and requests of consumers are processed and delivered on time. However, from an ecological perspective, the immense amount of wastes and carbon emissions generated for the sake of fast deliveries will make you question, is receiving your package within two days worth it?
The situation is not as bad as it seems. The ongoing advancements focusing on sustainable development have made it easier to find and use environment-friendly, cost-effective solutions for fast-track orders. Many organizations have shifted their focus towards strategic-sustainable development, especially during the pandemic. Achieving sustainable logistics is not a perfect world ideology anymore. It is relatively realistic and an unspoken prerequisite for the transportation and fleet management industry. Here are some ways to incorporate sustainable logistics in your organization without having to cut down on profits or costs.
A Win-Win Warehousing System
Upgrading your warehousing system to a smarter, cost-effective one is a must-use way of achieving sustainable logistics. With pop-up warehouses, you can considerably reduce carbon emissions and also reach closer to the customers. Pop-up warehouses can also be seen as an opportunity to combine onsite retails and pick-up points, eliminating shipping costs from your budget. Moreover, this also helps mitigate supply chain disruptions, further leading to reduced delivery time and cost.
Another flexible solution is on-demand warehousing. Online brands in need of temporary space connect with available warehouses. It is also ideal for companies that do not need a permanent space and need warehousing storage occasionally. It saves them a lot of capital and expenses otherwise spent on investing in storage spaces and maintaining them. On-demand warehousing is a very affordable option for new businesses and assures the best possible ways of sustainable warehousing from the get-go.
End-to-End Visibility
Some logistic providers allow you to track the movement of your order in real-time. The customers can always be sure when their orders reach them and tweak the delivery time to their availability and convenience beforehand. Besides, it makes the process less stressful for the customer while also eliminating wasteful travel, thereby reducing the carbon footprint generated by the delivery.
Crowdsource Delivery
Crowd Shipping Technology, also known as crowdsourced delivery, is popular amongst online food delivery vendors. Given its success in this niche, it has now also found a foothold in the e-commerce industry. Crowdsource delivery involves making use of bulk goods and delivering at a faster pace. The entire method relies on a network of local couriers to dispatch orders. Crowdsource delivery is slowly becoming a popular choice owing to its cost-effectiveness and the independence it offers the customers.
Usage of Drones
Drones are a valuable asset to the logistics industry. They reduce cost and time by a great deal due to their accessibility to remote areas. In the future, with more advancements, drones can replace conventional methods of door-step delivery and prove to be comparatively suitable. Drones ease the transition of shipment to delivery and can reach all sorts of regions irrespective of their rural or urban nature.
Geolocation Technology
Geolocation has helped the e-commerce industry in various operations for quite some time. Apart from the order and supply tracking, geolocation tech helps optimize the supply chain processes and improves the quality of work presented to the customer.
Geolocation has become essential for efficient inventory processing. Businesses can easily track the quantity of material, where it is stored, how it has been stored, and more. Geolocation also supports you to improve your product allocation strategies by helping you keep a tab on inventory levels over different fulfillment locations in real-time.
Alternative Fuel Options
One of the best ways to be ecologically and socially sustainable is to replace old vehicles with newer environmental-friendly options. Scientists, researchers, and governments are working rigorously towards replacing fossil fuels with biofuel, solar, and wind energy compatible options. There are many affordable and reliable alternatives, also known as green options, such as sea shipping and hybrid vehicles that can deliver products instead of those running on diesel and petrol.
Nowadays, logistic companies employ GPS-enabled fleet management and tracking solutions. These solutions offer real-time location that helps in planning routes more efficiently. They also provide insightful reports on vehicle diagnostics, engine and tire maintenance, and fuel usage, which can be effectively used to keep fleets of all kinds green and eco-friendly. Maintaining the optimal pressure in tires is also a neat way of controlling fuel consumption. With the use of sensors, the driver can keep a check on the pressure of the tires. Well-maintained engines and tires can reduce fuel consumption by 12 percent at least and also extend their life.
Another alternative to this is the use of auto-gear vehicles. However, the application of electronic vehicles for the supply chain industry is still in the trial phase. With the rapid growth in tech innovations, auto-vehicles will be a feasible alternative. Several industries that depend on transportation and logistics are hopeful of the increased efficiency and speed this tech can bring.
Yard Logistics
Yard logistics are used to run logistical operations smoothly with higher throughput and minimal ecological impact. Businesses use fleet management systems with yard logistics to minimize the gap between warehousing and transportation. It is integral to the supply chain process. Using yard logistics economically results in cutting down cost, time, transport, labor, and carbon emissions.
Cloud Computing Solutions
Via e-commerce, you can divulge into multichannel retailing sales channels. At the click of a finger, you can expand your geographical reach on a global scale without having to spend a bomb of money. This includes low capital technology advancements that record, analyze and summarise data with ease. Cloud computing also allows you to keep track of your supply in real-time, allowing vendors to outsource fulfillment while also being able to maintain control and oversight.
Using sustainable logistical methods is an essential step to reaching carbon neutrality. Replacing conventional methods and using environmentally friendly alternatives improve supply chain management and enhance the quality of output delivered.
