Introduction
Client satisfaction is the major concern for any business activity as it is the key factor of its profit. Consumer needs can be met on the condition that the product is cleverly developed, properly manufactured, and promptly delivered. As far as the main logistics’ function is to connect these processes, the challenges of this sphere are crucially important for successful enterprising. Logistics trends are carefully studied and improved (Waters & Rinsler, 2014). Among the current business and social trends in logistics, one can point out the development of real-time services and urban logistics.
Main body
The appearance of the real-time services trend is motivated by the urgent necessity of the adaption to the altering conditions of supply chains optimization. Nowadays, one requires the supply chain to be visible and transparent. Thus, the introduction of real-time services is of great current interest. Such services are supposed to provide cycles of data so that the customer can receive full information about a transporting operation at every stage of its completion. Apart from the tracking function, the services are also aimed at decreasing any risk possibility. Due to the opportunity to interfere in the transformation process at any moment, one is enabled to avoid such incidents as the goods recall or the violation of the temperature control. The described trend seems to be highly promising as it is beneficial both for the provider and the customer. On the one hand, the transparent process of the real-time services offered helps the provider to control the transportation at every stage and to introduce alterations in it if necessary. On the other hand, the services prevent the customer from the breach of his requirements. Nevertheless, the realization of the trend is apt to meet some challenges. First of all, the big volume of data requires the employment of new specialists for its analysis. Secondly, the provision of complete transportation tracking is apt to demand considerable investments in the first instance (Logistics Trend Radar, 2013).
The introduction of urban logistics in the twenty-first century is primarily connected with the population’s tendency to be concentrated in urban areas. The density of the traffic as opposed to the growing demand for goods. The customer wants the product to be delivered at home in the shortest time possible. Therefore, urban logistics tries to solve the key problems relevant to the transportation process in cities. One of the principal ideas of this trend is to realize the consolidation of the supply stream resources such as medical care, retail, and various convenience services to optimize both delivery and demand. Another point the trend implies is the extended usage of the city infrastructure for additional purposes of logistics. Thus, an inner garage can be turned into a warehouse or a distribution center. Although urban logistics is likely to be beneficial for a customer, its realization will be rather troublesome due to several factors. To begin with, urban resources consolidation implies collaboration with the local authorities. Moreover, the employment of the modern city’s infrastructure is problematic without extra funding (Logistics Trend Radar, 2013).
Conclusion
The logistics challenges under discussion require prompt solutions and innovative approaches. The questions they are connected with are complex and profound. However, in case all the contributory problems are solved the logistics field will obtain an entire series of improvements of the transportation process that will have a considerable impact on its speed, quality, and transparency.
References
Logistics Trend Radar. (2013). Web.
Waters, D. & Rinsler, S. (2014). Global Logistics: New Directions in Supply Chain Management. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Kogan Page Limited.