The shipping industry has always been committed to maximum efficiency, trying to move with the times. As technology changes, the world of shipping is changing with it. Today, customers are purchasing more products online than ever before. However, they still demand faster turnaround on handling and shipping times. So, what are the recent technological innovations that influence the ways shipping service providers interact with the customers?
How is technology changing the shipping industry?
- Eco-friendly ships
It goes without saying that shipping by sea is the most popular method of transporting goods, with more than 80% of world trade carried by ships. Today, with the tremendously increasing environmental problems at the global level, professional shipping companies are constantly looking for new ways to make their industry as eco-friendly as possible. As a result, more and more ships are now using indigenous sources of energy, such as the wind.
- Autonomous shipping vehicles
Another significant innovation in the shipping industry is the move toward autonomous ships and trucks. The biggest step forward for autonomous vehicles is self-driving technology. Besides, companies are developing real-time control centers, which enables managing the crew aboard the ship. Such a control center also increases the safety of the crew by having someone who can alert in case any issues occur.
- Robotic processing systems
Once the cargo is delivered, employees are supposed to find certain items among the myriad shelves in the warehouse. This, understandably, presupposes wasting a lot of time and energy of the workers. For this reason, some shipping and warehousing companies prefer using robots for solving this kind of problem in an efficient manner.
- Drone deliveries
One of the most significant benefits of drone deliveries is that they considerably reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. Besides, this innovative type of delivery has a great potential to overcome the challenges of accessing distant areas or difficult geographical locations. Furthermore, drone technology can sufficiently bring down the cost of shipping in general.
- Doorstep delivery
When you are buying something online, you are most likely getting it delivered to your doorstep. With the increasing popularity of online shops, this delivery practice steadily continues to grow, and the demand for reliable and fast courier services grows with it. Purchasing online is now simple and comfortable as never before.
- New inventions in train freighting
Older modeled freight trains take a back seat in the shipping industry due to the high cost of fuel and the significant carbon footprint. With modern technologies and better infrastructure, trains are going to have a sort of renaissance in the shipping industry by managing faster delivery routes, reducing the number of trucks on the roads, and providing cost-effective transportation options for various goods.
- Online tracking
It is needless to say that providing the customers with an opportunity of tracking means providing them with a sense of confidence about the security of their priceless possessions. Therefore, it is completely impossible to overemphasize the significance of such technology today, especially taking into account that any unpredictable delay in shipping may lead to customer dissatisfaction and even financial loss.
Hence, the advancements in technology are changing the world and transforming the shipping industry with its constantly increasing customer demands for fast deliveries. Whether it will be new machines to deliver goods or improvement of the processes that already exist, be ready to meet a number of exciting possibilities in the world of shipping!
