Changing times in logistics
Our entire economy, production, commerce and trade hinges on smooth logistics and efficient transhipment. Goods and merchandise need to be moved quickly and efficiently. Logistics adapts to the demands and progress in industry, commerce and trade.
The change can be best illustrated by the example of containerisation.
- Containers switch mode of transport quickly and easily in multimodal traffic (on water, rail, road). Not all factories have access to a railroad or port. Even remote, more rural areas have to be accessible for all kinds of containers.
- Similar goods can be shipped and trained inexpensively from A to B in an environmentally friendly way. At the latest on reaching the container terminal, individual shipments become bulk cargo. Goods are shipped in an eco-friendly combination of sea and rail.
- The supply chain can be slowed or accelerated as required by different means of transport and transit, thus unlocking new possibilities in logistics. Warehousing or storage is in motion.
- Containers offer straightforward solutions, also for shorthaul inland traffic.
- Contrary to the general opinion, containers can be quickly identified on all sides by the standard ISO labelling. All information such as country of origin, owner, size and many other relevant pieces of information can be gleaned from the letter and number codes on every container.
As a trimodal transhipment platform Stuttgart Port offers all the prerequisites for meeting the constant flow of new requirements in the logistics sector.
„Stuttgart Port guarantees mobility for goods and merchandise.“
Carsten Strähle
Managing Director
of Hafen Stuttgart GmbH
Fleetboard Vehicle Lens: the app recognises the van registration plate per live image detection. In each case, the relevant information is superimposed per augmented reality at the
right place on the van.
Mothership concept by Mercedes-Benz Vans and Starship Technologies: Sprinter with eight robots as a mobile loading and transport hub.
„Thanks to new technology our vision of end-to-end transport is coming onto the horizon“
Stefan Buchner
Head of Vans Mercedes-Benz
The Daimler Fleetboard brand sets standards in networked and digital solutions for commercial vehicles.
Fleetboard has developed into one of the most successful and innovative providers worldwide. Big Data, IoT (Internet of Things), cloud solutions and artificial intelligence now broaden the basis for new practical business ideas and models. Fleetboard aims to generate verifiable added value through practical networking products to enhance the profitability of all players in the logistics sector.
Along with HERE, Fleetboard co-developed a new application using big data to evaluate the various data of a truck fleet like parking, loading or unloading times in a user-friendly manner and clearly visualise the results. Thanks to the cooperation with HERE, Fleetboard was able to analyse the individual fleet utilisation across Europe and show companies exactly which routes are uneconomical as the trucks running on them are not filled to capacity.
„As a mobile hub the transporter dramatically increases the operational
range of the robots while eliminating the immense costs involved in building and running distributed warehouses.“
Volker Mornhinweg
Leiter Mercedes-Benz Vans
Mercedes-Benz Vans drives change in the transport sector
As part of its strategic future initiative adVANce, Mercedes-Benz Vans participates in Starship Technologies, the world’s leading start-up company for developing ground auto-drive delivery robots. As lead investor, Mercedes-Benz Vans’ share of the financing amounts to EUR 16.5 million (convertible loan).
The two companies already presented the so-called mothership concept in September 2016. The concept combines the benefits of a transporter with those of an auto-drive delivery robot. Presented as a sprinter, the eight robots form a mobile loading and transport hub. By smart linking of delivery processes it will be able to substantially increase logistics efficiency in the future to go that extra mile.