Three trends shaping the autonomous delivery industry
Freight shipping methods look very different than they did ten years ago. Same-hour, same-day and next-day delivery are the new normal. The changes stem from a worldwide increase in e-commerce penetration and a decline of in-person shopping trips. With no sign of slowing down, distribution professionals need to invest in autonomous delivery technology.
With more people waiting for their packages at home, driving distribution experts are investing in autonomous delivery technology to handle the demand.
Autonomous vehicles will need to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to be successful. But creating the mix of public and private infrastructure necessary to support such advanced AI is no simple task. Those responsible for keeping things running smoothly need instantaneous visibility and flexibility.
Will you be ready? With autonomous delivery making its way to consumer doorsteps, here’s what you need to know – and how you can prepare for the new distribution ecosystem.
Segmentation is mandatory
From 2008 to 2017, e-commerce penetration more than tripled to 16 percent in the UK, according to a 2018 KPMG autonomous vehicle report. With no sign of online transactions slowing down, delivery leaders need to adjust to remain competitive.
Changes in consumer shopping behavior present new ways to understand and serve delivery markets. KPMG predicts these markets will segment into three different layers: same-hour, same-day and next-day delivery. One way to execute on varying needs is with predictive software. It makes anticipating needs and delivering without delay possible.
Robots will deliver
In 2040, robots will perform one-off deliveries and carry packages from autonomous vehicles to the door or from source to destination. These bots must be designed, built and scaled. In addition, the industry will need to implement public infrastructure, such as sidewalk sensors, and charging units, to conduct deliveries safely and predictably. Another challenge is the management of data throughout this ecosystem to enable these robots. Cloud and edge data center infrastructure is necessary for the reliable, low-latency transfer of data to allow for real-time actions.
Custom infrastructure, hardware, and vehicles are necessary for an autonomous future. This can be implemented through customized autonomous mobility, cloud and edge solutions.
Edge expertise required
Regionalized cloud data centers and edge computing enable robots, vehicles and IoT devices to communicate and operate in real time.
Investments start now
Successful retailers specialize their offerings and create a custom experience for customers – both in-store and online. That experience now extends to delivery.
It’s only a matter of time before autonomy rules the road.
