Imagine you’re stuck in agonizingly slow traffic. There’s nothing you can do but inch forward along with everyone else. Now imagine switching your car to auto pilot, leaning your seat back and tackling all those emails that filled up your inbox overnight. Or how about reading the newspaper or even taking a quick nap?
Although it might not sound so far-fetched nowadays, most of us still think scenarios like this are reserved for science-fiction movies. In reality, self-driving vehicles are already in use today in many industries. Moving onto public roads is the next evolutionary step.
Incredible potential for logistics
My Trend Research Team and I have just released our latest trend report, “Self-Driving Vehicles in Logistics”, which takes you on a ride into the world of driverless vehicles. We look at the key elements of the technology, shed light on a number of best practices already in use today in a variety of industries and reveal specific use cases along the logistics supply chain.
The logistics industry is one of the most ideal working environments for self-driving vehicles. And you can certainly say we’re early adopters because we’ve been using them for several years in some warehousing operations, and we’re integrating the advances more rapidly than many other industries.
Where else could we put the technology to use? I think autonomous vehicles could be effective in any enclosed area where goods are loaded and transported. And what about relatively isolated and remote outdoor locations where harsh conditions and long hours put human drivers at risk? Beyond that I also see potential in line-haul transportation and last-mile delivery. And, well, further down the road the sky is the limit!
That said, considerable catching up is still required in terms of regulations, public acceptance, and liability. But once these things are in place, the trend will really be ready to hit the roads.
Buckle up and join the ride
We’re taking a front seat on this drive down the roads of the future. Together with our partners and customers, we are working to be an innovative forerunner in the world of self-driving vehicles.
Join us on the journey. Download our full report and let us know what you think in the comments below. Or reach out to us if you’re interested in talking about these technologies with us.
DHL Logistics Trend Radar
Self-Driving Vehicles in Logistics is the latest in a series of reports developed by DHL Trend Research, a dedicated unit that focuses on researching, analyzing, and ultimately leveraging new trends in the logistics industry. This trend was identified by DHL along with other developments in its annually updated Logistics Trend Radar – a document that assesses the impact of social and business trends and technology drivers in the logistics industry.