Logistics, like many other sectors, has had to adapt to the constant changes in the business world due to digital transformation, which promotes the acquisition of new technologies, and in this regard, Big Data already plays a relevant role. Currently, the logistics sector is betting on incorporating technological platforms that help manage the large volume of data to improve, among other things, efficiency and effectiveness in the supply chain.
But what are the benefits of this transformation? Taking into account that through the measurement of logistics processes, detailed information can be obtained on the current situation and how to act, since Big Data allows trends, failures and behaviors to be detected, the benefits are the following:
- Efficient control of the company’s assets, for example, the fleet of vehicles, products in stock, stored raw materials, among others. In this way, distribution processes are optimized, considerably reducing costs and organization times.
- Data mining enables more efficient service and lower costs by helping to reduce inventory and optimize company assets.
- Real-time route optimization. Customers demand a very short delivery period and companies must adapt to achieve this. It consists of finding the route that represents the lowest cost, both economically and in terms of time, to deliver a series of orders that are located in a certain area.
- Demand segmentation. With the analyzed customer data, it is possible to determine what their needs are, what products they use or are interested in. Likewise, with this information, current merchandise could be redesigned, providing them with personalized features according to their tastes.
- If the available products and machines, as well as the rest of the resources, are adequately monitored, this data can be managed in real time in order to detect possible failures that may be occurring, know the current status of the machinery and schedule a preventive maintenance plan to keep it operational.
- Definition of product and service costs. Likewise, it is possible to predict what the demand for each item will be, thus being able to satisfy the needs of consumers.
- Ultimately, all the data collected will allow us to better understand the customer and identify their needs, which will help us to offer a better service, adjusting costs and being more profitable.
Summarizing the most important aspects, it can be said that Big Data provides different solutions to the different problems that logistics processes present and its application means a significant optimization of the industry. If companies incorporate these new technologies into their work dynamics, the supply chain will be more profitable and a better purchasing experience will be offered to the customer.
