Introduction
Transportation Analytics in a supply chain refers to the movement of products from one point to another. It starts at the beginning of the supply chain when supplies arrive at the warehouse and goes to the end-user when the customer’s order is delivered right to their door. Because of its importance, warehouse managers should investigate transportation in their supply chains. In the end, this is the only method to cut total expenses in a scenario where transportation can account for up to 60% of total operational costs or a significant amount of a company’s supply chain costs. Few activities in the supply chain have as much of an impact on business as transportation selection. Delivery techniques ensure that deliveries to and from the business go smoothly and reach their destinations on time. Because transportation is crucial to the company’s performance, it is critical to incorporate it into the supply chain management strategy. Transportation is regarded as one of the three essential components of supply chain management because of its importance.
Transportation analytics rapidly power mobility information and insights, altering transportation planning by making vital data collection and understanding more accessible, faster, cheaper, and safer. Cities, transit agencies, transportation departments, and other entities increasingly turn to transportation analytics to solve challenges, prioritize investments, and gain stakeholder support.
The transportation analytics market was worth USD 15.65 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to USD 77.33 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 22.10 percent from 2022 to 2029. Because of its ability to simplify commercial and personal transportation, Predictive Analytics accounts for the most prominent type of segment in the corresponding industry.
Usage of Transportation Analytics
Big data is heavily used in supply chain management to evaluate operational hazards, improve communication, secure proprietary data, and improve supply chain accessibility. This data is used by industries in a variety of ways, including predictive analytics and the creation of more efficient cloud-based platforms.
Usage of Transportation Analytics
Predictive Analytics
Data mining, statistics, and machine learning are used in predictive analytics to assess future supply demands, inventory, and customer behavior. Companies use predictive analytics and machine learning to forecast future physical hazards in the supply chain and financial, customer, and other operational risks.
Cloud-Based Platforms
Cloud technology will be critical in the future of transportation and supply chain management. It can help lower costs by reducing the influence of physical/geographic barriers, merging, and replacing various in-person processes, mitigating some of the consequences of market swings, and consolidating and replacing various in-person processes. Optimized data, on the other hand, is critical to the success of cloud-based platforms. Data must be effectively recorded, transmitted, and used to profit from cloud technology fully.
Cloud storage has its own set of security concerns. As more businesses and industries migrate to the cloud, fraudsters will find the technology increasingly appealing. In addition to the protections provided by cloud providers, businesses should always examine what security measures are needed. Larger companies also often use many cloud providers across their operations. Companies must have solid policies for preferred vendors, best practices, and the involvement of internal IT teams in this situation.
Role of Transportation Analytics Professionals
The growth of e-commerce has led to higher expectations on speed, agility, and visibility. Manufacturers, merchants, and consumers have pushed transportation and warehousing companies to develop quickly to meet ever-increasing service demands. Transportation management is evolving thanks to supply chain technology fueled by data and analytics—these practical tools aid businesses in being more educated, efficient, and long-lasting.
Role of Transportation Analytics Professionals
Monitoring
Technology has catapulted the business beyond simple track-and-trace data into a new world of supply chain visibility in just a few years. Customers can now not only follow their items as they travel, but they may also receive text or email notifications when delivery vehicles are stationary for an extended period. The same information can show whether delivery is within a mile of its destination, allowing receiving facility managers to plan and avoid surprises. This increased awareness has ramifications that go beyond on-time delivery. Companies will be able to carry less inventory due to this data because they can precisely pinpoint their products’ locations and when they are needed. Over time, this could result in significant cost reductions. Data is also allowing for more personalization and control in the transportation industry. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in trailers now allow drivers and dispatchers to watch and report on temperature, humidity, movement, and other vital elements in real-time, allowing them to intervene before a problem arises.
Fleet Management Systems
The use of fleet management technologies is also helping to improve transportation efficiency. Vehicles communicate with systems regularly, getting information such as how long they have been on the road, where they are going, and which route would be the most efficient. These solutions cut down on idle time for drivers, improve fuel efficiency, increase safety, and cut down on paperwork. This continuous connectivity between trucks and warehouses or manufacturing facilities also allows for increased flexibility and real-time responses to unanticipated incidents. By increasing transparency in the transportation business, digital freight platforms enable enterprises to think beyond today’s shipment. Thanks to technology, shippers may see regional trends, individual lane cost information, and driver preferences, while carriers can get specifics like loading/unloading durations and lane history data. All this information can aid in lowering operating costs without compromising service.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
Finally, data will play a part in one of the most intriguing breakthroughs in transportation: platooning, in conjunction with other technologies. Platooning is a method of transporting three or four trucks through the lengthy segments of the highways. The lead vehicle requires a driver, while the other tracks follow a digital tether a short distance apart. All vehicles respond with near-zero reaction time because the lead vehicle controls its speed, direction, and braking. When the platoon is within range of a destination, it pulls over to a designated parking lot, where each truck is greeted by a driver who will guide it to its delivery location. Because only one driver will be needed for every three or four trucks on the road, this application will save money on driver labor. It has the potential to improve traffic safety by reducing human error and accelerating reaction times. The technique also reduces vehicle distance, boosting the road network’s ability. Platooning is also good for the environment. Vehicles that travel at a constant, controlled speed emit less CO2 and consume less fuel. Tests have already shown that this technology can save a three-truck platoon up to 11% on gasoline expenditures.
Magistral’s services on Transportation Analytics
Magistral’s services support a strong customer focus and guarantee that goods are delivered on time to customers, regardless of location. They also optimize routes and safeguard profit margins without losing delivery timeliness. They also understand and negotiate a more complex logistics landscape, with more options than ever. Other services include:
–Carrier Profiles: It includes pricing, suitability, specialization, and other important parameters while deciding on the type of transportation.
–Dashboards and Visualization: KPIs development and tracking help in measuring the performance of the overall business.
–Logistics Management: This step includes fleet optimization, last-mile delivery, and process management. All these services help in the acquirement and storage of the goods.
–Data Science: This is done to identify areas of improvement for delivery and quality while reducing costs.
–Contract Management: This helps in the preparation of contracts, bid management, vendor shortlisting, and negotiations.
About Magistral Consulting
Magistral Consulting has helped multiple companies to reduce operations costs through its offerings in Procurement and Supply Chain.
About the Author
The article is Authored by the Marketing Department of Magistral Consulting. For any business inquiries, you could reach out to prabhash.choudhary@magistralconsulting.com