What are the logistics trends for 2023?

As the year draws to a close, it's time to take a look at logistics trends for 2023 and see what's in store for this challenging but essential sector. These often include everything from new technological advances that optimize logistics operations to new practices that seek better consumer awareness and increased environmental stewardship.

This year in particular, the logistics sector has been the focus of public attention, due to the numerous challenges it has faced: the shipping crisis, the lack of vehicles, the shortage of certain basic necessities, the calls for strikes by carriers in Spain, among others.

What are going to be the key points that will mark the logistics for the next year? If you want to know the logistics trends for 2023, take a look!

Green logistics

It is well known that sustainability is the order of the day in the logistics sector due to its considerable impact on CO₂ emissions, which account for 8% of global emissions. Initiatives are already being put in place to reduce the environmental impact of this industry.

Among the solutions that will continue to be relevant to emissions reduction are software that assists in improving planning and operations, such as the route optimizer. However, there is a growing trend towards the circular supply chain, which aims to encourage companies to reuse certain waste and products returned by customers to recondition them and bring them back to the market.

While reverse logistics is costly because of the resources that have to be invested in returning the product to the warehouse, refurbishing merchandise contributes to reducing the carbon footprint. This is because it reduces the production of new items and gives a second life to refurbished products.

Logistics professionalization

There is a constant evolution occurring in the logistics sector, whether in the implementation of new technologies and the practice of new strategies. This field requires more and more talent capable of understanding how logistics works and its needs in order to implement better strategic and operational processes.

Currently, the most in-demand professions in the logistics sector require specific training in this field, whether it is a course to become a warehouse worker or a university degree or master's degree in Supply Chain for the position of Supply Chain Manager. In other words, the sector is becoming more professionalized with a more specialized educational offer to cover a high demand for personnel.

Transparency through Blockchain

In recent times, the benefits and opportunities that blockchain technology provides in various sectors, especially those with IT, have been on everyone's lips. So advantages have also been found when applying blockchain technology in logistics.

What the blockchain allows is to trace the product from its place of manufacture to delivery to the customer. Thus, the designation of origin of the product can be transparently and securely verified, which is especially important for luxury and high-end items such as wine.

Automation and AI for Flexible Logistics Strategies

These last few years have been marked by a great economic impact due to the pandemic in which the flow of goods and demand forecasts are often difficult to predict due to multiple factors that have affected consumer habits. Therefore, in a landscape of increased uncertainty, the supply chain must gain agility with flexible logistics strategies.

Flexible logistics seeks to see how capable a company or business is in adapting warehouse and transportation processes to unforeseen events and changes with minimal impact on performance. This strategy is becoming increasingly accessible to more companies thanks to automation and the use of artificial intelligence in software such as demand forecasting. 

These trends, which will continue to be relevant in the coming year, prove to be of great help in using time to make better decisions and provide quality service to customers as demand and competition becomes more demanding.

Conclusion

Logistics trends for 2023 remain similar to those of other years in terms of industry digitalization, sustainability and optimization of logistics processes with, for example, AI-enabled software. However, both new and well-known trends aim to make the industry more adaptable in the face of the challenges of today's economy and current demand.

At Hedyla we are aware of the latest trends in the logistics sector, therefore, we have our own engineering team that develops new functionalities and modules that help professionals in their logistics operations.