In the world of route planning and delivery for fleets and trucking companies, here are six things to be aware of that could influence how business is done. Fleet Owner caught up with Cyndi Brandt, senior director of product marketing and strategic alliances at Omnitracs to hear some of the latest.
1. Watch your competition — and know who your competition is.
Brandt tells Fleet Owner a big trend in planning and delivery is that the competition is changing. "Your competitors aren't who you think they are anymore," she says.
Companies like Amazon and Google are moving toward innovations in delivery — the latter recently was awarded a patent for an autonomous last-mile delivery system concept, for example. Amazon, meanwhile, has purchased a number of truck trailers, Brandt points out.
"What is Amazon going to do with that? Be aware they're creating some sort of infrastructure there," she says. Also, Amazon has built a significant cloud infrastructure and has become "one of the largest, if not the largest, wholesale distributors of electrical and plumbing supplies — and no one knows it."
Many are familiar with Uber's shakeup of New York City taxi business last year, so be aware that something similar could happen in trucking and freight.
2. Listen for the hum of drones.
Dovetailing with that last one, the advent and proliferation of drones could have a real impact in planning and delivery, according to Brandt. "Drones are real. I hate to say it, but they're real," she contends. Amazon has gotten some attention recently with its concept of using drones in last-mile delivery.
By Aaron Marsh ,Fleet Owner
By Aaron Marsh ,Fleet Owner
http://fleetowner.com/technology/talking-trends-six-things-influencing-planning-and-delivery
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