It is possible for the logistics industry to 'know the world through one network'

The package is delayed, and the delivery has become "slow delivery"; The desired product is only available for free shipping in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, or only some regions do not offer free shipping; Large trucks flew by one after another, some of which were actually empty vehicles

The problems in the development of the logistics industry, from package delays to uneven distribution of industries, to waste of transportation resources, can be accurately calculated monetary values, one or several sets of percentages, or various inconveniences in daily life.

What challenges does logistics in our country face? With the rapid development of 5G technology, what opportunities can we usher in?

The problem of high cost and low efficiency is still prominent

Logistics costs can usually be understood as the ratio of total logistics expenses to GDP. This concept directly reflects the logistics costs required per unit of GDP output and is commonly used to compare the efficiency of macroeconomic operations internationally, "said Ma Long Long, President of the China Business Economics Society, in an interview with Science and Technology Daily.

In recent years, China's logistics industry has developed rapidly, but compared with developed countries, the problem of "high cost and low efficiency" is still prominent.

This difference is directly reflected in numerical comparison. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the ratio of total logistics costs to GDP in China has been steadily decreasing since 2012, reaching 14.2% in the first half of 2020. But in developed countries such as the United States and Japan, the ratio has remained stable at around 8% -9% in recent years. In terms of logistics industry development, efficiency improvement, and cost control, China is lagging behind by a stage of development, "said Ma Longlong.

In 2018, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport jointly issued the "National Logistics Hub Layout and Construction Plan", which proposed to reduce the ratio of total logistics costs to GDP to around 12% by 2025. And most developed countries have already reached this ratio in the years leading up to the turn of the century, "said Malong.

Ma Long Long believes that in order to narrow this gap, measures such as industrial development, technological innovation, management optimization, and policy support that are in line with China's national conditions need to be introduced.

In terms of technological innovation, Ma Long Long stated that the continuously developing 5G technology can inject vitality into China's logistics industry from both the "hardware" and "software" levels.

Effectively reduce manual instability factors in logistics

At the hardware level, it refers to the continuous exploration of multiple key technologies based on the data processing capabilities of 5G networks, which are gradually maturing and being applied in a wider range of fields.

For example, several large e-commerce companies in China are vigorously promoting the application of unmanned technology in warehousing and logistics. Unmanned warehouses, drones, unmanned distribution stations, unmanned logistics bases, etc. have all been put into use. Compared to the unstable factors caused by manual labor, intelligent and automated warehousing, sorting, and loading processes have higher efficiency, and their stability and reliability continue to improve, "said Ma Long Long.

At the same time, the vehicle allocation system, transportation resource optimization system, and even the construction of unmanned vehicle control network based on 5G network are also at the forefront of technological research and application exploration. In the near future, we will have fleets that are no longer empty for long distances, road networks that are no longer congested, and 'drivers' who do not need sleep, "said Ma Longlong.

In addition, the environmental interaction and data processing capabilities based on 5G networks will provide more security guarantees for logistics industry related occasions such as warehouses, ports, and highways. Ma Long Long stated that precise monitoring, calculation, analysis, and warning will safeguard logistics transportation, and the economic losses and time delays caused by work errors and safety accidents will be unprecedentedly reduced.

Make it possible for the logistics industry to 'know the world in one place'

Ma Long Long believes that in addition to the technological innovations imposed on the "hardware" level mentioned above, the greatest role of 5G technology in the logistics industry should be manifested as: greatly promoting the construction of a smart logistics system, as well as the digitalization and informatization process of the logistics industry. This can be understood as 5G technology helping the logistics industry upgrade at the "software" level.

The logistics industry has extremely high requirements for accurate data, efficient communication, correct decision-making, and timely response. However, in traditional industries, these key elements have always been a 'pursuit' for practitioners, and despite continuous progress, they are ultimately difficult to achieve. Ma Long Long said that the arrival of the 5G era provides solid technical support for the logistics industry's' one network knowledge of the world ', making precise mastery and real-time decision-making possible.

For example, in the 5G era, when business decision-makers have accurate real-time data, they can grasp product demand and production efficiency, understand changes in raw material markets and inventory levels, and receive timely and reliable logistics services. In addition, the inventory of raw materials and products can be compressed to unprecedented proportions, and the funds, resources, and warehousing costs required for the entire production process will be significantly reduced, "said Ma Long Long." With the maturity of the logistics industry, more and more enterprises will get rid of warehouse pressure

It is worth mentioning that with the support of 5G technology, with the application of environmental interactive sensing systems, digital signage systems, and ultra high definition transmission AR、VR、 The cold chain industry will also develop by leaps and bounds with the realization of technologies such as video remote presentation and haptic Internet. (Intern journalist Dai Xiaopei)

【 Source: Science and Technology Daily 】

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