What is the future of logistics?
A day doesn’t go by without mention of how technology is going to revolutionise the logistics industry.
Artificial intelligence (AI).
Vehicle automation.
‘Uberisation’ of deliveries.
Drones.
Electric vehicles for first and last mile logistics.
On 14 November, some of the sectors leading visionaries and innovators will gather at the Warwickshire Event Centre, Leamington Spa for a one-day conference and exhibition organised by the Freight Transport Association, the FTA.
The Future Logistics Conference & Expo provides logistics operators with the ideal opportunity to ‘future-proof’ their business by fining out just what is in store for the sector over the next five or 10 years.
And Stream will be amongst a host of companies showcasing the very latest logistics software, technology, processes and developments.
Boasting three theatres, the conference has a full programme of plenary, interactive and panel sessions.
Theatre one focuses on ‘managing people in a connected world’ and how developments such as AI, autonomous transportation and the evolving ‘gig’ economy amongst others are influencing the future of our industry.
In Theatre two, attendees will be able to learn more about how businesses can adapt and develop strategies to optimise delivery operations. Speakers will examine ‘how the growth in last mile deliveries, too many vehicles and not enough tarmac, means government is demanding more efficient and novel ways of getting goods to customers’.
Tools, technologies and the future of transport is the focus of Theatre three. Although there is a great deal of hype surrounding autonomous, self-driving commercial vehicles observers (rightly or wrongly) argue that this is a long way from actual reality. However, other technologies ‘such as gas, hydrogen and electricity are reshaping the way our fleets look and work’.
Providing the conference opening is Jesse Norman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, who is responsible for community transport, the future of mobility, plus electric and autonomous vehicles, while David Wells, CEO of the FTA delivers the opening keynote which discusses the challenges facing the logistics industry.
Asher Bennett, Founder and CEO of Tevva Motors, will explore the subject of ‘Electric trucks that can electrify more of your miles, over longer distances, with less cost’ at 11:15am in Theatre 3. Also in Theatre 3, following hot on the heels of John Lewis’ commitment to switch its 1,500 vehicle fleet to electric power by 2030, Justin Laney, General Manager of Fleet, delivers a session entitled ‘Life at John Lewis – it’s a gas’.
Karl Hodgkinson, Joint MD at Howard Tenens, explains how ‘companies can manage the changes consumers are driving in the distribution model’ in Theatre 1.