Smart logistics refers to making good use of information and intelligent technologies, facilitating the individuals and the population in the logistics system to have the ability of perception, conduct, analysis, and decision making, and most importantly, solving certain problems in logistics by themselves through learning. So as to effectively achieve synergy with other economic and social systems, and ultimately serve the sustainable improvement and optimization of the logistics system of the entire economic and social system
Smart logistics contains two meanings. Firstly, logistics systems can realize informatization and intelligence through advanced technology. Secondly, once mega data and intelligent technology are embedded in logistics, they will transform the traditional logistics industry into a brand-new form, with changes in technology, business form, and mode at the same time.
Smart logistics can use various advanced technologies to obtain a large amount of information in the logistics production process at all levels. Real-time data collection has been realized, enabling all parties to accurately grasp information on products, vehicles, warehouses and so on. Moreover, by archiving the collected data, it can build a powerful database. After classification, all kinds of data are organized according to the requirements to realize dynamic, open, and joint use. And through the standardization of data and process, promote the integration of systems across the network, realizing the perception and regularity wisdom.
Through the analysis of the previous model, smart logistics can be trained to come out with more “clever” solutions to the problems. Along with the increasing knowledge in the system, it can avoid problems that have occurred and make more optimization decisions, thus making themselves perfect constantly, to realize intelligent learning and reasoning.
By using mega data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence technology, evaluate each link in the logistics system, to integrate and optimize the resources, making each link can connect and exchange information, data sharing, and optimize the allocation of resources. To provide the most powerful system support for logistics each link, each step makes collaboration, coordination. According to the different needs of each part of the system, it adaptively adjusts the system, reduces the cost of manpower, material resources, and improves the quality of service.
Based on the internet, smart logistics widely use the Internet of things, mega data and cloud computing, and other new generation information technology. Through the deep integration between the Internet and the logistics industry, each link of logistics can not only realize system perception but also realize the intelligence of the logistics industry, and improve the efficiency of logistics operation and service level of the emerging business
Smart logistics refers to the robot, artificial intelligence technology that makes warehousing, sorting, transportation, distribution, and customer service of the whole supply chain can be implemented without humanization, promoting the logistics industry for the first time truly free from human constraints.
Intelligent logistics means that mega data and artificial intelligence will drive the full link intelligence of warehouse transportation and distribution, as to realize the intelligent network layout, storage management, transportation routing planning, terminal distribution planning, etc. So that the huge logistics network can operate orderly and efficiently.
Smart logistics stands for the good use of the Internet of things, mega data and artificial intelligence will change the current way of logistics collaboration so that the whole social collaboration becomes more possible. Global optimization can be achieved from the whole supply chain, which will bring a qualitative leap to resource allocation and commodity circulation efficiency.
Mega data and blockchain are comprehensively driven to have comprehensive control over the operation links and conduct comprehensive combing of market information. A high degree of coordination between macro decision-making and micro-management ensures the realization of strategic objectives.
Minimum variation, rapid response, integrated transportation, minimum inventory, quality assurance, and life cycle support are six main objectives of logistics management.
The purpose of minimum variation is to try hard to control any unexpected events that could disturb the performance of the logistics system, for example, delays in receiving orders from customers, delivery of goods to the wrong address, unexpected damage in the shipping process, etc. The traditional solution to these unexpected problems is to use high-cost transportation or have enough reserve stocks. Nowadays, with the support of computer technology, the use of management information technology makes it possible to have an in-time and active response to these problems.
Rapid response requires the ability of the company to meet customers’ service requirements in time. The ability to respond quickly needs companies to shift the focus of inventory and products to responding quickly to customer shipping requirements. The development of intelligent logistics and information technology has enabled enterprises to complete the logistics process in the shortest time and delivery the inventory and goods to the customer as soon as they can.
As we can know, transportation is one of the biggest costs for logistics enterprises. More colloquially, If there is a larger scale of the products in on transportation and the goods are shipped to longer distance, the cost of the transportation will have a lower cost compared to relatively small scale goods and short distance shipment. This requires the company to have plan and structure ability and integrate shipments with larger scales and volumes.
Minimum inventory and increased inventory turnover can reduce the financial pressure on logistics companies. The high turnover of inventory allows the money spent on inventory to be released as quickly as possible, and the minimum inventory objective should be complemented by the objective of providing quality service to customers.
Since logistics operations must be processed across a wide range of areas and at any random time, most of them also are carried out outside the supervision of the supervisor. Therefore, the quality of products should be paid more attention to and strengthened since the cost of redoing the order is quite large if any damages occur due to the incorrect operations in the shipping process. Therefore, logistics is a major component of developing and sustaining continuous improvement.
The logistics industry is in a phase of rapid development and change. The operation cost climbs unceasingly and the logistics cost is on the high side. The main link of logistics still works with the traditional manual mode, the structure of the logistics industry is not complete, and the cost of logistics resources management is high. Autonomous distribution equipment has not been put into large-scale application, the main reason is that intelligent distribution equipment needs regular maintenance and repair, and it is difficult to maintain a balance between production cost and profit.
In the automation phase, the way to improve logistics efficiency is to increase the investment in the fleet, manpower, and storage. Because of the boundary effect, the efficiency improvement effect is not ideal. At present, the degree of logistics networking, intensification, and resource sharing is still low.
There are a large number of logistics enterprises in China, and the level of related hardware, software, and other infrastructure of logistics enterprises is uneven, which leads to low efficiency of information sharing and difficulty in giving play to the advantages of big data, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies, and inability to establish a digital and smart logistics system. At the same time, the acceptance of enterprises for the application of cutting-edge technology needs to be improved.
The terminal intelligent service has not been normalized, and the coordination ability is poor. “The last kilometer” is also very dependent on humans, the consignee or consignor of intelligent service levels are poor.
Smart logistics has a huge impact on cost reduction, and effectively improves the profits of enterprises. Manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers should cooperate and share information through smart logistics so that logistics enterprises can save more costs. To effectively realize smart logistics scheduling management to strengthen the rationalization of logistics management, and most importantly, reduce the unnecessary cost during the process, key technologies such as object identification and tracking, positioning, and other new information technology should be applied widely. By reducing the cost, the profits of the companies will be increased accordingly.
The construction of smart logistics will speed up the development of the local logistics industry since it can integrate each link into one. The benefits include breaking the restrictions between cross-industry, realizing efficient operation, coordinating cross-departmental interests, and optimizing the allocation of logistics resources. At the same time, these enterprises can also share infrastructure and information, reducing operating costs and expenses. Moreover, the integration of logistics enterprises, will give full play to the overall advantages and scale advantages, and realize the modernization and specialization of traditional logistics enterprises.
Intelligent logistics, by providing a variety of services such as self-query and tracking at the source of goods, especially for the source of food goods, can make consumers feel at ease to buy and eat. It can increase consumers’ purchasing confidence and promote consumption, and eventually have a positive impact on the overall market.
Smart logistics can supervise the production, transportation, and sales process, which greatly saves the working pressure on relevant government departments and makes the supervision more thorough and transparent. Through the application of computers and networks, the working efficiency of government departments will be greatly improved, which is conducive to the reform of our political system and the reduction of government expenditure.
Smart logistics integrates a variety of system operations, in line with the characteristics of modern economic operation, which emphasizes the rapid, and smooth operation of information and production. This is a great way to reduce social costs and integrate social resources.
It is a logistics platform that integrates online transactions, payment, supervision, information release, product display, promotion, and marketing terminal application as one composite function.
It integrates the specific logistics workflows and establishes a one-stop integrated service logistics platform with the participation of third-party service organizations and other entities.
Chengdu Logistics Public Information Platform has established a complete logistics credit system and introduced third-party guarantee organizations to solve the platform’s ability to bear and resist risks.
In terms of technical positioning, it adopts cloud computing, the Internet of things, three-network integration, and other new-generation technologies to create a logistics platform intelligent logistics system.
The logistics public information platform will bring unprecedented service experience to the logistics industry, and the information released will be authoritative in the industry.
Stowage technology is a key technology that integrates and optimizes the constraints of time, cost, resource, efficiency, and environment to achieve low cost and high efficiency of modern logistics management under the premise of accomplishing one or more operation objectives. It is also the key to effectively combining logistics operation plan and actual operation.
Modern logistics has been widely regarded as the third important source for enterprises to reduce costs, improve the integration and utilization of labor resources, and increase profits and competitiveness.
Distribution is an important link in the logistics system. It refers to the logistics activities of distributing and distributing goods in the logistics center according to the customer’s order requirements and sending the goods to the consignee in time.
In the distribution business, the stowage technology, the stowage route optimization technology, and the distribution vehicle scheduling technology are important factors to improve the quality of service, reduce logistics costs, and increase economic benefits.
The optimization of stowage, cargo assembly, and delivery line is the key to the optimization of the distribution system.
Generally, the distribution Vehicle Scheduling Problem is classified as VRP (vehicular routing problem), VSP (vehicular routing problem), vehicular routing problem (vehicular routing problem), vehicular routing problem (vehicular routing problem), and vehicular routing problem (vehicular routing problem). The vehicle scheduling problem) and MTSP (Multiple Traveling Salesman Problem, i.e., multiple traveling salesman problem). Solving the related problems will apply Operations research, Applied mathematics, and Combinatorics to support and realize distribution routes from different execution perspectives.
According to the traditional definition, loading and unloading technology refers to the activities carried out within the same geographical place, with the main content and purpose of changing the storage state and spatial location of the object, specifically including loading, unloading, transfer, picking, sorting, stacking, warehousing, warehousing, and other activities.
Loading and unloading technology directly affects the cost, efficiency (time control), and quality management of logistics management.
The implementation of loading and unloading technology is completely personalized work, and can not copy the pattern of others. It requires comprehensive planning and design.
Packaging technology includes packaging technology, packaging materials, packaging design, packaging testing, packaging testing, etc. The application of packaging technology in logistics is closely related to packaging technology, packaging materials, and packaging design.
Use of packaging technology: Refers to the cartons, containers, and other auxiliary goods used by certain technical requirements during transportation to protect the transportation products, avoid damage to goods, and facilitate smooth transportation. It is the end point of production logistics and also the starting point of social logistics.
The MILKRUN cycle pickup is carried out by one (or several) transportation contractors to suppliers A, B, and C in sequence according to a pickup route designed in advance, and then directly to the factory or parts redistribution center.
MILKRUN cycle pickup is a very optimized logistics system, which is a closed-loop pull pickup.
It is characterized by a multi-frequency, small batch, and timely pull pickup mode, which transforms the original supplier delivery-push mode into the logistics transporter entrusted by the factory to pick up – pull mode.
Modern logistics has tended to the trend of the integration of business flow and information flow. The extensive application of information technology is the biggest feature of modern logistics.
By using the Internet, bar code technology, EDI, radio frequency technology, MIS, GPS, GIS, and a variety of information technology support, realize the transportation, storage, loading and unloading, packing, and so on each link.
In the above logistics management process, process control has become a necessary link of transparent logistics management support.
Both enterprise logistics and third-party logistics need support based on process management technology. As a modern logistics management consulting agency, it is necessary to combine current and future enterprise development needs, and reasonably plan and design logistics operation process management implementation schemes. Integrate Internet public information platform, procurement platform, bar code technology, EDI, radio frequency technology, MIS, GPS, GIS, and other technologies.
A bar code is a group of bar or blank symbols arranged according to certain coding rules. Bar code is used to represent certain characters, numbers, and symbols. A bar code system is an automatic recognition system composed of bar code symbol design, making, and scanning reading.
Common bar code classification: EAN code, UPC code, 39 code, Codabar code, Code128 code, two-dimensional bar code.
Automation of logistics operations is an important way to improve logistics efficiency and an important trend in the development of the logistics industry.
International experience shows that the realization of logistics automation is not only the application of various logistics machinery and equipment but also the application of information technology. The automation level of logistics operation in our country is quite low. In many aspects of logistics operation such as handling, point goods, packaging, sorting, order, and data processing, the manual operation mode still occupies a dominant position.
It should be explained that many logistics enterprises and industrial and commercial enterprises in our country have some automation logistics equipment, such as automatic sorting systems, automatic stackers, automatic roadway cranes, and so on, but the automation equipment has not fully played its due efficiency.
A logistics automation system is not an isolated management system. As a management system executed on site, it needs to integrate with the storage management system (WMS), transportation management system (TMS), production execution system (MES), SCM system, ERP, public information platform, and other systems, and connect them through the scientific management process. To realize the efficiency and coordination of the overall logistics management.
POS (Point Of Sale) system is the Point Of Sale information system, which means that the dynamic data of sales should be timely transmitted to the production, purchase, and supply links. POS automatically reads the data through the cash register to realize the real-time data sharing of the whole supply chain. The operation efficiency at the cash register can be greatly improved, and the satisfaction of customers will also be improved.
GPS also named the global positioning system (Global Positioning System) includes three parts: space segments – GPS satellite constellation; User equipment part – GPS signal receiver; Ground control part – ground monitoring system.
Practical technology and system in modern logistics is still the theme of the development of logistics technology. With the stimulation of the international financial crisis for the service object of the modern logistics industry, enterprises have to pay attention to advanced technology as the core of enterprise strategic development, and advanced technology in exchange for the core competitiveness of enterprises.
With the surge of social material flow and the improvement of logistics service quality requirements, the society of logistics technology will put forward higher requirements for logistics equipment and means more advanced and applicable, efficient logistics operations, high quality, and safety.
The rapid development of science and technology in the world and its full application in the field of logistics provide the guarantee and basic conditions for the development of logistics technology.
Therefore, the future will be a period of rapid development and the rapid progress of logistics technology. The development of modern logistics must take modern logistics technology at the core.
Intelligent logistics stands for the application of new technologies in the logistics industry. Among them, the internet of things and artificial intelligence are important parts of intelligent technology. They facilitate the realization of systematic perception and comprehensive analysis in various parts of logistics. With the support of information technologies, transportation costs can be reduced in various industries, which improves transportation efficiency, In the logistics industry, the main applications of the Internet of Things are transportation monitoring, smart express cabinets, and warehouse management.
The warehouse management information systems that are based on LoRa, and NB-IoT are generally used to complete the receipt of goods, inventory and allocation, pick, backup, report management, and other works
Real-time monitoring of cargo in the process of freight operation and cargo transportation status, including cargo space, status, vehicle fuel consumption, fuel volume, speed and braking times, etc.
Cloud computing, the Internet of things, and other technologies are combined to realize express access and data processing in the background center. Through RFID or camera real-time acquisition, monitor the sending and receiving of goods and other data.
For e-commerce logistics, it is an application scenario located in the middle of factory logistics and express logistics.
On the one hand, it is different from factory logistics. The number of individual SKUs of goods that need to be stored is much smaller than that of the factory, but the variety of products is very large. For example, a lady’s lipstick, each color number is a kind of commodity, and so on.
On the other hand, e-commerce self-built logistics also needs to solve the packaging, sorting, distribution, and other problems of picking and completing orders, so the cargo sorting system is also indispensable for e-commerce logistics.
In recent years, the box-to-person picking system and KIVA-to-person picking system have been applied more and more in the field of e-commerce. These two systems solve both storage and picking problems. Compared with other logistics systems, it is a more suitable solution for current e-commerce logistics application scenarios.
The models of the picker system include Mini load, Shuttle, feeder line, manual picker station, feeder hoist, layer changer hoist, KIVA, etc.
Express logistics does not need to consider too many storage problems, just as soon as possible to pick up the incoming package after loading out of the port, so the cargo sorting system is widely used in express logistics.
Models of the cargo sorting system include telescopic belt machine, matrix, single piece separator, ring cross belt sorting machine, linear cross belt sorting machine, balance wheel, swing arm, module belt, slider sorting, drop belt sorting, etc.
Founded in 1937, Daifuku (hereinafter referred to as “Daifuku”) is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of logistics systems. Daifuku has always been committed to material handling technology and equipment development, and research. Warehousing, handling, sorting, and management of a variety of technologies integrated into a high-quality material handling system, to provide to the world’s customers from all walks of life.
Founded in 1937, Winfield is an independent German family business. It has more than 50 branches worldwide and has been operating in Asia for more than 30 years, with 18 locations in 15 countries, including the Middle East, China, the ASEAN region, and Australia. Committed to providing high-quality industrial storage equipment and automated storage system, it is known as the “expert in solving storage problems”.
KNAPP, founded in 1952 and headquartered in Graz, Austria, is a leading international provider of warehouse and smart logistics solutions and systems. It has 53 branches worldwide and each branch can provide the best quality and comprehensive service for local customers.
Dematic is the world’s leading logistics integrator. DeMatech can provide reliable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions on a global scale. There are more than 5,000 documented cases of successful development and implementation of world-class integrated systems, all based on customers, including some of the world’s leading companies. With more than 75 years of business development, DeMATech has implemented retail order fulfillment systems for more than 40% of the world’s retail companies.
Jungheinrich is one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial vehicles, storage technology, and logistics technology. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany since 1953, we are committed to providing forklift handling logistics equipment for the industrial field. As a supplier of high-quality logistics, storage, and transport equipment, Hengli has been repeatedly selected as the best partner of the judges in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and Guangzhou Asian Games.
Linde Material Handling is an integrated supplier of equipment and internal smart logistics solutions, with sales and service offices in more than 100 countries and major regions.
TGW Logistics Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-dynamic smart logistics solutions, with local contractors and system integrators in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. TGW is also an independent supplier of mechanical and electrical systems. A worldwide network of system integrators and general contractors have been established. The complex logistics center was created with partners within the network and the entire material handling and storage concept was designed.
Internot Group is the world’s leading provider of material handling solutions. Internot offers a wide range of platform-based products and services to system integrators and OEMs in categories such as rollers, electric rollers, conveyors and sorters, and dynamic warehousing systems. Internot’s solutions are used in express delivery, postal services, e-commerce, airports, food and beverage industries, fashion, automotive, and many other manufacturing sectors. Headquartered in Switzerland, Internot has 34 companies and 2,400 employees worldwide as of 2019, with a total order book of CHF 559.7 million in fiscal 2019.
Founded in 1898 in Augsburg, it didn’t start as an industrial robot but focused on interior lighting. But in 1995 that Kuka Industrial Robots Co., LTD was founded. KUKA is an internationally renowned automation group company with a turnover of 3.2 billion euros and approximately 14,000 employees. The company is headquartered in Augsburg, Germany.
It realizes intelligent receiving and delivery, liberates manual operation, makes the sorting link more automatic and intelligent, and ensures the correct rate of parcel sorting reaches 99%.
Automatic weighing equipment helps to weigh parcels quickly and accurately, and precisely calculate logistics costs.
The visual scanner can realize the retrieval of missing scan package image photos, complete the system data entry by manual complement, and realize the scan rate of 100%.
The intelligent sorting desk adopts a three-dimensional sorting structure, combined with LED lighting to complete the sorting of parcel material and synchronous circulation of system data.
Smart forklift consists of an AGV vehicle, dispatching system management system, navigation system, autonomous charging system, wireless communication network, and data acquisition system. It has the following application characteristics:
1. Intelligent and efficient: optimal task scheduling, shortest running path, and minimum space requirement.
2. Lean management: intelligent call of station demand and accurate management of capacity.
3. Information interconnection: complete data statistics, simple system access.
The AGV is used to replace manual handling and free the human from the handling operation. The AGV trolley will transport the goods to the specified loading machine or unloading machine. It can intelligently respond to the requirements of different heights of material in and out of the workshop. It has the characteristics of easy operation without training, the targeted opening of some ports, and support for third-party commands to facilitate integrated development.
The use of a stacking robot is conducive to orderly stacking, accurate classification, and convenience for the next step of sorting. The main applications in logistics are mechanical arms and AGV transport vehicles. The stacking and unstacking links are completed by robots, which liberates manpower from tedious and repetitive work. And the palletizing robot technology is mature, small size can effectively save the area.
With the increase in logistics orders, how to realize rapid sorting is also one of the key projects included in storage planning. Therefore, different types of automatic sorting equipment have emerged. At present, the most advanced one is the Luhui ball module with automatic sorting equipment:
Luhui ball module with sorting system, the sorting efficiency is over 4000 pieces/hour, the sorting accuracy is 99.9%, and the cargo damage rate is less than 1/10000.
The bar code system is an automatic recognition system composed of bar code symbol design, making. and scanning reading. Every commodity in the library has a unique number, and so does every shelf. The warehouse personnel can thus have an intimate knowledge of the inventory situation. Current advanced bar code and radio frequency automatic identification technology, while the system supports radio frequency and electronic tag. Using these technologies, warehouse management automation, helps enterprises to improve management efficiency.
The logistics have become intelligent to meet the internal requirements of its development in the background of the Internet of things, big data, The Internet, and cloud computing. Its development process is divided into the following five stages.
After World War II, the world economy recovered rapidly and the market demand was booming. Enterprises focused on production and paid little attention to logistics in the circulation field. It was generally believed that maximizing output would lead to maximizing profit, resulting in a large amount of inventory. But the blind expansion of production can not be sustained soon, forcing enterprises to find a more suitable logistics business model
As the world economic internationalization trend, the logistics industry also gradually from scattered, extensive management into system management mode, the period of the enterprises’ understanding of logistics from simple dispersed specific functions such as transportation, storage, and inventory management, to rise to the raw material procurement to product sales throughout the process of unified management, and logistics as integrated science, Companies are starting to focus on logistics costs and benefits.
In this period, the emergence and large-scale application of computers have become the biggest driving force to promote the electronic logistics industry. The two most typical information technologies are bar code born in the 1970s and EDI in the 1980s. With the application of EDI expanded to online ordering, inventory management, delivery management, customs declaration, payment, and so on, enterprises began to pay attention to the logistics effect of the supply chain and committed to improving the efficiency and benefit of the supply chain logistics.
The 21st century is an era of intelligence, and Smart logistics has begun to take shape, including intelligent warehouse logistics management, intelligent cold chain logistics management, intelligent container, and transportation management, intelligent dangerous goods logistics management, intelligent e-commerce logistics, etc. Based on the above background, In 2008, the laboratory of the University of Bremen in Germany summarized the basic characteristics of smart logistics as precision, intelligence, and collaboration.
In December 2009 the China logistics technology association information center, Chinese Internet of things, “logistics technology and application” editorial office jointly proposed the concept of “smart logistics”, and points out that smart logistics is using integrated intelligent technology to solve some problems in the logistics links, and to provide the supplier with maximum profit. At the same time, it should consume the least natural and social resources.
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