CHECKINGIN When Robotics, Starlink, and AI Converge: What’s Next?
Vol. 44, No. 11 November 2024 THE MAGAZINE FOR DEMAND-DRIVEN ENTERPRISES www.inboundlogistics.com
STAFF
Keith G. Biondo publisher@inboundlogistics.com Felecia J. Stratton editor@inboundlogistics.com Katrina C. Arabe karabe@inboundlogistics.com
PUBLISHER
T he maturation and convergence of three technologies—robotics, Starlink, and artificial intelligence—will revolutionize the practice of supply chain management across the globe. I know you have heard that before, but this time it is not hyperbole. When these three technologies converge, much of how we manage logistics today will be legacy, a fading memory in a few short years. Let’s look at each.
EDITOR
SENIOR EDITOR
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC CONTENT
Amy Roach amy.roach@thomasnet.com
Merrill Douglas Tom Gresham Karen M. Kroll Gary Wollenhaupt
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Keith Biondo, Publisher
Robotics. The influence of robotics will be from the ground up—at the front lines of logistics, manufacturing, and ecommerce fulfillment once the third wave of automation plays out. Since its Kiva acquisition, Amazon has deployed 750,000 autonomous mobile robots, and that’s just in the United States. The company uses thousands of stationery robotic arms for packing. Other companies are following similar investments in fulfillment, warehouse, and manufacturing operations. Humanoid robots, when ready for Prime time, will be a fourth wave of automation. Starlink. Quite literally, from the top down to every corner of the globe and at every moment of every day, 6G tone connects every shipment from origin to destination, on land, on the sea, and in the air. Hawaiian Air, Qatar Airways, Air France, and Air New Zealand all offer free Starlink, with United Airlines soon to follow. Tagging high- value belly and all-cargo shipments is the next step. On the seas, you will track your container across every ocean, through every port, and COFC/ TOFC move. Starlink Minis on trucks will give you shipment visibility across the country or across town. Theft? Temperature? Damage? Delay? You’ll know instantly. Artificial intelligence. The impact of AI will be everywhere—tracking the explosion of datapoints and helping you pick the best path from all the real-time variables you must choose from. Many of those developments, while being applied with staggering speed, are still in their infancy and are not yet working in sync. But when they truly converge and entwine, it will drive an explosion in supply chain productivity and the world will truly be your warehouse.
Jeof Vita jvita@inboundlogistics.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
DESIGNER Arlene So
DIGITAL DESIGN MANAGER PUBLICATION MANAGER CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Amy Palmisano apalmisano@inboundlogistics.com
Sonia Casiano sonia@inboundlogistics.com
Carolyn Smolin
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4 Inbound Logistics • November 2024
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