Technological solutions in Logistics 4.0

Abstract

Technological development, automation, digitalization, networking, new forms of communication, etc. initiated a new industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0. It represents a new form of organization and control of the value chain in the product life cycle. By connecting and synergizing existing and new solutions and technologies of communication, data collection, exchange and analysis, production, process management, trade, etc. a new paradigm of human action, business and living has been created. A concept that is intensively changing production processes has emerged, but its effects are also visible in other areas of human activity, primarily trade, health, agriculture, logistics, etc. By applying the solutions and technologies of Industry 4.0 in the field of logistics, the concept of Logistics 4.0 was developed with the aim of achieving greater efficiency of logistics systems and processes. New technologies and solutions appear every day, but the backbone of the development of the Logistics 4.0 concept is comprised of several key technologies, such as: Internet of Things (IoT), Autonomous Vehicles (AV) and Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGV), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), Big data, Data mining, Blockchain, Cloud Computing (CC), 3D printing, etc. The aim of this paper was to define and describe in detail the aforementioned technologies, as well as the possibilities of their application in the logistics systems and processes through a review of the relevant literature in this field. It can be concluded that logistics, as a multidisciplinary science, represents a fertile ground for the acceptance and further development of existing modern technologies, but also the initiator and incubator of new technologies that could easily go beyond logistics and become part of the family of Industry 4.0 solutions.

Smart Material Handling Solutions for City Logistics Systems

“…Given the high importance of I 4.0 technologies in developing smart MH solutions, it is necessary to analyze previous research on the used technologies and, based on that, to propose potential alternative solutions for the analyzed case study. I 4.0 implies the use of computing, information and communication technologies, networks and real physical processes, thereby creating a Cyber-Physical System (CPS) [48][49][50][51]. The most frequently used I 4.0 technologies for improving the efficiency of logistics processes are IoT, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Cloud Computing (CC), robotics, AI, AR, Big Data (BG), Machine Learning (ML), 3D printing, Digital Twin (DT), Data Mining (DT), Process Mining (PM), AV, AGV, UAV, BC, etc.…”

Logistics system as a factor of business development: The case of the Republic of Serbia

“…The continuous growth of this sector is particularly important in developing countries as Western Balkans economies, where adequate planning, management, and control system is a key determinant of profitability in this [25] and other related sectors of the economy that depend more or less on the efficiency of logistics activities. The importance of logistics can also be identified in the current era of digitalization, where the application of modern technologies through the concept of Logistics 4.0 provides a basis for improving the efficiency of business activities, which consequently affects the development of the entire economy [18]. One of the key contributions of logistics from a microeconomic aspect is to increase the level of customer satisfaction based on the quality of logistics services [22], which could determine the success of companies from different industries, especially those that largely depend on distribution and transport systems.…”

A Novel Hybrid Model for the Evaluation of Industry 4.0 Technologies’ Applicability in Logistics Centers

“…Consequently, it is necessary to follow key trends, introduce various innovations, and apply the latest modern technologies in all logistics processes and systems. Industry 4.0 (I4.0) enables a new and more efcient way of realizing activities within the supply chain through the connection of diferent parts and processes of the supply chain and the implementation of new modern technologies [7]. In the last few years, in many areas including logistics, I4.0 technologies such as Internet of Tings (IoT), autonomous vehicles (AVs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), artifcial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), big data, blockchain, electronic and mobile marketplace, cloud computing (CC), and 3D printing are increasingly used.…”