Book
Logistics and supply chain innovation
In today’s global economies, logistics has been recognized as one of the key factors that determine the competitive position of both individual corporations and industry-based networks. At the same time, the very nature of supply chains and supply networks is changing rapidly, as a result of both technological and social developments. These developments include advances in ICT and industrial automation (sensors, robotics, 3D printing, and smart mobility) but also environmental concerns (scarcity of natural resources, carbon emission, and congestion) and finally new business models (e.g., e-commerce). The incorporation of these new technologies’ potential in modern supply chain operations, while at the same time addressing environmental and societal concerns, is a formidable challenge for companies, economic clusters, and nations. But a challenge that has to be met: The importance of logistics as an indispensable factor of economic development is undisputed, as evidenced also by the annual publication of the World Bank Logistics Performance Index.