Event recap: Our take on SITL

In March, the Blume Global and CargoWise team had the pleasure and privilege of attending SITL in Paris, a major event gathering shippers, forwarders, LSPs and carriers from around the world! 

We asked our team members to provide a snapshot of their takeaways from this years’ events, and this is what they had to say: 

Digitization is a business project, not an IT project

At SITL, CargoWise participated in a panel discussion “Transport & Logistics: how to succeed in your business transformation through digitalization,” joined by Hakim Sebbah, where he contributed advice and feedback from a publisher, integrator and customer point of view.  

Sebbah shared, “Digitalization is first and foremost a business project and not an IT project. This investment scares many companies. However, it is now mandatory, and companies cannot escape it. Transport and logistics jobs are evolving and companies in the sector must review their ways of managing their operations by involving more of the tools available on the market—not to mention that the success of this digital transformation depends above all on the involvement of its employees.” 

Technology is evolving for broader use 

The application of robotics, whether it be warehouse management or itemization, is becoming more popular. After many years of development, pilot implementations of robotized item picking are now moving to mainstream use. There has been an increased demand for intermodal/multimodal solutions and digitalization, particularly in France. 

Additionally, much of the chatter focused on how technology like machine vision and AI can make supply chains more automated and efficient. Especially with a view to compensating for ongoing challenges including the labor crunch and disruption to key artery routes in the Red Sea and Panama Canal. 

Among the wide range of solutions on offer at the show, the quest for performance seemed to be the key: optimization of flows, operations and document processes, automation, robotization, etc. The main point of the discussions and sessions spotlighted decarbonization and circularity, and the innovation prizes awarded at SITL were responses to the challenges of cyclo-logistics and eco-packaging. 

Managing risk in the supply chain is strategic 

Learning from crises to be more efficient and more than resilient is essential in building a robust supply chain and returning to a point of improvement. Efficient, sustainable and optimal performance can be achieved by the following examples:  

• Creating a digital twin coupled with a control tower to support decision-making in near-real time 
• Using AI to map networks and identify weak signals 
• Calculate risk before making your move 

The importance of on-demand transportation has never been clearer. Flexibility in logistics enables companies to swiftly adapt to seasonal changes and unpredictable market conditions, optimizing processes effectively. 

SITL 2024 provided an insightful glimpse into the forthcoming landscape of logistics and the supply chain. Conversations underscored the imperative for substantial change, spanning enhanced cooperation, risk mitigation, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like AI. By tackling pivotal concerns such as sustainability and circularity, the event underscored the indispensable contribution of humans in this dynamic domain, advocating for a balanced fusion of human and machine capabilities, prioritizing ongoing learning and the cultivation of interpersonal aptitudes. 

At Blume Global, we are excited to remain on the frontlines of the developing supply chain and to see what the future has in store. Are you interested in learning how Blume’s solutions are helping advance operations? Learn more: https://www.blumeglobal.com/