We are all getting set to usher 2023 in a couple of weeks, and there is no better time than today to chart a bigger and better journey for our audience and our customers. The entire logistics ecosystem has undergone a sea change over the past three decades and today it is not merely a means to transport goods and people, it is greatly influenced by technology and innovation. To facilitate efficient trade between two or more parties, logistics forms an essential trade entrepreneurial activity for the B2B, B2C, and C2C supply management segments. As per the latest insight, the logistics industry is set to exceed $14.5 billion approx. by 2027, giving us enough insight into the magnanimity of this industry. It is not restricted to only land transport but includes air freight and sea transport as well and the economic patterns combined with digitization have made it the backbone of every industry we know today.

In the U.S. alone, the retail logistics market was estimated at $43.17 billion in 2021 and is expected to compound at an annual CAGR of 11% from 2022 to 2030. The growth trajectory shows an increase in demand and supply, beckoning companies to up their innovations in this sector. Today, it is no longer about getting the

goods from one place to another but includes a gamut of activities that are eminent in building and scaling it even further. Logistics companies have to meet the global distribution demand and must have every facility under their umbrella. From storage, warehousing, materials handling, packaging, unitization, inventory management, transport, and information and control, they have to cater to every aspect and keep their customers updated throughout the process.

The notorious manual processes are being replaced by new disruptive technologies with immense innovation. Areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, augmented intelligence, automation, the latest tracking

systems, and much more are just a few aspects that matter to every logistics organization today. Augmented intelligence is set to surpass $2.9 trillion of business value to lead to an increase of 6.2 billion hours of employee

productivity globally by the end of 2022. Other technological innovations that are capturing the logistics market include digital twins, i.e., replicating the flow of information digitally and identifying the weaknesses and recurring trends to improve future operations; real-time supply chain visibility, blockchain, and so on are set to carve a growing path for the logistics industry globally.

To bring logistics technology to the forefront, we interviewed CIOs, CEOs, Founders, and SMEs in the logistics domain to compile their thoughts and innovations that will make a difference in the future of logistics. Through this issue of CIOInsights, we hope to apprise you of this dynamic industry and the evolving trends that will create a direct impact on the way you conduct business.