Logistics not only cover the globe, but also a large expanse of the workload of a supply chain. But what is logistics?.
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The Oxford English Dictionaries definition of logistics is –
/ləˈdʒɪstɪks/
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[uncountable, plural] logistics (of something) the practical organization that is needed to make a complicated plan successful when a lot of people and equipment are involved.
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What Does Logistics Mean?
The oxford dictionary is of course correct, but we can take it a little further. Essentially, logistics is cost effective cargo management. Originally a military term, used for the supply of troops with supplies and tools necessary for their excursions. Logistics now refers to how things are moved and stored within a supply chain.
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Logistics is responsible for moving resources, be those raw materials, finished products or even takeaway food delivery. The movement and storage of goods is logistics. Warehouses, storage, road, maritime, aviation and rail are the crucial elements of the logistics industry.
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We expect this all sounds very mediocre, so allow us to share with you some logistics fun facts and try and brighten this up a little.
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Most Shipped
The most shipped items are furniture, electronics, clothes and of course, food. The logistics industry floats between around 2% and 12% of global GDP. The global logistics industry is estimated to be worth between $8 and $12 trillion.
Beep
Barcodes were originally used in transport, on railroads specifically. Found on the sides of railroad cars for identification, it was not until 1974 that they arrived in supermarkets. Their success sees them now used across almost all retail and logistics channels, as well as many other industries.
We’re Going to Need a Bigger Boat
The largest ships in the world are capable of carrying the Eiffel Tower and an Airbus. Not only that, but they could also navigate comfortably and still have room for more. This takes a lot of fuel. The largest cargo ships burn around 250 tons of fuel a day. If the shipping industry was a country, it would rank sixth on the list of biggest polluters.
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For OCS, embracing technology for our warehouses, vehicles, workers and customers helps us stay out ahead of the pack as we head towards a greener, automated future.
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To read more on what supply chains are doing for the environment, you can check our blog by clicking here.
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Once Upon a Saga
You can reach anywhere in the world using just shipping channels and roads. Danish traveller, Thor Pedersen has been travelling the globe without the use of air travel since 2013. He posts himself from port to port much like a parcel, travelling virtually for free, via freight ships. Then using road and rail, he intends to visit every country on the planet.
As of April 2020, Thor had ticked off 194 of the 203 planned countries. You can read more about his adventures on his website.
Next Stop, the Moon
Sorry, that may be a little misleading. At present we are not delivering to the Moon. However, if you put all the sausages delivered by logistics companies each year, end to end, they would travel past the moon. We do deliver internationally though.
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The Internet of Things
If you have not heard of IoT (Internet of Things) yet, you will soon. Technology plays a big part in the capabilities of logistics and the advancements we have see recently, are down to IoT. Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID tags) for example, make it possible to track packages live, with their exact position made available to everyone concerned.
I Would Drive 500 Miles
On average, a lorry driver travels around 500 miles per day. That’s 2500 per week and 125,000 a year. With an estimated 7 million trucks on the roads globally, that’s a combined distance of 875,000,000,000 miles, about 1/5th of a light year. Or, to the Sun and back nearly 6000 times.
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Well, that concludes our logistics facts. Follow this link for more on our local courier services in Dubai.