This is a crucial subject for everyone but particularly complex to operate because the impacts are multiple:<\/p>\n
- \n
- It is estimated that 48,000 deaths per year in France are linked to air pollution, it is therefore necessary to reduce the release of fine particles and nitrogen oxides (nox) but also to participate in the reduction of global warming by limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions<\/li>\n
- Anticipate the end of fossil fuels (and therefore non-renewable)<\/li>\n
- 20% of urban traffic is generated by logistics, it is necessary to relieve congestion in city centers by establishing stricter access and promoting new alternatives (bicycles, ELU, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Public authorities are putting in place various legislative tools to regulate, raise awareness and take action (the LOM law, CAFE regulations, EURO standards, Crit'air stickers, etc.). We can mention the latest announcement within the framework of the Climate and Resilience law where France votes to end \u201ctrucks mainly using fossil fuels\u201d<\/em> by 2040, i.e. 10 years ahead of the European Union, which has set a ban for 2050 on the sale of thermal engines.<\/p>\n
There are many technological solutions to deploy in this interval and it will be necessary to think according to uses: we can talk about bioDiesel, NGV (and ultimately BioNGV), electricity and tomorrow hydrogen. The whole point is to decarbonize and not to promote alternative fossil energies. The challenge is huge because it is necessary to take into account the manufacturer's offer, the autonomy, the refueling network, the maintenance costs and the residual value of equipment that is now much more expensive than the Diesel range. Let's keep in mind an inevitable equation: margins in the world of transport are low, the consumer has become accustomed to having free delivery costs, who must therefore bear this inevitable increase in costs?<\/p>\n
Digitalization as a lever for differentiation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
This is not a new subject but rather a theme that is constantly progressing. Here are two illustrations:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Vehicles are increasingly connected with internal and external systems. The world of transport has become profoundly digital: software solutions are becoming more widely available (WMS, TMS, etc.) to increase efficiency and productivity. The goals are multiple: reduce dead miles, empty returns... we want to maximize the potential offered by vehicles. More and more routes are managed with optimization algorithms, we are far from the Epinal image of carriers using only paper. We are also seeing a significant increase in the penetration rate of platforms connecting shippers and carriers. They represent real business potential to allow more modest structures to access flows reserved only for big players.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Digitalization also continues in the workshops that manage vehicles. The generalization of recent vehicles (Euro 6) is a challenge because maintenance programs no longer depend only on mileage but also on their use. For the same number of miles traveled, a vehicle dedicated to national delivery and another to urban delivery will require different monitoring techniques. We are talking more and more about a logic of preventive and not just scheduled maintenance, associated with remote diagnosis. The next digital step is indeed predictive maintenance, intervening before a breakdown, thanks to an algorithm powered by masses of data from vehicles. This is a crucial issue which will require real progress: access to data currently reserved for manufacturers, and the standardization of the latter. In short, the entire value chain of the after market world is being revolutionized.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Progressive vehicle automation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
First of all, the deployment and democratization of 5G will make new uses possible:<\/p>\n
- \n
- V2V (vehicle to vehicle). This involves communication between vehicles to share information (position, speed, direction, traffic jams, etc.) and enable autonomous driving in convoys (\u201cplatooning\u201d).<\/li>\n
- V2I (vehicle to infrastructure) to allow communication between the vehicle and the surrounding road infrastructure (tolls, traffic jam levels, accidents, parking, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The autonomous vehicle is not yet for tomorrow but we are witnessing the democratization of certain uses. There are 5 levels ranging from assisted driving to 100% autonomous driving. Today, we are at level 3, always assisted driving. Driving without a driver is gradually being anticipated for specific use cases in the first place (long distances for example), its democratization raises numerous questions linked to the legal framework and its societal acceptability.<\/p>\n
![\"Visuel](\"https:\/\/www.sprint-project.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Visuel_ang.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTo conclude, it is undeniable to emphasize that the Supply Chain has been fully engaged in innovative approaches for many years. The challenges are as much environmental, digital as technological. Let's keep in mind that the key success factor remains putting people at the center of this dynamic. Change management remains fundamental if we want to sustainably ensure an efficient and virtuous Supply Chain; technology must remain at the service of people and not the other way around.<\/p>\n
\n
- Digitalization also continues in the workshops that manage vehicles. The generalization of recent vehicles (Euro 6) is a challenge because maintenance programs no longer depend only on mileage but also on their use. For the same number of miles traveled, a vehicle dedicated to national delivery and another to urban delivery will require different monitoring techniques. We are talking more and more about a logic of preventive and not just scheduled maintenance, associated with remote diagnosis. The next digital step is indeed predictive maintenance, intervening before a breakdown, thanks to an algorithm powered by masses of data from vehicles. This is a crucial issue which will require real progress: access to data currently reserved for manufacturers, and the standardization of the latter. In short, the entire value chain of the after market world is being revolutionized.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Vehicles are increasingly connected with internal and external systems. The world of transport has become profoundly digital: software solutions are becoming more widely available (WMS, TMS, etc.) to increase efficiency and productivity. The goals are multiple: reduce dead miles, empty returns... we want to maximize the potential offered by vehicles. More and more routes are managed with optimization algorithms, we are far from the Epinal image of carriers using only paper. We are also seeing a significant increase in the penetration rate of platforms connecting shippers and carriers. They represent real business potential to allow more modest structures to access flows reserved only for big players.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n