How has the world changed in the last 10 years? While you can answer this question in various ways, one of the most obvious answers is technological advancements. The personal technology we used a decade ago, such as cell phones, has greatly changed since then. Business technology has also changed, including the increase in online stores that now deliver their products right to your door.
Deliveries both large and small may continue to evolve as engineers test autonomous vehicles and drones that can be used for personal and professional purposes. These developments lead many people to ask if autonomous delivery will change the shipping industry, and if so, how? We’ll provide some insight for these questions, although we don’t expect autonomous delivery to go into effect any time soon.
Yes: Autonomous Delivery Could Optimize Shipping Jobs
Autonomous vehicles and drones do not require people to operate them. Instead, smart technology would guide these delivery systems through the roads and airways. Supposedly, this tech could do so perfectly as long as the right infrastructure is in place. Perfect deliveries would make roads and airways safer and would also decrease delivery time since the technology would be able to quickly analyze the quickest route to the delivery destination.
Opting to use automated vehicles and drones would also save businesses money, as they would no longer need to pay delivery workers’ wages, benefits, and other managing costs.
No: Autonomous Delivery Isn’t Possible or Safe Yet
While businesses could save money with automated delivery, that technological advancement is not yet possible or safe to implement. US road infrastructure is outdated in many places, which would slow down and possibly damage automated deliveries. At this point, only people can react to problems such as incorrect road signs or sudden accidents. Many jurisdictions also have different rules governing drones and airways.
Even if roads and airways were set up for automated delivery, the deliveries themselves could face problems. For example, someone could catch a drone and steal the package during the delivery process. Criminals could also hack into an automated vehicle to reroute it and steal the enclosed goods. Engineers will eventually create solutions for these hypothetical problems, but first they must develop the automated technology itself.
Maybe: Role Changes Due to Smart Technology
Technology is changing the logistics industry, especially shipping, in various ways. However, big changes like automated delivery aren’t available yet. So what can someone in the logistics industry do to prepare for these potential changes?
Since it’s highly likely these changes will come eventually, the best way is to prepare optimistically for them. Instead of worrying about one day losing your job to a robot, find free or affordable courses that explain smart technology. Learn how to prompt automated intelligence, perform information technology tasks, and manage smart technology. Increasing your skills in these ways could lead you to a new tech-savvy job or allow you to change roles within the logistics and shipping industries when change comes.
Will autonomous delivery change the shipping industry? It’s difficult to know exactly what to expect from the implementation of this technology. However, there is plenty of time to optimistically prepare for these changes and grow professionally in the process. Let the evolution of technology inspire you to evolve yourself.
