LOGISTICS INDUSTRY 4.0: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The frequently emerged question between logistics practitioners and theoreticians is how much technology can be leveraged to address the challenges and opportunities that arise in the logistics industry? The recently coined term - Industry 4.0 is the paradigm that explains the possibility of information and communication technologies to digitally transform processes in all industry sectors, including logistics. In this paper we are introducing a new term - Logistics Industry 4.0. Logistics Industry 4.0 refers to several emerging technologies, such as internet of things, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, robotics and blockchain and their implementation in three key aspects of typical supply chain: supply of raw materials, production, and wholesale/retail and two logistics activities: transportation and warehousing. We will present the most promising technologies that will transform logistics processes in the near future and the associated challenges and opportunities.