MAY - 2023LOGISTICSTRANSPORTATIONREVIEW19 THE DEMAND FOR ADVANCED DIGITALIZATION AND AUTOMATION IS NOT SLOWING DOWN By Nathan Kurland, Vice President, Operations, Trimac TransportationOver the past decade, I have witnessed a dramatic emphasis on the need for digitalization efforts from both external and internal sources. External entities, in the form of vendors and customers, seek their own digitization paths and internal groups attempt to find systems and tools that optimize the immense amount of data produced in the logistics business.Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry was already predicting and investing an immense amount of capital with attempts at harnessing advancing technology. As an article from February of 2019 in Cleantech.com by Leo Zhang (How Digitization is Transforming Logistics Services | Cleantech Group) states, the logistics services sector was expected to reach an estimated value of $16.445 billion by 2026. While I cannot speak to the accuracy of this figure, my belief is that the events of the last couple years have only increased the frenzy on digitalization and automation. Labor shortages, dramatic demand shifts, and questionable global geo-political stability have added fuel to the flame where digitalization and automation has seemingly shifted from a "nice to have" benefit to increase efficiencies and reduce costs and instead to a requirement if organizations want to stay competitive. Complicating the landscape within the investment into this space is the number of service businesses that are springing up to solve the same, similar, or small niche aspects of digitalization and automation in logistics. As part of an organization attempting to automate and digitalize, it is a challenge to find the "right" partner or vendor to provide the correct solution and there is risk of adapting "close enough" technologies that do not bring the appropriate benefits to solve problems. Based on our journey of navigating this effort, I found it beneficial to share Nate Kurland is Vice President Operations Southeast at Trimac Transportation. Kurland began his career in trucking with Trimac as an Operations Manager at Bayport, Texas. He was promoted several times and led the National Tank Services team in the US before relocating to Dallas and working as the Vice President of Operations at a large oil field services transportation company.Prior to entering the trucking industry, Kurland served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving multiple deployments throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He continues his service today as a member of the United State Marine Corps-Reserve. Kurland holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Stephen F Austin State University, a Master's degree in Business Administration from Auburn University, and a Master's of Science degree in Supply Chain Management from Texas Christian University.INSIGHTSCXONathan Kurland
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