Logistics and mobility of the future

Digitalization, new mobility solutions and changing social needs are changing markets and business models. Experts discussed the challenges and solutions companies are using to tackle these changes at a best practice event organized by the Swiss Export Association in cooperation with the logistics company Dachser. Around 90 participants made their way to the Switzerland Innovation Park in Dübendorf.

When AI promotes the average

Artificial intelligence is currently seen as the main driver of digitalization. "Are you still leading - or are you already following?" asked Prof. Dr. Raphael Boemelburg from the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland with regard to the development of generative AI (Gen AI). He noted that there is still a lot of experimentation going on without the question of ROI being answered. Increases in efficiency can be achieved with the help of AI, but the business impact is often lower than hoped, according to Boemelburg. Many companies are still working according to the "bring your own AI" principle. Because if employees prefer to use their own AI tools rather than those provided by the company, the impact of AI use can hardly be measured. The speaker also refuted the idea that humans are superior to AI when it comes to creativity. This is because studies have shown that the use of Gen AI increases quality by 40 percent. However, the ideas created by AI are similar: "In the long run, many things develop into a uniform mash," the speaker stated. He also pointed out the danger that control would become increasingly superficial as speed increases. More robust systems are therefore needed to ensure the quality of Gen AI. It could become particularly difficult if employees make decisions based on AI-supported data analyses and fall into the trap of blindly trusting the technology.

With robots on the "last mile"

Robotics is another field of technology that is making a lot of progress. Marko Bjelonic, CEO & Co-Founder of RIVR, took the audience on a journey into AI applications in the physical world. Specifically, he presented walking robots that deliver goods directly to the front door. The combination of legs and wheels makes these devices flexible enough to fulfill their mission even in topographically difficult terrain. However, the robots also need to be trained, using data from the "real world" combined with simulation.

FELFEL could probably do with such robots: the company, which was founded in 2014, has now become an established provider of high-quality workplace catering. The intelligent FELFEL fridges calculate when which menus need to be reordered based on demand and expiry date. The menus are picked in the company's own logistics center and delivered at night. This could potentially be an application for robots. However, as FELFEL's fridges are often located in places that require special access regulations, the delivery process remains a human domain for the time being, as FELFEL COO Hanne Dinkel explained in her presentation.

Learning to deal with complexity

Managing complexity better and exploiting optimization opportunities: The subsequent panel discussion with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Herbert Ruile, President of the Swiss Logistics Network Association, Alexander Hefele, CEO of AMZ Racing, and Andrea Claudio Thöny, Head of Real Estate Development at HRS Real Estate AG, focused on sustainable transport, logistics and value creation systems. In other words, it was all about different forms of complexity: while AMZ Racing is about developing a racing car from scratch every year with a completely new team, real estate development - specifically shown at the Dübendorf Innovation Park - is about strong dependencies on a wide variety of stakeholders. You have to think in different scenarios, says Andrea Claudio Thöny. The trick is to manage the contrast between stability and change. Herbert Ruile could only agree with this. "This also applies to the supply chain". The panel agreed that dealing with complexity is a question of mindset. Herbert Ruile recommends consistently outsourcing simple processes. Alexander Hefele's experience is to hand over a lot of responsibility directly to the team. And Andrea Claudio Thöny considers systemic thinking to be particularly important. "Specialists don't solve problems, they often cause more chaos."

Technology-driven logistics

Stefan Hohm, Chief Development Officer (CDO) and member of the Management Board of DACHSER SE, concluded the event. He showed how technology has changed and will continue to change logistics processes. Dachser invested around EUR 500 million in 2024, a large part of which was also invested in IT. "AI is everywhere, but not in the contribution margin," Stefan Hohm also revealed. And despite all the technology, logistics remains a people business. Using various examples - e.g. exoskeletons for easier lifting of loads or the use of digital twins for optimal utilization of warehouse space - Stefan Hohm demonstrated the diverse use of technology at Dachser. Much of this was developed together with partners. Dachser is tapping into the potential of AI, because: "Logistics companies that do not address AI will not survive in the market," says Stefan Hohm. Nevertheless, the risks must also be kept in mind: Data protection, ethical and legal issues. Stefan Hohm also warned against becoming too dependent on technology.

The conclusion - also for the entire conference - was that clarity, courage and cooperation are needed to tackle the challenges of the future, and not just in the logistics sector.