At present, China's logistics industry has shifted from high-speed growth to a new stage of high-quality development. While the logistics industry faces challenges such as insufficient demand, weakened expectations, and disaster impacts, it will also usher in new opportunities such as AI big models, digitization, and cross-border markets. What are the prospects and directions for the development of China's logistics industry this year? The China Transportation Research Institute of Tongji University has analyzed five major trends in the development of the logistics industry, hoping to provide reference for the industry.
01. The development potential of emerging fields in logistics segmentation is enormous
The high-quality development of the logistics industry is the only way to meet the diversified and specialized modern logistics service needs of the modern industrial system. With the support of technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, the "Logistics as a Service" (LaaS) business centered on services and solutions will deepen the integration of animal flow industry with manufacturing and commerce industries, forming a logistics industry profit model with industry characteristics. Segmented emerging fields such as cold chain logistics, instant logistics, digital freight, cross-border e-commerce, and low altitude logistics will experience rapid development with deep integration with the industry.
02. ESG system becomes a new standard configuration in logistics
Under the dual drive of policies and markets, the green and low-carbon transformation of the logistics industry is progressing rapidly. In recent years, logistics companies such as Sinotrans, SF Express, and JD.com have actively led green innovation in the industry from the perspective of social responsibility and sustainable development needs, achieving outstanding results. In the future, logistics enterprises will start from the construction of ESG (environment, society, governance), further deepen the exploration of ESG specific practices, carry out multiple practices such as green infrastructure investment and construction, green operation, green technology research and development, and product innovation, and actively participate in the improvement of ESG evaluation standard system construction. The government, industry, and society will start from ESG governance, continuously establish and improve multiple guarantee systems such as ESG regulation, rating, investment and financing, and provide a continuous source of power for the green and low-carbon development of the logistics industry.
03. Improving logistics resilience is urgent
Against the backdrop of high-frequency and high loss impacts such as epidemics, natural disasters, and regional conflicts becoming the "new normal", improving the resilience of logistics supply chains has gradually become an international consensus. Developed countries such as the United States and Japan are actively building resilient transportation systems. China's "14th Five Year Plan for Modern Logistics Development" proposes to "enhance modern logistics safety emergency capabilities" and "strengthen modern supply chain safety resilience". As China's economy accelerates its integration into the global market and its pace of going global accelerates, the role of the logistics industry in ensuring supply and stabilizing the supply chain will become more prominent. More and more enterprises are realizing the importance of supply chain resilience, and are continuously strengthening their capacity building for supply chain security risk monitoring, early warning, prevention and control, and response. They are developing emergency logistics to contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to maintaining global industrial chain supply chain resilience and stability.
04. Data becomes a key element of new quality productivity
Currently, a new round of technological transformation led by the AI big model has brought new opportunities for the development of the logistics industry. Technology oriented enterprises are entering the field of logistics big models one after another, and through the integration and application of cutting-edge technologies such as big data and the Internet of Things, as well as logistics supply chain theory, they can achieve more accurate demand forecasting, effectively improve the operational efficiency and traceability of the supply chain, and promote the acceleration of new quality productivity to empower logistics value-added. With the continuous development of AI big model technology and the successive introduction of policy measures such as the "Opinions on Building a Data Infrastructure System to Better Play the Role of Data Elements" and the "Data Element X" Three Year Action Plan (2024-2026), the role and value of data elements have become more prominent. This will effectively empower new operating methods such as supply chain digital platforms, smart warehousing, smart parks, and intelligent driving to flourish, improve the quality of logistics elements and resource allocation efficiency, accelerate the digital transformation of the logistics industry and the formation of new logistics productivity.
05. Comprehensive service capability has become the core competitiveness of overseas enterprises
The initiative of jointly building the "the Belt and Road" has entered its 11th year. China's logistics enterprises are deeply embedded in the international logistics industry system, making positive contributions to the construction of basic logistics projects, optimizing the quality of delivery services, and promoting the development of cross-border trade. Standing at a new starting point, the "the Belt and Road" capacity cooperation development momentum continues to remain strong, and the mission of helping to restructure the global value chain and improve the stability of the industrial chain supply chain is more prominent. The logistics "cross-border shipping" will move towards a new stage of full link business integration and global multi-point layout development. Promoting investment in high-quality logistics assets along the route, extending international supply chain services, and building ground business teams will become the focus of logistics "going global" development. Logistics enterprises can effectively smooth the supply chain, service industry chain, and integrate into the value chain by quickly establishing global logistics service capabilities.