Whether you’re a warehousing and transportation logistics provider, or you use their services, it seems as if there are evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the business every day. And if you don’t keep an eye on what’s happening, you might find yourself behind the wave of customer expectations.

Here is just a small cross-section of news items that hint at massive changes, and growth, in the warehousing, transportation and logistics industries:

1. Warehousing – the Wall Street Journal recently reported that U.S. warehousing companies saw a massive increase in jobs in July, largely fueled by their ecommerce clients.

   The same report pointed out that retailers and etailers are scrambling to lease warehouse space at a record pace. Companies leased approx. 70 million sq. ft. of space in Q2 2016, the highest level in 30 years.

   If you’re short of floor space, better kick the search for more into high gear.

2. Transportation – The industry saw a similarly huge increase in jobs in July, adding 1,700 positions. Courier and messenger companies added 1,800 jobs. Coupled with the boom in parcel delivery experienced by traditional shipping companies, it all is a further indication of ecommerce’s influence on transportation companies and last-mile delivery.
3. Walmart Tests On-Demand Delivery – Walmart is partnering with sharing-economy transportation pioneers Uber, Lyft and Deliv to offer ‘on-demand’ grocery delivery in a trial in Phoenix, AZ. As customers’ expectations of fast delivery times continue to shift towards ‘same-day’ and ‘next-day’, the company wants to keep from falling further behind Amazon in ecommerce sales.
4. Uber Trials Self-Driving Cars – Here’s where you need to connect the dots to see the trends that may soon affect warehousing and transportation companies. Uber announced on August 18th that it will offer the first self-driving car service for the general public when it starts a trial in Pittsburgh, PA.

The implication? Your warehouse and/or transportation company should at least imagine a scenario in the not too distant future where driver-less vehicles arrive at the loading dock to pick-up and deliver an order that a customer made online just a few minutes ago.

Are you ready?!