Charles Brewer, Managing Director for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa
Computer-generated sensory input such as videos or graphics can go a long way in enhancing operations in warehouses during transportation and last-mile delivery as well as value added services (VAS) in a company’s operations.
This is according to a study – Augmented Reality (AR) in Logistics – carried out by DHL, focusing on possible applications of this emerging trend in different stages of the supply chain.
AR – a live, direct or indirect, enhanced view of a real-world environment whose elements are augmented by a computer-generated sensory – merges what is real and what is computer generated by adding layers of digital information such as sounds, videos, graphics or GPS data, in the line of vision with the use of a devices, such as glasses or smartphones.
The report explains briefly the emerging trend and innovation in AR technology and hardware and how it can be implemented in logistics, also providing an overview on best practices from various industries.
“Recent developments such as heads-up displays on windshields or use of Augmented Reality for vehicle repairs from the automotive sector shows how rapidly this technology is developing and finding its way into industries outside of the IT sector. We believe that the technology also offers significant potential for the logistics industry, and are currently selecting cases for further research,” said Charles Brewer, managing director of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We move in excess of 2 million shipments per day across our network, and rely on world class technology to provide a seamless and reliable delivery service for our customers. We are always interested in the latest IT developments and it’s no surprise that this exciting new trend is already scheduled for proof of testing studies.”
