DIARIO DEL PUERTO Trends 33 engine combustion, which reduces consumption and emissions, is the best way to achieve this. However, it is true that in the refrigerated transport segment, more sustainable options, technological developments and breakthroughs that will enable change are still needed. 2. DATA MANAGEMENT The famous ‘digital transformation’ that has been at the top of the list of milestones for the economic and manufacturing sectors over the last few years has also reached the logistics industry. This has led companies to accumulate large amounts of data of all kinds and, increasingly, to analyse them in depth to extract value-added information. In the context of these developments, tools such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and big data have appeared to facilitate management, analysis and the creation of simulation and prediction models that optimise services and provide quality guarantees in operations, for example, by detailing how temperature changes affect a transported or handled product, or the durability of a lorry’s reefer unit. 3. TRACEABILITY End-to-end traceability. Shippers like being able to track the status of their goods as they move along the distribution chain. It is therefore vital to have tools that provide this information, as not having them can make the logistics service less competitive. The reason for this new trend is the emergence of 5G, given that its implementation enables many functionalities for real-time monitoring of the cold chain and is fostering the development of new tools (trackers, GPS, Live Maps and devices based on IoT technology). Blockchain is another technology that also facilitates end-to-end control of goods temperature to ensure that the cold chain is not broken. In addition, this technology represents a major breakthrough in terms of security, as the information that is handled in it is stored in blocks, which makes it almost impossible to tamper with. 4. PACKAGING Packaging matters. Companies are increasingly opting for ultralightweight designs that can maintain the required temperatures for longer. Innovation and the development of new technologies and materials are at the top of the priority list for the main suppliers in this industry. This trend began to gain momentum with the pandemic and the need to ensure that vaccines, which sometimes need to be kept at -70 degrees Celsius, could be properly distributed. The Green Deal and the EU’s firm commitment to decarbonisation have led the sector to invest in new, more sustainable vehicles.
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