We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Report: pandemic will force rapid adoption of wearable computers, robotics

Report: pandemic will force rapid adoption of wearable computers, robotics

Logistics networks being strained by remote commerce, labor shortages, delivery disruptions, say Lux Research, GlobalData.

lux research covid impact
August 20, 2020
Ben Ames
No Comments

The technology changes deployed by businesses in order to survive the pandemic will linger long after the Covid-19 health crisis has faded, creating long-term consequences on technology innovation and sparking a jump in digitalization, according to two reports released today.

Five trends that are shaping the post-Covid future are: infection prevention, remote commerce, improving resiliency, greater agility, and macroeconomic impacts, Boston-based analyst firm Lux Research said in “The Impact of Covid-19 on Tech Innovation.”

According to Lux’ forecast, those trends will spur increased investment in several core technologies in the logistics sector, including wearable computers and robotics.

“Digital transformation will rapidly accelerate adoption of emerging technologies like telemedicine, thanks to a dramatic increase in remote commerce and the need for infection prevention,” Kevin See, Lux’ vice president of research and co-author of the report, said in a release. “Wearables will also see a positive near-term lift as they aid in infection prevention and reopening efforts. There will be an upward trend in robotics due to the need for infection prevention and improving resiliency. Covid-19 will push major manufacturing and logistics operations to assess the potential of robotics moving forward.”

The pandemic will also send ripples through the fields of autonomous and electric vehicles, Lux said. The report found that autonomous vehicles will experience a long-term positive impact due to social distancing preferences, but will see near-term delays due to disruption of development and pilots. Shared mobility is a mixed bag, as ride-hailing is severely negatively affected in the near term. And the long-term consequences for electric vehicles will be minimal, as adoption will continue to be driven by regulations that for now have not drastically changed.

A second report released today reached similar conclusions, saying the pressures of the pandemic will accelerate the adoption of digital technologies and trigger a “revisiting” of global supply chain strategies by manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors.

The repercussions of Covid-19 have highlighted the need for more resilient supply chains in a highly globalized economy, London, England-based analytics firm GlobalData Plc said in its “Disruptor Database” report.

“Increasing labor shortages, forced closure of factories, disruptions in delivery routes and logistics hubs due to lockdowns, along with evolving customer behavior are the major factors driving companies to deploy digital technologies,” Manish Dixit, GlobalData’s principal disruptive tech analyst, said in a release. “Technologies that will have the maximum impact include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Blockchain, Digital Twins, and Robotics.”

 

COVID-19 has drastically changed the landscape for businesses across all industries, forcing immediate changes that will have long-term consequences. Our new report outlines 5 key trends that will define how the world beyond the pandemic will be different. https://t.co/j21t7matXK pic.twitter.com/4jySxHmLwb

— Lux Research Inc. (@LuxResearch) August 20, 2020
E-Commerce Logistics Technology
KEYWORDS GlobalData Lux Research
  • Related Articles

    The coming Age of Autonomy: How robotics will reshape the future of logistics

    DHL says early pandemic lessons will ease distribution hurdles for Covid vaccine

    Tecsys and SVT Robotics Partner to Provide Rapid Access to Warehouse Automation

Benames
Ben Ames has spent 20 years as a journalist since starting out as a daily newspaper reporter in Pennsylvania in 1995. From 1999 forward, he has focused on business and technology reporting for a number of trade journals, beginning when he joined Design News and Modern Materials Handling magazines. Ames is author of the trail guide "Hiking Massachusetts" and is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism.

Recent Articles by Ben Ames

Norfolk Southern train derailment sparks blaze in Ohio

Industry calls on Congress to deliver bipartisan supply chain legislation

New Jersey truck fleet says Freightliner tractors will deliver safety as well as freight

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Forecasts call for freight rate slumps in 2023

  • Projected U.S. recession in early 2023 will soften freight market

  • Inflation drops again as interest rate hikes hit home, NRF says

  • How to avoid the next crisis: A new approach to supply chain agility

  • New Jersey truck fleet says Freightliner tractors will deliver safety as well as freight

Featured Video

20221107korber large vs

Enhancing Customer Experience with Your Supply Chain Strategy

Viewer Contributed
With the rise of e-commerce, many businesses have had to transform their warehouses to handle online orders in addition to regularly scheduled inventory shipments. This means warehouses need more information than ever before to ensure they can meet customers' needs. As a result, companies need to select warehouse...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Guide to Pallet Rack Safety

  • 3PLs: Complete Orders Faster with Flexible Automation

  • A shipper's guide to navigating post-pandemic holiday freight

  • THE NEW WAY TO WAREHOUSE: 4 Innovations in Automation & Robotics to Boost Warehouse Productivity

View More

Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

Get Your Subscription
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • E-NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing