E-Commerce evolution

The e-commerce, electronic commerce, is gaining the game to physical stores and already accounted for about 20% of the volume of card sales in 2018, while in 2015 this fee was 11% of transactions.

Concerning on the situation of consumption in the second semester affirms that the turnover of electronic commerce was close to 35,000 million in mid-2018, which multiplied by 7.5 the figure recorded in 2008, and the penetration rate exceeded for the first time the 50% of the population between 16 and 74 years old to be 53%, which is 18.5 million people and 35 percentage points more than in 2008. These data contrast with the evolution of the turnover of the trade traditional retail, which fell more than 4% in the same period in the last decade, and the meager growth of the population between 16 and 74 years (0.3%).

E-commerce is increasingly used by the users of the network, due to the great ease that this delivers, it is not necessary to go off to visit the physical store incurring in additional costs in terms of time and money, which can be saved through a single click on the website of the desired store.

Capture, maintain and retain customers is a task of great importance, the process of delivery of the products is directly related to the above. Because this process must be efficient and performed in the time specified by the seller, otherwise, if the customer has a bad experience with the delivery process either by a delivery in hours not accrued, couriers who do not locate the customer or products that do not comply with the advertised characteristics, this customer may generate the loss, which he will not buy again in the online shop.

There are solutions to avoid the situations mentioned above as the Click and Collect service, this is a system that benefits both, the companies that make online sales, as well as the customer who makes purchases in these. Since it provides flexibility to the consumer, allowing the collection of the package in the place that suits best and in the schedule that best suits their needs. Generally, these points are located throughout the cities and even in the same physical stores in order to have the closeness to consumers.

Another alternative to solve these problems is the service of lockers located equally in different points of the cities, which have been enabled through agreements with establishments in which the lockers can be placed. The big companies in Spain such as Amazon and Correos have this service called “Amazon Locker” and “CityPaq”.

As a conclusion, it can be said that currently, it must evolve on a par with the technology and the needs of consumers, in order not to become obsolete and to be left out of the market.

Boeing in the next two decades.

The aircraft manufacturer Boeing estimates that in the next twenty years, the volume of air cargo around the world will grow above the fleet of aircraft that was dedicated to carrying this air cargo.

Based on a report carried out by this company, worldwide cargo traffic will increase 4.2%, the cargo aircraft fleet will grow by 2.8% and in the next decades, it is expected that world trade will increase by 3.4%.

The increase that is taking place in the entire planet of e-Commerce shipments are subject to very short delivery times, something that translates into an increase in the demand of air transport and consequently the increase of the fleet to have the sufficient capacity to move volumes of products.

Between 2018 and 20137, Boeing plans to carry out 980 deliveries of new cargo planes, as well as 1670 passenger aircraft conversions for the transport of goods, with the world fleet of aircraft going from 1870 units to 3260 aircraft planned for 2037. Of that number of aircraft planned, 1280 aircraft will be standard fuselage, 1150 medium volume, and 830 large aircraft.

In general terms, the increase in aircraft operating worldwide will be around 42,730 aircraft. In the following video you can know more about the aircraft made by Boeing and the future of them:

“Machines that build machines”

Exactly, “machines that build machines”, the Gigafactory of Tesla and Panasonic, located in Sparks Nevada, EEUU and operating since 2014. 

It is being built in phases, in order to produce as the construction proceeds and obtain better yields. The facilities of this factory, occupy 180 thousand square meters and 492 thousand square meters of functional space in various heights. The construction is 30% completed, producing the main 3 and Y models of Tesla cars. But at the end of construction is expected to produce 500,000 batteries for for different models of electric cars.

It will be be the largest building in the world, looking to reduce the environmental impact with self-sufficient energetically through solar panels, windmills, and geothermal systems.

 Elon Musk’s (co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company) believes that electric vehicles must be produced in large volumes in order to reduce costs, this production must be located in the continent where the consumers are.

 Here is the video of this amazing building, ¡Enjoy it!

Autonomous transport vehicle?

That’s right, better known as Volvo Vera, totally electric and autonomous concept for companies that need transportation on a permanent basis in their fixed terminals.

How does it work?

Each of these vehicles is connected to a control center, where the progress of each transport and its measurements such as battery charge, load content, service requirements and other parameters are continuously monitored. From this same control center, the speed and progress of the operations are adapted in order not to have delays or contingency situations so that the operation is efficient.

The vehicles that operate on the same route, cooperate with each other, in order to optimize the delivery and create an optimum flow. All the vehicles are designed to be able to locate their position every moment with millimeter precision, they control the operations with details, analyze what is happening outside on the road with sensors and respond with accuracy.

The system allows greater flexibility and productivity, with greater precision in deliveries in places such as ports and large logistics centers including intermodal terminals. Currently, the needs of the logistics and transport sector, demand solutions that guarantee the continuous flow of goods at the same time, seeking protection of the environment.

The future

Volvo Trucks with its Vera concept, in which automation, content and electro mobility technologies are developed, is aimed at habitual and repetitive operations that contemplate short distances, large volumes and high precision in delivery. Although it is currently a concept, it is the beginning of a new Hera in terms of autonomy and electro mobility in large-scale logistics centers.

For Volvo, the intent is to offer its customers transport solutions without problems and concerns.

The Bullet Train-Maglev sc

Imagine a floating train crossing Japan at full speed. Its wheels do not touch the ground, it is a dream that comes true, but as the years go by, Maglev continues developing fastest trains.

Functioning

The Maglev SC or Superconducting Magnetic train has been developed by the Central Japan Railway Company and the Railway Technical Research Institute since the 70s.

Its operation is based on magnetic impulsion, capable of creating a powerful magnetic field that acts between the cars of the train and the way it moves. Plaza Mag-Lev is composed of “Magnetic” and “Levitation”. This allows the train to float in the air thanks to an electrodynamic suspension system better known as the EDS system. The rails have two sets of crossed coils of “eight” that create an electromagnetic modulation. The train, on the other side, carries superconductors magnets called “bogies”. When the train is stopped, it rests on the rubber wheels.

When it starts to run.

When you start your journey, the train moves slowly over the lines making it possible for the magnets located under it to interact with the ones on the road. Once the train reaches 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour), the magnetic force created is powerful enough to raise the train by 10 centimeters from the ground, eliminating friction and allowing the speed to increase.

The same magnetic outside that raises the train, ensures that it advances and stays balanced without leaving the road, which makes the trip extremely fast but pleasant, smooth and exceptionally safe.

The maximum speed of the Maglev today

In April of 2015, a superconducting train Maglev broke the two records of existing speeds of vehicles on rails. The train was timed and reached 603 kilometers per hour. A speed is superior to the maglev trains of shanghai china and South Korea that run between 268 miles and 311 miles per hour.

Japanese train routes

At present, they have built different types of Maglevs which are in Japan, China and South Korea, by the year 2027 it is expected that the Japanese Maglev will cover the Chuo Shinkansen line to unite Tokyo and Nagoya. This journey is scheduled to take approximately 40 minutes. Less time if you fly from one city to another.

After reading about this breakthrough we can appreciate the importance of research, technology, and innovation in all areas. It is impressive how the logistics are present everywhere. As throughout the years, travel times from one place to another have been shortened considerably.

The birth of your truck

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If you are passionate about trucks, you work in the transport sector, at some point you asked yourself how they are manufactured, how is the assembly process, because I will tell you here.

In this occasion, we will focus on the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck, which is produced in the Daimler facilities in Wörth am Rhein, with around 3 million square meters.  It is the world’s largest truck assembly plant.

To move from one side to another is very common to see workers traveling by bicycle in kilometric corridors.

This factory has a complex design that is divided into two zones. The first, chassis assembly line, mounted along the plant transversely, is a chain of approximately 600 meters long where 6 hours of work are dedicated to each unit.

The technology used in this factory, is advanced, use lasers to mark the plates of the chassis, this is so that the workers, at the beginning of the assembly, can know the measurements of screws, couple to use, place of assembly of each piece, etc. In parallel, the second zone is located the body assembly line, with different stations or work units such as cabins, paint, interior, accessories, etc. Later in the last unit of the second zone, it is aligned with the first one to later take out the final product.

The production of trucks is still more complex than the production of other vehicles, due to the level of personalization of the same, each client has special requirements (a la carte) which means 2400 combinations  as load capacity, motorization, power, torque, motor box relationship, chassis design configuration, and others more. It is for this reason that it can not be produced in masse.

In Worth am Rhein, 400 trucks per day are produced, that is, 25 trucks per hour and 80,000 trucks per year.

The Suppliers, this factory is supplied with 4000 pieces per truck, which translates to a wide range of suppliers 4000 to be exact. And this is why 1000 of these suppliers, have their plants “in situ” wall to wall with the factory of Mercedes Benz.

The logistics of this factory, has such a high level of complexity, that it took 2 years to adjust the elements to the needs of the new vehicle Actros, and during this time, the production continued but mixing the chains of assemblies with a vehicle and other.