TRANSPORT and logistics companies will place greater emphasis on ICT technologies that deliver productivity improvements or reduce operational costs in 2012/2013, according to a report by IDC. Opportunities for vendors will focus around collaborative technologies, ERP, BI and mobility.
The Transport and Logistics ICT Market Forecast and Analysis 2011 to 2015 identifies opportunities that exist within the transport and logistics vertical of the Australian ICT market, and particularly how the dynamics taking place within this vertical segment are driving innovative use of ICT by the sector.
"The transport and logistics sector is a critical industry for ensuring the continued competitiveness and growth of the Australian economy," said IDC research manager, Emilie Ditton. "It provides the backbone of passenger and freight services, by road, rail and air that fundamentally enable the economy to function. The efficiency and productivity that this sector operates will directly impact the profitability and competitiveness of the customers it serves."
The transport and logistics sector contributes 3.5% of ICT spending in the total Australia market, representing $1,629 million in 2012.
IDC expects ICT spending within this sector will grow to $1,749.3 million by 2015, or 2.8% (CAGR) between 2010 and 2015. Telecommunications and particularly mobility continues to dominate ICT spending in this sector with telecommunication representing 38.7% of spending in 2012.
"The transport and logistics sector has a heavy focus on those technologies that can either contribute to reducing operational costs or increase productivity of staff," Ditton said. "The technology deployment plans within the sector reflect this."
The top technology areas that are to be deployed in the transportation and logistics sector in the next 12 to 24 months are: business analytics, new business applications based on Web 2.0 platform and technologies; desktop virtualisation; service oriented architecture; business as a service; cloud computing platforms; and mobile business applications.