The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) held its tech summit with data tech company HERE Technologies in Melbourne on Thursday September 15 where industry figures heard about the latest exciting innovations.
Throughout the day there were informative and intellectually stimulating presentations and panel discussions about supply chain, logistics, ports, freight, and the impacts of data and innovative technologies on each of these facets of industry.
Ingilby Dickens, ALC Board Member acted on behalf of ALC CEO, Dr Hermione Parsons, as presenter and moderator.
Melissa Horne, Victorian Port and Freight MP opened the tech summit with a presentation on Melbourne and Victoria’s role as a freight hub and port.
“Victoria is the nation’s freight hub and Melbourne is home to the country’s largest port,” Melissa says.
“Melbourne’s population is tipped to reach nine million people by 2050 with gross GDP predicted to triple,” she adds.
She says the Victorian state government is working with industry to streamline access to Empty Container Parks (ECPs), providing paperless truck entries, and easing congestion points.
“We are using data to ease the fractious relationship between stevedores and freight operators,” Melissa says. The government is collecting data about heavy vehicles to help with supply chain resilience.
Daniel Antonello, General Manager for Australia and New Zealand at HERE Technologies, presented on optimising freight and supply chain. He touched on location technology and digitally transforming delivery with 5G, which is in the early stages of adoption.
“I don’t think we’ll have completely autonomous vehicles in our lifetime,” Daniel says.
“We do have semi-autonomous vehicles where drivers can now disengage,” he adds. “This Level 3 feature can be used safely on freeways and in places where there are no traffic lights or stop signs.”
Besides speaking about electric vehicles, reducing the amount of ECPs, the Road User Charging debate, he says data, on-demand resources, sustainability, and visibility are important to keeping the industry up to date.
For more information on the Australian Logistics Council, click here.