First, lets get a clear picture of what blockchain technology is.  A blockchain facilitates secure online transactions. A blockchain is a decentralized and distributed digital ledger that records transactions across many computers in such a way that the registered transactions cannot be altered retroactively.  So how can this technology benefit your food grade supply chain?  Shipping today is riddled with documentation, regulations, and policies that require certificates of origin, letters of credit, bills of lading, vessel manifests, and customs declarations.  When dealing with food grade materials, the paperwork can become overwhelming.  Blockchain converts documents, such as traditional vessel manifests or bills of lading into a digital ledger that all parties can see and share. This distributed database maintains a continuously growing list of data records hardened against tampering and unapproved alterations.  

Last year we wrote about a futuristic high-speed train design capable of speeds in excess of 1000 km per hour.  It is known as the "Hyperloop", the brainchild of Elon Musk, a successful entrepreneur and investor in Hyperloop technology.  On Thursday, Maryland officials gave Mr. Musk’s Boring company permission to dig a 10.1-mile tunnel beneath the state-owned portion of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, between the Baltimore city line and Maryland state route 175 in Hanover, according to the Baltimore Sun. Musk wants to build two 35-mile tunnels between Baltimore and Washington, DC.  A non-stop trip would take less than 5 minutes.  Transit times like this give new meaning to the term Expedited Service. 

Three Square Market, (32M) is offering implanted chip technology to all of their employees on August 1st, 2017. 32M is a technology company specializing in RFID technology, touting its application as a vehicle to enhance identity protection.  Employees will be implanted with a RFID chip allowing them to make purchases in their break room micro market, open doors, login to computers, use the copy machine, etc.  This program, offered by 32M, is optional for all employees. The company is expecting over 50 staff members to be voluntarily chipped.  The big picture with this technology is providing convenience to its chip holders for everything they would use a credit, debit or personnel ID card for in the workplace.  Is it the next best thing or another chapter in George Orwell's best seller, 1984?

"Telematics", loosely defined, is described as the branch of information technology that deals with the long-distance transmission of computerized information.  Telematics is a combination of the words telecommunications and informatics. Telematics, in a broad sense, is any integrated use of telecommunications with information and communications technology. It is the technology of sending, receiving and storing information relating to remote objects, like vehicles, via telecommunication devices.  This may be considered as simply some complicated verbiage to describe an overly complicated process that we've been practicing for decades.  The most immediate application of Telemetrics will be the ELD mandate set to take affect December 18, 2017.  In this article we will attempt to outline what to expect, how to prepare and potential liability issues for your organization.

The impact that tech-savvy customers are having on the ecommerce world is not just stronger than ever; it's faster than ever. Gone are the days when customers would surf the net trying to determine if an online order was worth the risk.  This is, of course, truest among the Generation Z population; those born after 1995.  Of course, responding to the technology laden desires of post-Millennial shoppers requires understanding them, which can be especially difficult for retail brands that weren’t born online.  This is likely a major reason for Amazons dominance in the online retail business.  Conversely, Walmart and Target have had to endure the challenges of transitioning from brick and mortar to an online presence.  Clearly Amazon has defined the direction of online retail.  Since, by some estimates, Gen Z represents more than a quarter of the U.S. population and has an annual U.S. purchasing power of $44 billion online retail is the new normal.  We thought it would be interesting to delve into some of the changes that are on the horizon for online retail.

A blockchain facilitates secure online transactions and is a decentralized and distributed digital ledger that records transactions across many computers in such a way that the registered transactions cannot be altered retroactively. So how can this technology benefit your supply chain? 

Robotics have been in use in the manufacturing industries for decades now. The idea of Intelligent Automation will be like robots on steroids.  Robotics is often considered the driving force behind 21st century innovation. If that is an accurate assessment, we can consider Intelligent Automation to be the fuel that will propel this innovation forward.   

The autonomous vehicle revolution is quickly on its way to reality...perhaps too quickly. There are several AV's currently in testing for transportation of cargo, as well as humans. The pioneer in AV technology is clearly Uber. With its acquisition of Otto, the leader in commercial truck automation, it plans to be the first at the table with AV technology for cargo hauling. It is also testing its own self driving vehicles in many U.S. cities. 

Both the drone industry and federal regulators are years away from actual legal drone deliveries in the United States, but that’s not stopping companies from testing possibilities. UPS successfully completed its first drone delivery from a delivery truck. The drone is designed to be stationed on the roof of the truck and to be launched from and return to the roof based launch pad.

Monday’s test, performed in Lithia, Fl, with Workhorse Group, an Ohio-based electric truck and drone developer, sent the drone first on an autonomous package delivery and then back to the truck, while the truck was out making a separate delivery.The drone docks on the roof of the delivery truck. A cage suspended beneath the drone, extends through a hatch into the truck.

A UPS driver inside loads a package into the cage and presses a button on a touch screen, sending the drone on a preset autonomous route to an address. The battery-powered HorseFly drone recharges while it’s docked. It has a 30-minute flight time and can carry a package weighing up to 10 pounds.

This test has specific delivery implications for some UPS customers. It has implications for future deliveries, especially in rural locations, where our package cars often have to travel miles to make a single delivery,” said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president of global engineering and sustainability. Rural delivery routes are the most expensive to serve, due to the time and vehicle expenses required to complete each delivery.

While the drone is making its delivery, the driver would continue to the next stop, make another delivery by hand, and the drone would then rendezvous and recharge on top of the UPS package car. The drone is fully autonomous. It doesn’t require a pilot. So, the delivery driver is free to make other deliveries while the drone is away.

UPS has been a leader in efficiency improvements in its operation. Years ago, they programmed their delivery routes to maximize right turns taking advantage of right turn on red opportunities, rather than sit at a red light to go left. They continue to maximize delivery efficiency with this drone application.

Last year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued small unmanned aircraft systems rules that allow for some commercial use of drones and paved the way for future expanded applications. UPS was one of 35 selected from a cross section of key stakeholders to serve on the FAA’s drone advisory committee. The committee will provide the FAA recommendations on key drone integration issues that will ultimately allow for safe and secure operations of drones within the National Air Space System.

7-Eleven, the world's largest convenience store, has partnered up with a tech startup company called Flirtey, and is now delivering the first order ever by drone to a customer’s home in Reno, Nevada. Industry watchers would have assumed that Amazon would be the first to make a drone delivery, however, they announced this week that they are moving their drone delivery operations to the UK to avoid the restrictive regulations of the United States. Given the feasibility, demand and safety precautions of U.S. regulations are expected to ease at the pace of Congress.