The sharing economy is the new frontier of freight transport
For some years now, we’ve been hearing about the ‘sharing economy’ – but what exactly is it?
It refers to a new economic model based on consumers’ real needs.
The millennial generation of consumers (those born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s) is most actively engaged in the sharing economy.
To respond to this latest trend, many companies have adopted the principles of reuse and sharing by using technologies for a lower environmental impact.
The most active countries in the sharing economy are those of northern Europe, which have always been more sensitive to the issue of environmental protection. The results are already visible: in the first quarter of 2018, CO₂ emissions fell by about 200,000 tonnes.
In Italy, due in part to its geographical form and the islands, road freight transport is favored (especially with the growth of e-commerce).
According to the Confcommercio report ‘Analysis and forecasts for freight transport in Italy’, since 2015 there has been an unequivocal upturn in freight traffic in line with economic recovery.
According to forecasts, e-commerce could see a further 20% increase worldwide within the next decade. Transport and deliveries are becoming increasingly indispensable.
From this perspective, the sharing economy is destined to increasingly revolutionize the logistics sector by seeking the best technologies and most effective solutions to unite and optimize the production, trade and consumption of goods and services.
How is this achieved?
For example, by giving customers the opportunity to share space on a truck, so that vehicles always travel full. This guarantees savings and a reduced environmental impact.
Logistics concerns not only transport, but also material storage. In this case, the sharing economy impacts on sharing storage spaces and making the most of private spaces. As Mario Zini, Country Manager Italy of DHL Global Forwarding, says: ‘Logistics suppliers can benefit from sharing their resources, but also take advantage of these developments through more convenient use of warehouse space, transport methods and more efficient delivery methods or flexible working models.’
