Digitalization in Transport Logistics due to COVID-19: A Case Study from Germany

Abstract

The pandemic during COVID-19n that society has experienced in 2020, posed new requirements for the level of digitalization for carrier companies. To comply with the law and its most important part that that people should keep distance to each other not less than 1,5 m and personal contact should be reduced to a minimum are difficult to implement if the conventional mode of operation is continued. Based on the example of delivering branches of a food retailer, the authors describe the conventional workflow and how it changes by using digital instruments like telematic. The paper analyzes advantages and costs as well as legal challenges. Based on the experience of using telematic technology, the authors identify the advantages and disadvantages of digital technology in the transport industry. As a result, it was concluded that digitalization in carrier business will become one of the key tools, which will not only be used because of rules in this pandemic situation, it will bring transparency and efficiency, it will reduce different kind of costs, but to be successful in a strong business competition.