This paper examines how technology can improve the management of global logistics operations. Drawing on industry case studies, it explores three key technological applications: NASA's "Read Through Paint" barcode project for scanning obscured codes in aeronautical settings, wireless and GPS technology used to streamline trucking and delivery management, and voice-directed wearable computing used by U.S. Foodservice during an E. coli recall. The paper concludes by acknowledging the risks associated with technology misuse and the importance of cultural, legal, and operational considerations for companies operating at a global scale.
The paper effectively uses the case study method to build an argument. Rather than asserting broad claims about technology and logistics abstractly, it anchors each point in a named organization and documented event, then draws a generalizable lesson. This source-anchored reasoning is a foundational technique in applied business and technology writing.
The paper follows a classic short essay structure: a framing introduction that previews three technologies, three body sections each devoted to one technology and one case study, and a conclusion that broadens the argument to address risk and global considerations. Each body section moves from technology description to a real-world example, then closes with a statement of significance.
Technology can improve the management of global logistics in any number of ways. This paper centers on a few in particular: the use of barcodes, networking technology, wireless technology, and voice recognition technology. These represent just a few of the ways in which technology can be leveraged to achieve more efficient and error-free logistical performance. While these technologies can be complex and daunting, the results garnered from using them effectively are clear and measurable.
One example of how technology can aid logistics is through "hidden" barcodes. Most people are familiar with the UPC codes used in retail stores to tie an item in inventory to its relevant code, price, and quantity. However, some barcodes can be obscured by paint and other materials when used in aeronautical applications, such as with NASA and similar organizations. Through their "Read Through Paint" project, NASA developed the ability to read barcodes that are obscured and therefore cannot be scanned using normal scanners and machinery.
Rather than using a traditional barcode read through a laser scanner, the project employs one of five alternative methods: magneto-optic, radar, capacitance, infrared imaging, and ultrasound. Through one or more of these methods, NASA can scan coding on objects even when traditional markings are obstructed or physically unreachable. In a field like space and air travel, that capability is no small achievement (Albright, 2002).
Next is the use of wireless technology in logistics. While wireless implementations carry certain risks for both consumers and companies, an effective deployment can yield significant benefits. Leading information technology (IT) executives have devised ways to refine and improve the delivery management process in the trucking industry. Wireless and global positioning system (GPS) technology has become very affordable over the years, and the use of associated access points and sensors can streamline and accelerate trucking logistics to a degree where more time is freed up for strategic decisions and responding to emerging issues, rather than being consumed by routine clerical and counting tasks. The benefits extend not only to warehouse managers but also to truck drivers themselves.
There are also numerous applications across the broader information technology industry, with a wide range of available options. The 802.11 wireless standard varied in speed at the time of early adoption, ranging from 11 megabits per second to 54 megabits per second (McCarthy, 2002; Teschler, 2002). Since then, the 802.11 standard has advanced to 802.11n and 802.11ac levels, with speeds sometimes exceeding those of Gigabit wired Ethernet standards.
It will remain to be seen just to what levels technology will allow logistics and companies to advance in the coming days, weeks, and years. Companies need to be very careful, as technology in the hands of incompetent and unknowledgeable people can lead to major problems. The large number of undelivered packages during the Christmas season by FedEx and UPS is one example, as are the data breaches at companies like Michaels, Home Depot, and Target. General delivery logistics carries much lower risk, although it is certainly not risk-free.
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