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Smart mobility and the human factor

Autonomous vehicles driven by a digital supply chain; trucks travelling automatically in convoy, a short distance apart; robots taking over distribution centres - welcome to the future of supply chain management. That future may be closer than you think, as participants in a prestigious Intelligent Transport Systems & Services congress learned last week.

The 13th edition of the ITS European Congress, dedicated to smart mobility and digitalisation of transport, is the largest of its kind. It’s a must-go for professionals interested in the future of mobility and supply chain management. The three-day event offers them opportunities to share their knowledge and expertise, join discussions about innovations and learn about the latest technological advancements and policy developments in Europe.

Among the many high-profile speakers this year were Netherlands Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, Finnish Transport Minister Anne Berner, ERTICO CEO Jacob Bangsgaard and the Director Smart Mobility of Ford Europe, Sarah-Jayne Williams.
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The ITS Congress in Europe 2019 showcased a wide range of technological innovations

ITS Conference

The ITS Congress in Europe 2019 showcased a wide range of technological innovations

ITS Conference - Platooning

The ITS Congress in Europe 2019 showcased a wide range of technological innovations

ITS Conference - Demonstration of platooning

The ITS Congress in Europe 2019 showcased a wide range of technological innovations

ITS Conference - Innovations

Impressive innovations

The new Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (BISCI) also attended. It was invited by one of its partners, TNO, a leading Dutch independent research organisation which connects people and knowledge in order to create sustainable innovations that strengthen Dutch industry and society.

Professor Gaby Odekerken-Schröder, initiator of BISCI and head of Marketing and Supply Chain Management at Maastricht University, was impressed by the level and pace of new developments like intelligent transport systems, smart mobility and other technological advancements in supply chain management.

Studying the human response

“Self-driving cars, truck platooning, robots running distribution centres. Developments in automated traffic and transport are going very fast”, says prof. Odekerken. “The benefits are obvious in terms of traffic flow and traffic safety, CO2 emissions and overall costs. But in a highly automated world, where do people fit in?”

BISCI says it feels invited by TNO to study the human factor in a future world of automated traffic and transport. “What is the human side of all the latest smart and sustainable solutions? How do logistics service providers respond to these new opportunities? And what does all this mean for drivers and other road users? In collaboration with TNO and other partners, BISCI looks forward to contributing to these new challenges and opportunities.”

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