Transformation in logistics is driven and shaped by a wide range of innovations. Innovations range from new products, services, processes and technologies to new organizational structures and can lead to significant economic, ecological and social impacts. While innovations certainly drive change within the logistics industry, it is difficult to accurately predict which particular innovations will actually have a substantial impact on value chains. Various indicators can be utilized to anticipate change. This work puts the focus on the frequency an innovation is debated among the logistics community. Therefore, presentations at Austrian events targeted at the logistics community are analyzed with a deductive content analysis. The systematic analysis is based on a framework, which considers business, technology, people and ecology as major dimensions and includes important key topics of innovation. Results confirm that the mega-trend digitalization is in the center of attention. While the dimensions technology and business dominate the agendas of logistics events, people- and ecology-oriented topics play a rather subordinate role. The presented approach offers indicators which can be used to focus on a selection of innovations. This can help managers and researchers to reduce complexity within the vibrant field of logistics-related innovations. Results also should be of particular interest to teachers in logistics to define future-oriented curricula based on the estimated potential innovations will have in the future.

@inproceedings{oscm-2019-554,
  title={What Are the Most Promising Innovations in Logistics?},
  year={2019},
  author={Reinhold Schodl and Sandra Eitler},
  booktitle={Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Operations and Supply Chain Management, Vietnam, 2019},
  doi={10.31387/oscm410061}
}

Reinhold Schodl, Sandra Eitler (2019). What Are the Most Promising Innovations in Logistics?. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Operations and Supply Chain Management, Vietnam, 2019. https://doi.org/10.31387/oscm410061