When Inbound Logistics asked a sample of logistics providers to list their greatest challenge, the top response, cited by 62 percent of survey participants, was “technology investment.”

It’s no surprise then, that in a separate survey, sponsored by Capgemini Consulting, 40 percent of shippers said they were dissatisfied with their logistics provider’s technological capabilities.

These findings are indicative of two clear signals: (1) Logistics providers that have invested in technology will have a clear competitive edge over their competitors; and (2) Shippers are eager to take advantage of technology-based innovations that are sweeping the logistics industry.

What exactly are those innovations?  A new white paper from Purolator International, “Is logistics the weak link in your supply chain?  Five innovations that can ensure efficiency,” discusses some of today’s most exciting logistics developments.

For example, a growing trend among businesses is to rely on non-asset based logistics providers, as a way to gain flexibility and efficiency.  An article in Forbes referenced this “new breed of logistics providers” that own no assets  — fleets or warehouses – but are “able to provide logistics services by leveraging data gleaned from partners who do own assets.

For example, a manufacturer in San Diego with shipments headed to Canada, that relied on a provider that owned its fleet, would likely see its shipment travel hundreds of miles out of the way for a distribution center stopover, before heading north to the border.  Or, a shipment would simply sit idle for an extended period until a scheduled truck arrived to pick it up.  This is because few asset-owned providers offer direct ground service to the Canadian border.

On the other hand, a non-asset provider would be able to take a bird’s eye view of all Canada-bound routes, and select the most direct and appropriate route.  In many instances, shippers are pleasantly surprised to shave days off their transit schedules, thus improving speed to market, reducing costs, and pleasing their customers.

Reliance on non-asset providers is one of many trends highlighted in Purolator’s new white paper.  Click here to download a complimentary copy, and learn more about making sure your logistics strategy is keeping pace with current innovations.