Mobility innovation emerging from the logistics front lines! "MOBILITY NEXT 2016" held

Nikkei Business and Nikkei Automotive held the seminar "MOBILITY NEXT 2016: How the Evolution of MOBILITY Will Transform the Logistics Business" (Special Sponsor: Dentsu Inc.) at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Minato-ku, Tokyo, on September 9.

The seminar aimed to explore how the future of the logistics industry will be transformed by the introduction of new technologies, addressing challenges such as the increase in small-package deliveries and the difficulty in securing employees due to population decline and aging.

Part 1 featured a keynote speech titled "Business Transformation through Innovation in the Flow of Goods" by Dr. Satoshi Nagashima, President of Roland Berger Japan and Doctor of Engineering. He discussed how IoT connects insights across various industries, potentially significantly impacting industrial supply chains, and how new mobility businesses emerging from goods transportation enabled by new technologies will transform industrial supply chains.

Next, Marcus Segerstedt, Senior Product Support Manager, Pre-Sales at Scania Japan's Tokyo Headquarters, took the stage. Interpretation was provided by Makoto Nakai, Head of Pre-Sales at the company. Under the theme "SCANIA's Transport Solutions in Europe," he introduced four case studies the company is undertaking, including autonomous driving and efficient transport models.

The first part concluded with a panel discussion titled "Business Transformation Driven by the Evolution of Mobility." Moderated by Tatsuya Shirazu, Chief Producer at DENTSU SOKEN INC., the panel included Mr. Nagashima, Mr. Segerstedt, Mr. Nakai, and Izumi Ogoshi, Director of DENTSU SOKEN INC. Based on the hypothesis that innovation might emerge from the logistics sector, which faces labor shortages in highly regulated Japan, the panel discussed how new mobility technologies will transform the industry and reshape business models.

Part 2 featured a keynote speech by Seiji Onozuka, Principal at Roland Berger Japan, titled "Realizing Logistics 4.0 Through the Evolution of Mobility Technologies." He discussed how manufacturers must create new added value anticipating changes in the logistics business, driven by innovations dubbed "Logistics 4.0" brought about by IoT advancements such as warehouse robots and the spread of autonomous driving.