Moving towards logistics 4.0: Analyzing the opportunities and challenges from the Uruguayan logistic sector

This research aims to diagnose the Uruguayan logistics sector, focusing on companies' awareness of digital solutions and the challenges they encounter. A survey was conducted, yielding 275 responses from companies of various sizes and industries. Some of the main findings indicate a close relationship between company size and digitalization levels. The overall degree of digitalization among respondents is medium/low (2.47 out of 5), with Large and Medium-sized companies showing a medium level, while Small and Micro companies exhibit a low level. The results show that although there has been significant support for digitalization and technology implementation in the country, the general state of digitalization remains low for most of the logistic sector. For instance, 57% of respondents believe they do not suffer from a lack of digitalization, suggesting a need for awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of digitalization for long-term sustainability and profitability. Nevertheless, 67% of companies anticipate an increase in technology and digitalization investments over the next two years, this optimism may depend on factors such as economic conditions, market stability, and access to resources. The survey further reveals that processes such as purchasing, deliveries, planning, and strategy have a medium level of digitalization, while innovation & design, and production showed lower levels. In terms of technology usage, some basic technology such as surveillance cameras, GPS for fleet tracking and route planning software are the main technologies used in warehouse and transportation, underpinning the potential for improvement and use of more advanced technologies related with industry 4.0. Based on the results of this study, it is essential to continue engaging with companies to provide better understanding and training about the potential benefits of implementing Logistics 4.0 technologies. The study underscores the necessity for ongoing research and support to drive a deeper digital transformation within the sector, enabling companies to achieve a competitive edge in their digital capabilities.