In 2026,
logistics remains the systematic planning and coordination required to move goods, resources, and information from their point of origin to their final destination. It is a critical subset of supply chain management focused specifically on the physical flow and storage of materials.
Core Components of Logistics
- Transportation: Selecting shipping methods (air, sea, land), managing carriers, and optimizing routes to ensure timely delivery.
- Warehousing: The safe storage and organization of inventory. Modern systems use strategic layouts to minimize picking times and maximize space.
- Inventory Management: Tracking stock levels to prevent "stockouts" (running out of items) or "overstocks" (having too much capital tied up in unsold goods).
- Order Fulfillment: The end-to-end process of receiving an order, picking items from a warehouse, packaging them, and shipping them to the customer.