DPV Transportation Worldwide surveyed a wide range of leaders who utilize and arrange for transportation services on the topic of technological innovation in the transportation sector.
The participants were decision makers in a number of relevant roles, including facility managers, procurement officers, town planners, CEOs, and presidents, from across different industries.
The goal of the study was to collect a range of perspectives and derive insights on the perception of advancements within the industry. This is what was found:
Based on the results of the survey, most leaders would likely agree that
TRANSPORTATION INNOVATIONS TRANSFORM . . .
SAFETY – RELIABILITY – SUSTAINABILITY – EFFICIENCY
AND MORE.
Importance of Technology in Fleet Management
Rated by leaders on a 1-5 Scale, 5 being most valuable
84.4% rated value 4/5 or higher.
12.5% rated value 3/5 or lower.
Over 90% of respondents’ answers indicate they recognize that technological advancements are valuable to passenger safety.
93.8% responded positively to safety innovations
Leaders know what’s valuable,
but don’t always know what’s possible.
Despite rapid advancement within the transportation sector, many leaders failed to recognize the increasing innovations of recent years, as outlined in the DPV Transportation innovation report.
When asked, “Where do you think ground transportation stands in terms of technological innovations in relation with the other sectors of the economy?,” the vast majority of leaders found the industry to be slightly or far behind.
81.2% Slightly or Far Behind
15.6% On Par
3.2% Far Ahead
The innovation is here.
The adaptation is not.
Nearly half of all respondents believe their organizations are not taking full advantage of the technology at their disposal to benefit their passengers.
Is Sustainability a Priority?
More respondents saw less valuein sustainability than any other innovation.
HOWEVER,
Eco-friendly or electric vehicles were listed as the #1 type of technology most respondents are missing from their transportation services.
The findings indicate that individuals, leaders, and organizations are highly interested in sustainability. However, the transportation sector still requires education to drive greater understanding about the potential for their role in combating climate change.
Over 25% more respondents found new energy sources to be more exciting than any other single category of transportation innovations.
Based on the survey, the most popular areas of transportation innovation include:
- New Energy Sources
- Artificial Intelligence
- Disease Prevention
No Hands & No Contact
Other notable innovations that leaders in transportation services indicate are missing currently from the industry include:
- Autonomous Vehicles
- Contactless Technologies
Unsurprisingly, the survey indicates an above-average interest in disease prevention-related technological innovations and contactless technologies. This result may be due to the timing of the survey, which took place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The emphasis on autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence indicates that there is a level of awareness of the direction in which the industry is headed.
Given earlier reported statistics, that awareness may not extend to the details of the innovations available today. However, the future of ground transportation is clear. It is safe, it is sustainable, and it is autonomous.
Conclusion
Perception and reality. Belief and practice. Innovation and adaptation. The components of each pair should align with one another, yet based on the results of this survey, none do. Many leaders indicated a lack of awareness about the latest advancements. Organizations don’t all utilize the technology at their disposal. Sustainability, COVID-19 prevention, and safety should be priorities for all, yet several leaders report that their transportation services lack technologies in these areas.
The rapidly advancing industry appears to have many gaps that need to be filled, but the world gets closer to bridging those gaps each day. Despite room for improvement, a significant number of organizations have quickly adapted to the global health crisis with new rules and tools. More technological innovations from autonomous to sustainable vehicles are released each year, as the DPV 2021 Transportation Innovations Report outlines. The vast majority of professionals surveyed recognize the tremendous value of innovation, and so, the future of transportation is poised to quickly become the present.
