Dive Brief:
- An annual poll conducted by Norton Rose Fulbright found that 43% of respondents believe big data and predictive analytics are set to be the biggest drivers of change in the transportation industry over the next five years, as first reported in American Trucker.
- Further, one-fifth of respondents said new technology, rather than infrastructure improvements, represented the "optimal investment opportunity" for their industry.
- 82% of respondents expect an increase in cyber attacks over the next five years as the transportation sector looks to become more digitized.
Dive Insight:
As tech and data development grow to be bigger priorities nationwide, some companies are becoming waste and recycling industry trailblazers. Waste Industries recently announced a partnership with data company Actifo to upgrade systems and prepare for the "Internet of Things," and Waste Management said it wants to do more to capture and use data. For some, data integration and technological improvements have been ways to raise capital, not just enhance performance.
Technology and data can certainly aid with the logistics and planning of waste collection and processing, but not everyone is thrilled with the possibilities that exist — especially in trucks. Concerns about privacy and morale led Toronto to scrap a plan to install in-cab cameras, while union workers in St Petersburg, FL opposed similar plans back in March. If privacy concerns can be balanced, however, technological improvements stand to improve safety and efficiency for the entire industry.
