Theme: Growth
Industry Adoption: ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚪ Fully Integrated
Impact: ⚫ ⚪ ⚪ Moderate

Cold chain optimisation is a vital trend in logistics. It focuses on the efficient management of perishable goods and products, especially from the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, which demand an uninterrupted temperature-controlled chain. The quality and safety of temperature-sensitive items are ensured through tech-enabled systems and government initiatives. The adoption of advanced cold chain solutions is fully integrated, yet its importance is resurging due to increasing disruptions. Extended transport and transit times, combined with the risk of interruptions, have made cold chain technologies critical once again.

The global cold chain logistics market is experiencing significant growth, with its size increasing from nearly 248.4 billion USD in 2020, to an expected 410 billion USD by 2028. Data highlights the relevance of the trend across both academia and business. While engagement from established businesses remains moderate, C-Suite attention has tapered off, with mentions dropping from over 870 in 2022, to around 330 in 2024 - reflecting the trend's fully integrated status. There is comparatively higher activity in the startup space, with over 20 startups active in this field since 2015. Innovation is reflected in more than 2,000 patents filed between 2019 and 2023, although groundbreaking contributions remain limited. Academic interest is robust, as evidenced by approximately 6,500 publications that underscore ongoing research and development.

What are the opportunities?

Enhanced remote monitoring of reefer containers ensures precise control, improving product quality and operational efficiency. Tools such as Remote Container Management (RCM) enable real-time tracking, bolstering customer satisfaction and energy-efficient operations.

What are the challenges?

Cold chain logistics faces rising operational costs, environmental concerns from increased carbon emissions, and difficulties maintaining stability under extreme conditions. Infrastructural shortcomings in certain regions further risk product loss, particularly for highly sensitive goods.

Sources:

• Statista (2021).
• Survey among 500+ global logistics decision makers across various industries, conducted by Statista for Maersk (Q4 2024).
• In-depth interviews with global industry experts, academia, and futurists.
• Unstructured web sources with more than 10,000 search term permutations using AI.
• Curated data from startup databases, patent databases, and analysis tools, as well as Semantic Scholar.