Are we building skyscraper warehouses in the future to compensate for the lack of storage space? If it is up to Colliers International, yes. The real estate company published a report with six striking predictions for logistics and retail.
According to the report European Retail & Logistics Insights: From Sheds to Shelves, consumers are increasingly buying online, creating a growing demand for modern storage space. That space does not exist in Europe, according to Colliers International. Therefore, multi-storey warehouses, deep-water ports and so-called showrooms will become commonplace in logistics. The following developments are expected in the coming years:
1. Gigantic warehouses
Land prices are pretty much on the rise. Real estate developers are therefore building upwards to minimise the need to purchase land. ProLogis Parc Narita III is a case in point. This gigantic (61,400 sq m) industrial facility in Japan has as many as seven floors. Soon such skyscraper warehouses may also be sprouting up in Europe.
2. Deep-water ports
Container ships are getting bigger and bigger. An average container ship today can carry more than 25 times as much cargo as in 1970. This is a problem for some ports as they do not have the capacity to accommodate these ships. To facilitate trade, deep-water ports are unavoidable.
3. Other delivery methods
E-commerce requires a different way of delivery. The last mile is still a challenge for many parties. How do you make sure a parcel gets to the end customer as efficiently as possible? There is a lot of talk about drones, but the question is whether drones will really take over our airspace. In cities, delivery bikes or private delivery companies are already widely used. To combat pollution, electric cars are also increasingly used.
4. A transformation for high streets
. High streets are having a tough time. More and more high streets are struggling with vacant premises. Colliers International expects that the hardest-hit high streets will disappear in the future. The vacant shops in regional and local shopping centres offer opportunities for the hospitality sector, entertainment venues, post offices and co-working spaces.
5. Rise of showrooming
Showrooming, the phenomenon where customers view a product in a shop and then buy it online, has prompted many retailers to downsize their retail spaces, engage online and rely on low-cost storage spaces. Deliveries can be made directly to customers from these spaces. This does not mean that real shops will disappear into the background altogether. Smart retailers will deploy technology, such as 3D printing and augmented reality, in their shops, attracting consumers to the high street.
6. Digital urbanite
In many countries over the next two decades, a majority of consumers will live in cities and be highly digitally oriented. This has implications for the retail sector. In Europe, digital urbanites are often already a majority, but in China and India, Colliers expects substantial growth in this area. Existing retailers in these countries can benefit from this growing target group.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
