Logistics is the foundation of global trade. It connects places and companies in global networks - from the physical flow of materials and goods to the exchange of data and financial flows in logistics management. Like no other industry, it is highly standardized and predestined for the comprehensive use of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and processes. Intelligent pallets are already able to exchange information independently via platforms and trigger transport orders, while intelligent containers are able to report critical fill levels to a platform and initiate optimized planning and collection.

"The die is cast in the private customer sector (B2C). Platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba and Uber dominate both the business models and the associated logistics processes. In the area of B2B platforms, it is only just being decided who will be ahead in the future. The winners will be the platforms and AI algorithms that will penetrate logistics innovatively and holistically. A kind of Silicon Valley of the B2B world, the Silicon Economy, is emerging. We need to raise awareness in politics and business that German companies still have the chance to significantly shape the Silicon Economy. However, it is five to twelve. Because whoever controls the world's logistics also controls the world's economy," says Prof. Michael ten Hompel, describing the urgency of implementing a digital platform economy as quickly as possible.

The NRW state exhibit was one of the selected exhibits that Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel visited at the Digital Summit. Using various innovations from Fraunhofer IML, ten Hompel illustrated how Germany can maintain its market leadership in logistics using digital platforms and artificial intelligence. He presented an intelligent pallet developed jointly with Deutsche Telekom and EPAL, an intelligent recyclables container developed jointly with Rhenus and a high-speed transport vehicle (LoadRunner) that can, for example, negotiate with an intelligent pallet and take over transports. In addition to Chancellor Merkel, other high-ranking guests from politics and business also visited the exhibit, including NRW Minister President Armin Laschet, Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, Bitkom President Achim Berg, Telekom Board Member Claudia Nemat and Thomas Jarzombek, BMWi Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Start-ups.