Logistics of the Future—Physical Internet and Its Practicality

The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate and trade on a global scale. The Internet of Things makes objects and devices that we use every day—from interior design (home appliances) to sensors in infrastructure (bridges, roads, buildings)—more efficient by enabling them to transmit data and connecting them in the cloud. The next stage is the Physical Internet (PI), which heralds the adoption of technology and methodology of Digital Internet to the real (physical) world. Physical Internet pushes boundaries for research and practice, and its goal is to optimize logistics processes to create more efficient and sustainable supply chains. The article points to the chances that the Physical Internet brings to the logistics efficiency from an EU perspective. The article describes the formal EU preparation for the PI concept as well as the selected first projects, ventures, and tools that already function as prototypes of the PI concept.