The 2nd China (Sichuan) International Logistics Expo (hereinafter referred to as the Logistics Expo) recently concluded successfully in Chengdu. Not only did the transaction volume of over 50 billion yuan set a record high, but a consensus was also reached on the construction of international logistics channels to the south and west—jointly building a "New Silk Road".

　　How will the 3rd Logistics Expo be held in 2014? Yan Mingxiang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee of the Logistics Expo and Director of the Yunnan Office of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, recently stated in an interview with this reporter that the 3rd Logistics Expo will be larger in scale and higher in specifications. It plans to invite Nobel economists to attend, striving to promote the development of China's logistics industry on a larger scale, at multiple levels, and from multiple perspectives. At the same time, Yan Mingxiang has his own thoughts on the future development of the logistics industry. He believes that with the formation of China's future open economic pattern and the construction of major channels, it will inevitably lead to the development of large-scale logistics; in addition, with the rise of high-tech technologies such as the Internet and the Internet of Things, intelligent logistics will become the future development direction of the logistics industry.

　　Intelligent logistics will create richer social value.

　　Yan Mingxiang stated that intelligent logistics is an advanced version of logistics, integrating the Internet of Things, sensor networks, and the existing Internet. Through refined, dynamic, and scientific management, it achieves automation, visualization, controllability, intelligence, and networking of logistics, thereby improving resource utilization and productivity levels and creating a more comprehensive social value.

　　In other words, intelligent logistics uses integrated intelligent technology to enable the logistics system to mimic human intelligence, possessing the ability to think, perceive, learn, reason, judge, and independently solve certain problems in logistics. That is, obtaining information during the flow process, analyzing the information to make decisions, enabling goods to be tracked and managed from the source, and making the information flow faster than the physical flow. This can be achieved through RFID, sensors, mobile communication technology, etc., to automate, informatize, and network the delivery of goods." said Yan Mingxiang.

　　Intelligent logistics will be the slogan for logistics informatization.

　　Currently, the vigorous development of new-generation information technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and mobile Internet is driving the transformation of China's intelligent logistics. It can be said that intelligent logistics will be the next stage of informatized logistics. Yan Mingxiang stated, "We should use intelligent logistics as the slogan for logistics informatization."

　　Currently, the application and promotion level of advanced information technology in China's logistics industry is still relatively low. Therefore, Yan Mingxiang believes that China should accelerate the research and formulation of standards for logistics information technology, services, coding, security, and management, promote the connection of logistics informatization standards such as the data layer, application layer, and exchange layer, and promote the construction of a logistics informatization standard system.

　　In terms of specific measures, we should prioritize urgent needs and promote the formulation and dissemination of key basic standards and key professional and industry standards. We should support the use of cloud computing and other technologies to carry out pilot projects for the construction of logistics information technology service platforms, and improve the research, development, promotion, and application level of key common technologies for logistics informatization. In industries with high added value or requiring key supervision, such as equipment manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, hazardous chemicals, and tobacco, pilot projects for Internet of Things applications should be carried out.

　　The construction of a public information platform for intelligent logistics is key.

　　"For intelligent logistics, the construction of a public information platform is key." Yan Mingxiang stated that a public logistics information platform refers to an information platform based on computer communication network technology that provides information, technology, and equipment resource sharing services, including e-government platforms for logistics, e-commerce platforms for logistics, and e-logistics platforms.

　　Intelligent logistics can greatly reduce the costs of various industries such as manufacturing and logistics and increase corporate profits. The construction of intelligent logistics will also accelerate the development of local logistics industries, integrating multiple functions such as warehousing, transportation, distribution, and information services, breaking down industry restrictions, coordinating departmental interests, achieving intensive and efficient operations, and optimizing the allocation of social logistics resources.

　　Yan Mingxiang stated that with the popularization of RFID technology and sensor networks, the interconnection of things will lay the foundation for the intelligent integration of enterprises' logistics systems, production systems, procurement systems, and sales systems. The integration of networks will inevitably lead to the integration of intelligent production and intelligent supply chains, with enterprise logistics fully intelligently integrated into enterprise operations, breaking down processes and process boundaries to create intelligent enterprises.

　　Finally, Yan Mingxiang stated that intelligent logistics can also provide various services such as self-service inquiry and tracking of goods from the source, especially for food products, allowing consumers to buy and eat with peace of mind, increasing consumer confidence and promoting consumption. Ultimately, this will have a positive impact on the overall market, and it can also promote the fast, efficient, and smooth operation of information flow and material flow, thereby reducing social costs, improving production efficiency, serving society, and serving life.