The effects of the fourth industrial revolution on the logistics sector: A research in logistics activities in Antalya region

The industrialization process from the past to the present is explained through four different waves. The discovery of water and steam powered machines, the transition to mass production with the help of electricity and assembly line, and the groundbreaking innovations in the field of internet and information technologies, which paved the way for the world to become a global village, have witnessed history. Industry 4.0, in which Western countries act with the motivation to recapture their competitive advantages in production, is a flexible production strategy that was introduced in Germany in 2011 and turned into an official industrial policy. This revolution, which, unlike the others, proceeds at an exponential speed; It makes it possible to use many other technological structures such as internet of objects, cyber physical systems, big data and autonomous robot in the industry and make production smart. It is curious how this revolution, which will make its effects felt in every field, from gene sequencing to nanotechnologies, will show its effects in the logistics sector. Therefore, in this study, the potential effects of Industry 4.0 in the logistics sector, which are likely to be seen in the future, are investigated and technology trends that will lead Logistics 4.0 to the fourth industrial revolution are investigated. The study also in the world of "smart logistics" practices in place giving a benchmark for logistics services in Turkey who want to create added value in the economy with innovations that provide efficiency (benchmarking) aimed to create a ladder. In accordance with the methodology of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted in the logistics companies in Antalya region in order to discover the perceptions of the firm authorities about the effects of the fourth industrial revolution on the logistics sector. The data obtained from face to face interviews were analyzed and interpreted in the computer aided qualitative data analysis program. In the light of the findings, it was revealed that the majority of the companies perceived Industry 4.0 as the leading role of technology in all business processes, especially production, and the interconnection of these processes within the scope of digital transformation. In the perception of the effects of Industry 4.0 on the logistics sector, the fourth wave of industrialization and the views that the processes in logistics will accelerate and increase the efficiency and the need for qualified personnel were within the majority.