Drones have captured the imaginations of many logisticians. The uses for drones are expanding as more logistics providers test these devices in a number of ways, including inventory and yard management and, of course, delivery. While government guidelines remain either vague or non-existent, drones are being tested and implemented particularly within the healthcare industry to deliver medicines in remote areas as well as in general areas of the US and Europe. -Cathy Morrow Roberson, Founder/Head Analyst, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC

The parcel industry is projected to grow 9 percent annually to more than $343bn globally by 2020, according to Accenture, thanks to the increase in e-commerce orders, which are forecast to surpass $600bn by 2021 in the US alone. Parcel carriers are challenged in this era of explosive e-commerce growth to maintain historic profitability as the number of stops per delivery and the size of packages increase, while customer expectations for speedier deliveries continue to heighten. -Dan Clark, Founder and President, Kuebix