Research by the German Association for Logistics show that logistics and IT are driving innovation in the German economy.

Visitors to CeMAT 2016 will be able to experience diverse IT solutions for logistical challenges as the show adopts a greater focus on information technology.

"The trend to Industry 4.0 will be a dominant theme at CeMAT 2016. To this end, we have extended the CeMAT presiding committee to ensure that logistics IT receives the appropriate attention," says Dr Andreas Gruchow, board member of expo organiser Deutsche Messe AG.

Professor Dr Uwe Kubach, vice president of IoT Enablement, SAP SE, and Michael Baranowski, managing director of TEAM GmbH, have been invited to join the committee.

Kubach is in charge of research and development into the Internet of Things at SAP. In this role, he is responsible for innovation and development work in machine-to-machine communication and the technology platform for the Internet of Things.

"Logistics 4.0 opens up logistics processes to new key technologies such as the Internet of Things, Cloud and Big Data. This will create huge potential for optimising existing business processes and establishing new business models. CeMAT is the best place for showcasing logistics IT and highlighting the potential of this keynote technology," Kubach says.

Baranowski is managing director of medium-sized IT company TEAM GmbH in Paderborn. His company claims to be one of the leading Oracle partners in Germany and has operated on the intralogistics market for over 30 years.

"The market for IT systems for intralogistic applications is undergoing a process of radical change. Logistics 4.0 will open up entirely new concepts and solutions, which will transform intralogistics," Baranowski says.

Deutsche Messe has also set up a logistics IT working group. A member of the group, Wolfgang Albrecht, director of IT Solutions, SSI Schäfer, says that for many years, modern IT systems have been pivotal to many of the major innovations in intralogistics.

"Logistics 4.0, an integral part of the Industry 4.0 concept, places greater emphasis on IT and provides the basis for further boosting efficiency and flexibility in intralogistics. It is only logical that CeMAT should also be developed to accommodate an even greater focus on IT. Visitors to CeMAT 2016 will be able to experience diverse IT solutions for logistical challenges at first hand," he adds.

According to the latest study by the German Association for Logistics (BVL), "logistics and IT are the power driving innovation in the German economy", and not only facilitate the individualisation of products but also speed up production, goods handling and trade by increasing flexibility.

CeMAT 2016 will be held from 31 May to 3 June 2016 in Hannover, Germany.