LOGISTICS IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITAL ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

Introduction. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has led to the significant influence of Industry 4.0 technologies not only on the development of the real sector of economy but also on nearly all industries and economic sectors, transforming traditional business models into digital ones. Logistics is not an exception from this transformation. Socio-economic and political instability of the recent years has revealed the urgent need for radical changes in logistics to enhance productivity and flexibility. Materials and methods. The research methodology is grounded in the methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, cause-and-effect relationships, comparison, description, and logical reasoning. Results. The research identified the stages of logistics development - from Logistics 1.0 to Logistics 4.0 and provided their characteristics. It has been found that in recent decades, the logistics sector has evolved under the influence of diverse factors, and during the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic, the adoption of digital technologies and the automation of logistics accelerated by several years, giving rise to Logistics 4.0. The study also examined key digital technologies and innovations employed by modern logistics companies. Discussion. Based on the analysis of various studies, a relationship between previous industrial revolutions and associated changes in logistics was identified. The research concludes that in the current environment, the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in logistics is accelerating. A definition of Logistics 4.0 is provided, introducing elements of novelty as a customer-oriented business within value chains, founded on a comprehensive approach to the organization and management of material and information flows, and featuring digital models that align with the scientific and technological requirements of Industry 4.0. The results obtained are of interest for further research into Logistics 4.0, regarding its conceptualization and evaluation of its practical effectiveness.