“Big Data” is what materials handling experts call the enormous amounts of information that can be systematically collected from a wide variety of sources, then sorted, analyzed and evaluated with the help of computers and other technology. It’s also the subject of a new report called “Big Data in Logistics,” which was issued this month by DHL, the world’s leading logistics provider. The report gives examples of how Big Data can be applied in practice to three areas: Operational efficiency, customer experience and new business models.