Today was our first logistics company visit. We took the metro to a logistics park where we got very, very lost trying to find the building! A couple students put their Spanish to the test asking nearby workers where to go. Once we found the building, they were so welcoming and happy to see us. I was excited to learn about Estoko as it is a start up logistics company. Estoko offers a warehousing as a service cloud solution. This gives their clients access to a sophisticated logistics artificial intelligence platform. The platform connects businesses with storage, fulfillment and distribution to independent warehouses with excess space. The company is working with over 300 integrated warehouses in Spain.  Estoko is part of the Logistics 4.0 movement. Logistics 4.0 is the shift of the economy to digitalisation. The use of technology simplifies the complex supply chain management issues. Digitalisation of the processes creates visibility across the value chain and improves performance. The logistics 4.0 approach optimizes supply chain operations with the integration of new technology. Many companies are looking to the future with logistics 4.0 and Estoko has an advantage as it has already developed the software and artifical intelligence necessary to operate. Estoko currently operates in Spain but is looking to become a larger global presence. The company is in an “incubator” which is where start up companies use the office space for their operations. In the incubator next to them was a 3D printing company. We got to tour the 3D printing space and learn the process that goes into the production of products. They were working on prosthetics, sunglasses, remotes and more. I thought the production of prosthetics was interesting and will make prosthetics accessible to more than just the few who can afford it.

After the tour we had lunch at Can Cullertes where we got to experience traditional Catalan food. The Catalan chicken was delicious, it was cooked with plums and different spices. After lunch we toured the famous Mercat and got to see the many different vendors ranging from fruit to oysters. I bought flavored olive oil and salts. I love to cook so I am excited to use the oil and salt to enhance my recipes! After the Mercat we had a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia. I have seen it from the outside before but never got to go inside. The inside was absolutely breathtaking! The reflection of the light from the stained glass was stunning. Different colors radiated throughout and you could tell the artistry and detail that went into the construction of the building.