Sustainability and Innovation in Transport & Logistics: How to Get Started!
In recent years, the COVID pandemic, the rise of e-commerce, and disruptions in global supply chains have highlighted the crucial role of efficient logistics — from producers to end customers. However, in the battle against climate change, the transport sector must ramp up efforts to reduce energy consumption and facilitate the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Moreover, given the labour shortage, increasing workforce productivity is essential. Digitalization and technology are indispensable for this. The challenges are many, but how can you, as a business owner, tackle them? Begin with chain management and scrutinize the entire logistics process.
Examine the Entire Chain
Logistics chains are managed to ensure timely and sustainable delivery, while keeping costs in check. Logistics service providers are increasingly offering chain management services to shippers. But what's the best way to start with this? These tips will help you achieve significant efficiency gains right away:
Be transparent about all flows. This enables the client to better identify potential savings in costs and CO2 emissions, which can often be overlooked when focusing narrowly on individual routes and modes.
Use multiple modes of transport in conjunction. Various logistics modes are not viewed as isolated elements to optimize; instead, they are used in a coordinated and integrated manner.
Maintain oversight of the entire process. This gives you better control of the total costs of logistics activities.
Appoint a chain manager. This person serves as the single point of contact for the logistics process and is also the contact for data exchange. Through chain management, clients can also access additional external transport capacity, improving supply chain handling.
The goal is clear: to gain insights into opportunities for logistics improvements by combining data and using this to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the logistics process for clients, ultimately easing their burden. This enables more cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable transport. Developing and offering chain management services is increasingly becoming essential.
