Business Guide

In the event of a disruption, an overdependence on individual suppliers or geographical regions can lead to serious bottlenecks in procurement and production. Increased diversification is one way to cushion supply chain disruptions and improve security. We explain strategies that companies can use in order to unleash the full potential of a well-diversified supplier portfolio.

Fast delivery, cost-efficient shipping, and customer-friendly returns – these are all factors that play an important role for customers of online stores and platforms, also for cross-border purchases. By now, already 200 million of the total of 268 million online shoppers in Europe have ordered abroad at least once. Therefore, efficient cross-border logistics are important for e-commerce retailers and present a major challenge. In the last part of our "Sales Market Europe" series, you will receive tips on which aspects are relevant for efficient fulfillment.

While the summer sales are just picking up speed, companies are already focusing on the next winter peak season with Black Friday and Christmas sales. For various reasons companies are facing major challenges this year. A timely and strategically thought-out preparation is therefore of particular importance. With smart peak management, a sensible inventory strategy and foresighted diversification of the supply chain, companies are optimally positioned for the upcoming peaks in demand.

Sustainability is not just a trend, but one of the major tasks of today. This is why companies are striving to improve their environmental balance sheets and are actively working towards reducing their harmful emissions. A first or additional step in this respect is the offsetting of carbon emissions. But which measures actually serve their purpose? We have the answer.

For many years, companies have organized manufacturing, procurement and logistics processes according to the principles of lean management. Lean and cost-efficient – this is how production and supply chains should be designed. However, in view of the current challenges in the global trade and transport of goods, agile models are now gaining in importance. So what is supply chain agility and how can companies use it to boost their success?

For many years, the Just-in-Time model has been considered a success driver. In the crises of recent years it became apparent that the method also has disadvantages. Thus, the just-in-case method, suddenly had a comeback. But which method is suitable for whom – and do companies really have to decide? We want to provide fundamental answers to these questions.

Consumers and politicians are increasingly demanding compliance with ecological standards within the supply chain. But how can they implement their strategies and reduce CO2 emissions in the supply chain? We provide answers.

Transparent supply chains, reusability of returns and environmentally friendly packaging: Sustainability in e-commerce is certainly a trending topic. Purchasing decisions are increasingly dependent on sustainability aspects. But what does this mean precisely, and what challenges does it entail for companies?

Global supply chains are affected by disruption and interference, even supply shortages. That’s why supply chain resilience is becoming ever more important – we explain what the benefits of a resilient supply chain are and provide tips for their implementation.

The global value chain continues to be affected by severe disruptions. Against this background, efficient supplier management is critical to success. We outline the challenges and provide tips for sustainable action.