Insights

The complexity of global supply chains and the need to collaborate with a wide range of partners and stakeholders increases the importance of Supply Chain Visibility (SCV). In our Q&A, Ralf Boelicke, Head of Product & Partner Management at Hermes International, explains what is necessary for companies to use SCV profitably and what challenges need to be overcome when implementing a visibility strategy.

Rail transportation is considered a fundamental pillar in the global movement of goods. Not least due to the current logistical challenges in the Red Sea region, companies appreciate the reliability and efficiency of transporting goods from China to Europe by rail. Sebastian Glenschek, Head of Sales at Hermes International, explains how this particular rail service works and why the connection is a safe and cost-effective alternative to sea and air freight.

Sialkot in Pakistan is a major player in the global market for medical products and exports to numerous countries. The city has made a name for itself among many medical institutions and specialists as a reliable supplier. And yet, before the surgical instruments can be used at their destination, they need to be transported across many national borders. Hermes International supports its customers in the export of these important healthcare goods and maintains a strategic partnership with the local logistics service provider WWG. By combining local and international logistics expertise and intermodal transportation capabilities, the two companies ensure a smooth and efficient supply chain from Sialkot to anywhere in the world. Tariq Jehanzeb, Branch Manager at WWG, provides insights into the work on site and reveals what is planned for the trade route to Germany.

Today’s customers expect a seamless shopping experience: Orders should be placed without major hurdles and returns must be processed easily. It’s the task of logistics to move the required goods from one place to another as safely, efficiently and sustainably as possible. For this to succeed, orders need to be optimally planned and coordinated, and the individual sections of the supply chain must be precisely matched. We explain the key role of an active Order Management in this context and discuss how companies benefit from intelligent Order Management.

Delays in freight transportation are not always avoidable and sometimes they do lead to high additional costs. Disruptions to the unloading and collection of containers in the port and delays on the subsequent journey can result in significant surcharges. In our latest article on the blog, we explain the benefits of demurrage and detention management and discuss how it helps to reduce demurrage times, as well as the over-utilization of storage and freight capacity in order to avoid unnecessary charges.

In many companies, data from the various phases of the value chain is increasingly being generated and combined for analysis. To avoid confusion and to be able to draw profitable insights from the digital information, it is crucial that the sometimes highly sensitive data is strategically managed and processed. With Advanced Reporting, companies can collect and process the real-time data on their goods movements and receive proactive reporting on the current status of their supply chain processes through appropriate tools.

Influenced by the disruptions of an increasingly VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world, digital technologies are becoming ever more important for supply chain management. Consequently, many companies are repositioning strategically: Topics such as sustainability and risk management are increasingly coming into focus. Transparency and a detailed data overview form the basis for sound decision-making and optimized work processes. In our latest blog post, we discuss how digitization is helping to strengthen the supply chain and what challenges companies are facing in the process.

Supply chain laws, compliance requirements, the new EU CSRD and changing consumer behavior – in view of a new awareness of sustainability and against the backdrop of legal regulations, acting in an ecologically responsible manner is increasingly becoming a strategic corporate goal. An important factor in this context is the reduction of CO2 emissions: Yet, how high are the emissions generated during the transport and delivery of goods? Where is potential for optimization in order to make transports more efficient and environmentally friendly? In this interview, Tobias Ruscheweyh, Head of Branch Group Service and Lead Sustainability & Risk Management at Hermes International, explains how companies can use the 3-phase model of Hermes International, a business unit of Hermes Germany, in order to reduce and offset their CO2 emissions when transporting goods.

In order to increase the resilience of their supply chain, resolve dependencies and reduce susceptibility to disruptions, German and other European companies are increasingly seeking to diversify their supplier network and look for new, alternative procurement sources. In the first two articles of our Vietnam series, we explained why Vietnam offers a promising perspective and how the market entry can succeed. In a joint interview, Adrian Biasi, Head of Commercial at SEKO Logistics Vietnam, and Ralf Boelicke, Head of Strategic Sales at Hermes International, now shed light on the challenges companies face when entering the market and explain how the two experienced service providers, through their strategic partnership, can support the development of logistics and supply chain management through consulting and implementation.

Whether by sea, air, rail or truck – a large number of demanding transports need to be realized every day. Goods that do not fit into standard sea containers due to their size or weight often pose challenges for companies: How can those items be safely packed and loaded for sea transport? Henning Behrmann, Agent Export/Import Sea at Hermes Germany GmbH, provides answers.