Supply Chain management

Not only are companies constantly exposed to new challenges in their operating business – they also need to remain agile with regard to increasing sustainability criteria. This enhances the willingness to rethink and adapt supply chain processes: Green logistics aims to integrate environmental sustainability into all phases of logistics activities and thus makes a positive contribution to environmental protection. In our latest article on the blog, we discuss what options companies have to implement sustainability goals along their supply chain and what challenges need to be mastered in the process.

It is a long way from production to delivery of a product to the end consumer. For many companies, it’s a key priority to ensure that the ordered goods are available on the agreed dates. After all, the more efficient, reliable and punctual the transport of goods, the higher the level of customer satisfaction. To achieve this, it is worth focusing on the middle mile. As the interface between procurement and the final provision of the goods, the latter represents a crucial and complex section of the supply chain. Find out here how strategic supply chain management can help to optimize transport between warehouses with the help of digital solutions in order to shorten delivery times, better manage inventories and meet customer expectations.

Supply chains are becoming ever more complex: legal regulations, increasing sustainability requirements and higher customer expectations entail that the individual phases of a product cycle from manufacture to delivery can now no longer be viewed in isolation from one another. To ensure that a product is available at the right time in the required quantity and quality, upstream and downstream processes must interlock seamlessly and smoothly. This requirement is supported by a symbiosis of Supply Chain Visibility (SCV) and Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM), as it not only provides companies with valuable knowledge about their supply chain processes, but also gives them planning security and enables them to benefit from greater resilience to unexpected events.

In the context of globalized flows of goods, supply chains are increasingly transforming into dynamic, data-driven systems. And yet, the more networked and complex a supply chain is, the more susceptible it is to disruption and malfunctions: Digitization is often also considered a gateway for cyberattacks on the supply network. To prevent such occurrences, IT security should be firmly anchored in a company’s DNA and considered from the outset. An information security management system (ISMS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001 can become a genuine competitive advantage. In our latest article on the blog, we discuss which criteria are relevant for certification and what companies can do straight away to better protect themselves against cyberattacks.

In the context of globalization and the integration of supply chains across national borders, international transportation has gained in importance. In this context, the organization of goods movements over long distances is increasingly presenting companies with logistical challenges: In order to meet customer expectations and avoid bottlenecks, delays or failures of deliveries, a precise planning and coordination of the numerous processes is necessary. We explain how well-coordinated transport management not only increases the reliability of companies, but can also reduce costs and minimize environmental impact.

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.

Ever more companies are placing their strategic focus on meeting sustainability criteria: After all, in addition to the increased requirements on the customer side, there is also a growing number of legal regulations that require ecologically justifiable and resource-preserving actions. Companies that rely on environmental management in accordance with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) norm 14001 therefore have a strategic advantage. In our latest blog article, we discuss the added value that is associated with certification and which criteria are relevant.

Strategic supply chain management is the foundation of a smooth flow of goods and thus the basis for economic efficiency and customer satisfaction. In this context, supply chains are becoming increasingly digital, as the use of innovative technologies and solutions enables the exchange and analysis of data, the automation of processes and tracking in real time. In our latest blog post, we discuss how the application of artificial intelligence (AI) as a disruptive technology supports logistics processes and can make a decisive contribution to optimizing and strengthening supply chains.

Compliance is a key aspect in the logistics environment: It serves to prevent risks and thus to protect companies and their employees. As the topics of sustainability and due diligence are gaining momentum, companies in the B2B and B2C sectors should prepare for increasing transparency requirements along the entire supply chain. We highlight the challenges and benefits of compliance management and explain the technologies that support it.

An increasing number of companies is developing strategies in order to proactively avoid disruptions or failures along the supply chain. The study "Supply chains: Security under pressure – cost-optimized supply chain management for increased resilience" surveyed 320 logistics decision-makers from various countries on the risk assessment and security of their supply chain – with interesting results, also with regard to the effectiveness of preventive measures that had been used.