transport logistic 2019, a globally leading trade fair, discussed geopolitical issues alongside technological trends, such as IoT, AI and sustainability.
The transport logistic 2019 trade fair in Munich, which takes place every two years, once again lives up to its claim as the world’s leading transport and logistics event:
Popular networking venue: The BVL booth
More than 2,300 exhibitors (including freight forwarders, logistics service providers, infrastructure providers, logistics consultancies, national agencies, ports, IT and mobility service providers) from 64 countries found their way to Munich-Riem multimodally, by car, plane, bus shuttle or local public transport, despite the hot temperatures.
As expected, the fair served an information and networking hub, like the get-together at the German Logistics Association (BVL).
Brexit and the Silk Road affect tomorrow’s transport flows
A glance at the exhibition schedule revealed the most pressing pain points: Geopolitically, this is primarily the dragging Brexit with its considered significant logistical disturbances.
Interesting insights: Expert session on Brexit implications
This entails the ensuing risk that preferential proofs of origin for hard Brexit will no longer be issued, which in turn means more effort and considerable delays in customs clearance.
The other focal point was the Chinese Silk Road program, the so-called “Belt and Road Initiative”.
There were hot discussions on both, opportunities and threats. The first being enhanced access to the Chinese market through efficient terminals, railways and roads, as well as increasing trade streams to the east.
Hot topic at transport logistic 2019: China and its New Silk Road
The latter centering around the growing influence of China on European businesses and the lacking reciprocity due to little to no coordination and joint actions at an European level. Today, 10 % of the European terminal capacity is already controlled by Chinese organizations.
Previous hype topics such as blockchain, on the other hand, were rather quiet – presumably due to a lack of relevant use cases.
Innovative solutions for transport logistics
Above all, transport logistic 2019 was about solutions for the specific transport and logistics challenges. Some notable examples:
“Green Logistics” to reduce the carbon footprint (i.e. lower consumption of resources) will also lead to an increase in competitiveness.
Measures to ensure functional “hinterland transport”, so that even the “last mile” can be served efficiently and reliably.
Smart integration of the partners involved through intelligent interfaces, ensuring improved interconnectivity in logistics
New insights: VR demo of IoT container management at the EURO-LOG boothIntelligent container management, with containers that recognize their current state of load and their status in the process and independently trigger alerts in case of rule violations (e.g. with regard to humidity or temperature). The SupplyOn subsidiary EURO-LOG, for example, made it possible to experience this in virtual reality 3D glasses.
Mobile solutions for forwarders and transport service providers, which improve interconnectivity thus provide more visibility in the transport process
In other words, transport logistics 2019 (open till June 7) continues to provide groundbreaking impetus for the global transport industry as the backbone of an increasingly interconnected but also vulnerable global trade.
As Sales Manager, my goal is to be the central point of contact for our new aerospace customers, but also for customers from other industries, and to advise them as best as possible on a solution design that fits their needs as well as to accompany them not only until the contract is signed, but also until the start of productive use.
It is important to me to ensure that new customers are handed over to our Delivery department and then to our Consulting team. Customers should not only feel that they are in good hands during the ongoing project, but also when new challenges arise that affect them and where SupplyOn can be part of the solution.
In addition to regular exchanges via modern communication media, personal exchanges with my contacts are particularly important to me — at trade fairs, at customer meetings and, of course, at the customer's site. I mainly blog about aerospace trade fairs and customer meetings.
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