In Europe, the move toward electronic transport documents is no longer just a matter of convenience. Regulation, software readiness, and day-to-day business pressure are all pushing the market toward less paper and more automation. This shift does not concern only large multinationals. It also affects carriers, freight forwarders, warehouses, and traders that handle CMR notes, […]
Supply chain management is the end-to-end coordination of activities that bring products from sourcing and production to delivery – and, increasingly, back again via returns, repair, reuse, and disposal. The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals describes supply chain management as the planning and management of sourcing, procurement, conversion, and logistics activities, plus coordination with […]
The holiday season is a critical time for freight forwarders as it presents a range of challenges. They contend with supply chain disruptions, heightened theft and loss risks, customs requirements, and the impact of winter weather on transportation. Supply Chain Disruptions The holiday period is notorious for supply chain disruptions. Increased traffic on major […]
As the global economy becomes more complex, supply chain risk is on the rise. With globalization and the growing number of customers and suppliers, supply chains are longer and more intricate, making them vulnerable to a variety of security and logistics risks. These risks include cyber threats, economic instability, natural disasters, and political unrest, among […]
In an increasingly globalized, hyper-connected world, managing the flow of goods can be both challenging and complicated. Some common challenges that European logistics businesses face include supply chain disruptions, changing market conditions, environmental sustainability, and communication and collaboration with multiple parties. Supply Chain Disruptions Supply chain disruptions can occur for a number of reasons, […]
China’s extreme Covid-19 zero policy could be a major obstacle to full recovery for the freight forwarding sector. In fact, it is also aggravating the crisis just before the holiday season, with emptied shelves across the globe. In an attempt to keep the virus in check, the authorities have kept on prohibiting crew changes for […]
Toymakers warn about significant disruptions in global supply chains caused by the ongoing pandemic, the recent blockage of the Suez Canal, rising labor costs, resin shortages, and power outages in different parts of China. All these have led to higher prices and additionally strained the supply chain. Delays in Unloading Cargo Vessels Cause Shortages The […]
Lockdowns and social distancing protocols led to a significant drop in purchases in 2020, followed by growing demand as countries began to reopen economies in 2021. Carriers, forwarders, and businesses have tried different solutions, from outbidding one another for containers to chartering ships and buying their own containers. This is what the Swedish giant Ikea […]
For most people logistics companies are simply in the business of shipping cargo and goods from point of origin to final destination. While this is certainly true, they are also involved in data collection, analysis, and processing. Safe and efficient shipping requires data from a variety of sources such as analytics and transport management solutions, […]
New border measures have been implemented across Europe, with the potential to cause significant supply chain disruptions. Experts warn that the restrictions introduced by Germany at its border crossings with the province of Tyrol, Austria and the Czech Republic may result in delays in freight delivery across the EU. Other countries that introduced such measures […]
Major ports across the globe are increasingly digitizing processes to ensure efficient workflow and keep contact to a minimum during the coronavirus outbreak. The global pandemic already caused major disruption to the global supply chain, with workers ordered to stay home and falling ill. Experts predict that ports may experience staff shortages due to the […]
Every successful entrepreneur will agree that the logistics and international freight forwarding services are of key importance for the successful business. This is because the list of logistics companies provides seamless services which answer the demands of the customers and thus allows for the company to stay ahead of the competition. No matter the size […]
We are close to the end of the first quarter of 2019, and the freight forwarders and European logistics companies from IFA are already prepared to meet the expected trends which will likely shape the logistics and supply chain industry this year. They are all a direct result of the growing diversity and increasing globalization, […]
All of the member companies of IFA are aware of the negative effect of a stockout for any business. A stockout means that the storage and distribution services provided by the International Forwarding Association run out of a particular item, which leads to canceled orders and the impossibility to fulfill them. A stockout can lead […]
As members of IFA know, the supply chain is becoming ever so complicated with problems like delays in the payment between manufacturers and suppliers as well as between customers and retailers. The contractual agreements as well as contract logistics often require using the services of banks and lawyers which add to the delays and the […]