Issuu

COMMENT

Pandemic Push For Digitalisation

AND AUTOMATION

As was seen during the pandemic, online sales and the digitalisation of business operations were both a source of stress and an opportunity for those logistics companies that were open to innovations and digitalisation, as well as the automation of storage operations

reight transport and logistics are seen as important drivers of economic development and key ingredients of improved competitiveness, economic growth and employment for any country. Furthermore, developments in logistics and transport go hand-in-hand with the implementation of new technologies, R&D and a highly qualified workforce. According to the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), which is the weighted average of country scores in terms of the efficiency of the clearance process (i.e., speed, simplicity and predictability of formalities) by border control agencies, including customs; quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure (e.g., ports, railroads, roads, information technology), ease of arranging competitively priced shipments; the competence and quality of logistics services (e.g., transport operators, customs brokers), the ability to track and trace consignments and the timeliness of shipments in reaching their destination within scheduled or expected delivery times, Serbia had a rating of 2.84 out of 5 in 2018, which is the latest year for which data are available. This is slightly less favourable than 2015, when that figure stood at 2.96. Apart from road transport, which is developing at a relatively high pace in Serbia, other forms of transport (rail, water and air) are still in their infancy when it comes to the transport of goods, which represents a serious obstacle to attracting global supply chains. As of 2018, rail transport in Serbia and the Western Balkans has been recognised as one of the priorities of the EU Connectivity Agenda.

Transport & Logistics 2021

Although some progress has been made, border procedures remain complicated and time consuming, while trade and nontrade barriers are significant and result in considerable delays and losses in transport and logistics. At present, due to the pace of infrastructure development, both domestic and foreign logistics companies and logistics centres are mostly concentrated in the area of Belgrade and other larger cities, whereas other parts of Serbia remain insufficiently developed in terms of logistics. These are serious constrains for an industry that is facing an increased push from value chains

the industry expects the state to take further steps to upgrade the business environment, bringing predictability to regulations and laws, and increasing investments in the development of intermodal transport to shorten procedures and allow for smaller and more frequent deliveries, with very short and strict deadlines, and high penalties. As was seen during the pandemic, online sales and the digitalisation of business operations were both a source of stress and an opportunity for those logistics companies that were open to innovations and digitalisation, as well as, for example, the automation of storage operations. As expected, the pandemic has hit local companies harder than multinational ones.

Moreover, the pandemic hit those companies that specialise in certain procedures harder, while those with portfolios that feature a wider range of logistics services fared better. In certain forms of transport, such as rail and river transport, there has been a noticeable drop in handling goods like agricultural products, mineral fertilisers, petroleum products etc. Yet, as confirmed by recent investments in 2020 and 2021, the industry is experiencing intensive growth and it is realistic to expect this growth to

be even higher in the future. According to real estate consultancy company CBS International, the logistics and industrial market was one of the most progressive and fastest-growing real estate market segments, which showed the greatest resilience even under the altered circumstances caused by the pandemic. The observed space for growth arises from the low level of operations, i.e., significantly lower logistics stock per capita than in the West, booming e-commerce and a short supply of available space on the Serbian market.

Now that the situation has somewhat normalised, the industry expects the state to take further steps to upgrade the business environment, bringing predictability to regulations and laws, and increasing investments in the development of intermodal transport. Naturally, it is also important for the current programme to construct and renew traffic infrastructure to continue, and for the state to proceed with addressing the problems of huge delays at border crossings, both on the Serbian side and on the side of neighbouring countries.

Transport & Logistics 2021

INTERVIEW MILAN PETROVIĆ, ACTING ASSISTANT MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE – DEPARTMENT FOR ROAD TRANSPORT, ROADS AND TRAFFIC SAFETY

Planned Approach To

IMPROVING TRANSPORT The digital transformation process and increasingly acute environmental criteria create the space for the more efficient organising of domestic and international transport. Alongside these technological criteria for efficiently organising international road transport, it is also important to have high-quality bilateral agreements and investments in new infrastructure.

Transport & Logistics 2021

ven during the darkest days of the pandemic, export operations functioned well in the region, thanks to so-called “green corridors”, but various delays that could be eliminated were nonetheless recorded. This topic, along with digitalisation and the issue of sustainable transport, forms the focus of our interview with Milan Petrović, acting assistant minister in the Department for Road Transport, Roads and Traffic Safety. How can conditions for conducting international road transport operations be improved to ensure they are more efficient and to avoid excessive paperwork and long delays caused by waiting at borders? - One of the most effective measures for simplifying procedures at border/administrative crossings is the introduction of a one stop shop system of controls, which implies officials from all competent bodies at a border crossing being housed in a shared facility, so border controls can be conducted exclusively in that facility. The

Republic of Serbia, together with North Macedonia, introduced such a system for road traffic at the Preševo-Tabanovce border crossing. The signing of a bilateral agreement between the two countries represents one of the preconditions for establishing such joint controls. Another measure for easing cross-border transport is the construction of additional infrastructure at border/administrative cross-

Significant progress was made in the previous period when it comes to the use of modern technologies that ease the operations of domestic hauliers in cargo transport through the introduction of a system of the electronic discharging of foreign permits for international freight transport

ings. This undertaking implies, amongst other things, expanding and reconstructing border/ administrative crossings (e.g., the construction of additional traffic lanes, parking spaces, border control facilities, the digitalisation of border crossings etc.). These kinds of measures generally require additional funds, and it is necessary to attempt to utilise the financial assistance of the EU that’s available through approved financial assistance programmes (IPA, WBIF). The harmonising of the Republic of Serbia’s national legislation with the parts of the EU acquis related to the transport of passengers and cargo, as well as all procedures at border crossings, would also contribute to simplifying and speeding up transport. The pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of almost all sectors, while it also has broad applications in the field of transport and facilitating exports… - The idea of digitalising public transport activities is being mentioned increasingly often of

Transport & Logistics 2021

INTERVIEW late. It is being implemented within the scope of this ministry, in accordance with the possibilities and by monitoring the progress of other key factors in the state administration system. Simply digitalising activities without clear goals and control methods cannot represent a goal in and of itself, and therefore the further development of digitalisation and fiscalisation must be defined in accordance with the actual technical, organisational and financial capabilities of this industry. Compared to the previous period, significant progress has been made in terms of providing conditions for the use of modern technologies to ease the operations of domestic hauliers in cargo transport through the introduction of a system of the electronic discharging of foreign permits for international freight transport. This ensures that domestic hauliers can electronically submit data on the permit used, after which they can, within an envisaged deadline, submit this permit and accompanying documentation for discharging in paper form (which is a legal obligation), in order to verify the data entered. On the basis of a permit discharged in such a way, the haulier gains the right to acquire further permits from the plan, in accordance with the relevant regulations. The process of issuing international permits has thereby been accelerated, while the planning of the work of domestic hauliers has been eased and an increase in the number of international transports and the competitiveness of the Serbian transport economy have been enabled. Further movements towards digitalisation are being made via the establishment of the portal of the Directorate for Joint Affairs, where procedures are envisaged for digitalisation that have no need to use an electronic clerk’s office. Following the establishment of this part of the system (electronic clerk’s office), conditions will have been secured for the broader application of digitalised procedures in this area, while this ministry’s work will be accelerated for domestic hauliers. Considering that the transport market is increasingly demanding, road haulage companies place a special emphasis on the complete digitalisation of their operations. Road transport companies that carry out public transport operations for passengers or cargo use digital devices in accordance with their needs when performing transport work, and these are most commonly mobile communications, digital tachographs,

Transport & Logistics 2021

defined by the category of haulage vehicles of the highest standards, with the aim of establishing competitiveness on the international transport market. By applying international bilateral and multilateral agreements in the domain of road transports of passengers and cargo, with the aim of being able to perform international transport operations, domestic hauliers have completed the procurement of vehicles of the “EURO 5 safe” and “EURO 6 safe” categories, so the participation of these vehicles (21.83%) following the ministry’s decision to allocate the base quota of CEMT permits in the next year is being executed completely in this category: Haulage vehicle Number emission category

One solution that would ease crossborder transport significantly is the construction of additional infrastructure at border/ administrative crossings, which can be achieved by relying on European funds GPS (Global Positioning System), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) etc., which certainly leads to the optimising of business processes, i.e., to more efficient operations, better communication with users and faster data flows. We are increasingly witnessing the fast pace of changes to regulations related to vehicles and environmental standards, which are particularly important when it comes to international freight transport. To what extent have our hauliers managed to harmonise their operations with these standards? - When it comes to the fleet of the domestic transport economy, particularly with regard to international freight transport, it is already largely

Participation

E0 (vehicle)

19,637

55.64%

E1 (green)

0.13%

E2 (green and safe)

0.18%

E3 (EURO 3 safe)

1,192

3.38%

E4 (EURO 4 safe)

323

0.92%

E5 (EURO 5 safe)

6,327

17.93%

E6 (EURO 6 safe)

7,704

21.83%

Serbia faces major challenges with the aim of decarbonising and protecting the environment. The issue of decarbonisation is a cross-sectoral issue, given the existence of different sources of air pollution. In specific terms, in the domain of transport, there are various incentives provided to the economy with the aim of promoting decarbonisation. A good example is subsidised sales of new vehicles with hybrid or fully electric engines, then the subsidised purchases of new vehicles for public transport – taxis (vehicles that have fully electric, hybrid or compressed natural gas engines, or which at least satisfy the EURO 6 standard when it comes to emissions of exhaust fumes), exemptions from taxes on the use of motor vehicles for owners of fully electric motor vehicles, i.e., those that have an electric engine (hybrid vehicles) – these are just some of the environmental protection or decarbonisation measures that are being applied in the road transport sector.

Transport & Logistics 2021

INTERVIEW DARKO BABIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DHL

We Connect People To

IMPROVE THEIR LIVES! This year represents the 38th year since DHL began providing services in the then Yugoslavia and 30 years since DHL registered as a Serbian company with 100% foreign capital. This company has always been a leader in the field of transport and logistics. And that is still the case today, when the company pays equal attention to improving its operations and preserving the environment. and innovation will inevitably also influence all forms of business in the future. It is nice to recall our history and all our successes, but my focus is directed towards the future. There is the future that is being created and the future that we are creating.

t the global level, we show our responsibility towards the world in which we work and operate. In Serbia, 70% of our vehicles will be electric by 2025, regardless of state incentives regarding electric vehicles, announces DHL MD Darko Babić in this interview for CorD Magazine You are this year celebrating the 30th birthday of your company. Those have been beautiful years, but what marked them? - We have been operational for every single

Transport & Logistics 2021

day of all 30 years, which is the greatest possible success for us, considering the turbulent times that we’ve endured. We worked under the conditions of sanctions, UN resolutions 757 and 820, hyperinflation, the exterior wall of sanctions, bombing, political unrest and all other challenges. The period behind us, particularly over the last decade, has been marked to a great extent by the accelerated development of technologies, which is simultaneously the factor that has the greatest influence on changes to which operations are adapting. Technological development

The pandemic has inflicted heavy damages on many industries, but it has also encouraged accelerated growth in your industry. What do the figures suggest? - As with most companies, doing business between March and June 2020 was very uncertain, because the world was confronted by a global crisis. The pandemic has changed lots of things, changed ways of working and the habits and needs of clients, but it quickly became clear that DHL has a purpose which, under these circumstances, became clearer than ever before. We showed that the purpose of our existence is not to compete in a race for profit, but to connect people, connect economies and connect the world with the clear goal of making lives better. We reacted quickly, at the end of February 2020, to the early signs of the coming crisis so over the course of 10 days, at the level of Europe, including Serbia, we transferred over 9,000 people to work from home. We reacted even before the pandemic was officially declared, because – as a global company that has a presence in over 220 countries and territories – we have plenty of experience of dealing with various crises. We secured, in a timely manner, all essential protective equipment, preventative measures and education for employees aimed at ensure the

continuity of operations. I would emphasise the good cooperation and understanding of state bodies, particularly the Customs Administration and their officials, with whom we traversed this challenging period together, every day. Following the stabilising of the situation in China, we started catching up with our results from 2019, only for us to end 2020 very successfully and above expectations.

This includes, first and foremost, educating employees and developing an awareness of the contributions and obligations that we, as individuals, have towards the environment in which we live.

The costs of logistics in Serbia contribute twice as much to the price of products than in the developed countries of the West. Does this leave room for optimisation? - The overall costs of transport and logistics have increased significantly worldwide, due to the fact that demand exceeds the capacity on offer. I expect a certain stabilisation to come in the next few years, which will contribute to reducing logistics costs as a factor of the price of products, through new business models and innovative solutions. In any event, I don’t expect any drastic changes in the next 48 months. Apart from costs, it is also important to reduce environmental pollution. How will you achieve your goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to 0% by 2050? - We view that with great certainty and are convinced of that which we’ve proclaimed. We are taking action on both the global and local fronts. We are this year, for the first time in Serbia, introducing electric cars to our fleet, as well as hybrid vehicles, in order for us to reduce the level of environmental pollution. By 2025, we will use electric vehicles for at least 70% of all deliveries of shipments, both in Serbia and all other countries around the world. All of that requires corresponding infrastructure. DHL in Serbia plans to invest 20 million euros in new business premises over the next two years, which will include the latest cutting-edge solutions and equipment, while we will significantly reduce emissions in all working processes. The full benefit for the environment in which we live and work will only be possible when we, as a country, produce electricity from cleaner sources, including renewable energy sources. We have various activities under the scope of our sustainable development programme.

We have shown that the purpose of our existence is not to compete in a race for profit, but to connect people, connect economies and connect the world Digitalisation, the automating of processes and robotisation have already arrived in our country. Is it correct to suggest that delivering goods by drone, paying with cryptocurrencies and driverless vehicles are not something in the distant future, but rather a certainty? - Artificial intelligence is already being applied in some warehouses, performing certain tasks in interaction with employees. Through the Virtual Assistant, clients can today ask various questions related to all operational segments that will direct and lead them to the information they seek in the simplest possible way. The entire logistics industry is at such a high technological level that there is also functional use of robots, drones and

autonomous vehicles. The question is how the applying of modern technologies will impact on social life and human development. At this moment, approximately four million people are employed in warehouses in the United States and earn 120 billion dollars a year. If we imagine that half of that amount is being invested in the full automating of processes in warehouses, how many people could lose their jobs? On the other hand, according to some studies, experts believe that by 2030, in Europe alone, there will be a shortage of about 50 million experts with new skills, and not only in IT, but certainly among those who possess those new skills and knowhow. This certainly represents great potential, primarily for developing countries, because we are already seeing that our experts are building successful careers thanks precisely to their knowledge of modern technologies. Does our legislature monitor developments in the transport and logistics domain to a sufficient extent? - Serbia is on track to harmonise its legislation and norms in accordance with European standards. We expect the period ahead to see the creation of such a framework that will enable the accelerated automating of processes, with full control and risk analysis, as well as simplified customs clearance procedures aimed at speeding up the flow of goods. This is an indispensable and urgent measure. You mentioned a campaign to plant trees. Could you tell us more about that? - We previously noted environmental impacts and the actions being taken by DP DHL in this regard. Our intention is for a million trees to be planted every year by our 580,000 employees worldwide. Through this global action, DHL in Serbia provides its own contribution to the afforestation of territories that we select in cooperation with our partners: Srbijašume and Zelenilo Beograd. We will thereby contribute at least a little to Serbia achieving its goal of having 41% of its territory covered by forests as soon as possible. I expect us to agree on new locations this autumn, and for our employees, under the scope of the Volunteer Day, to plant another 300 trees again this year.

Transport & Logistics 2021

BUSINESS

BOGDAN GAVRILOVIĆ, SALES MANAGER, WORLD TRANSPORT OVERSEAS (WTO)

LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT EXPERTS World Transport Overseas (WTO), one of the fastest growing logistics companies, with headquarters in Eastern Europe and branches in Bulgaria, China, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia, was declared “Company of the Year for 2020” in the Bulgarian service sector at the Forbes Awards

You have a new platform that you also finished introducing last year... Could you tell us about it? - Yes, yes ... Last year we also completed the introduction of MS Dynamic NAV at all WTO offices. This new IT platform ensures sophisticated management of the supply chain, which integrates the operations and needs of all WTO offices into a single operating system. The combined functional areas include the tracking of shipments, communication, data and document management, financial activities, warehousing, sales and – most importantly – user support. And while we’re already talking about what’s most important, for us that’s our employees. They are our most valuable and most precious resource, without which the progress achieved wouldn’t have been possible. As a response to the growing volume of work, we also increased the number of jobs this year, enriching our collective with more educated young people.

nnovation and the complete digitalisation of all processes – as crucial elements for all companies operating in the field of logistics and transport – remain a priority for our operations, reveals WTO Sales Manager Bogdan Gavrilović, while stressing that employees represent the most important factor of the company’s success. Your company introduced numerous innovations a year and a half ago, at the start of 2020. What was included in everything that you’ve changed? - Prior to the pandemic, we introduced numerous changes to our corporate identity. We adopted a strategic plan, under the title ‘Vision 2030’, with the aim of opening additional branches in all logistics centres around the world over the next 10 years, by the end of this decade, because we think that’s the only way that we can meet all the needs of our clients. An important step in the implementation of the strategy is represented by the opening of a branch in China, under the name World Transport Overseas China, which started operating as a NVOCC [Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier] on 1st September 2020. The company has actually had a new logo since August, because changing the visual identity is part of the brand’s evolution. The new logo symbolises the global presence of World Transport Overseas in the sector of providing logistics and all directly and indirectly related services, as well as the three types of transport that we successfully implement: sea, road and air. Last year, which was very important for you, was marked by the pandemic, as was a large part of this year. Has the pandemic changed the way you operate?

Transport & Logistics 2021

As a response to the growing volume of work, we also increased the number of jobs this year, enriching our collective with more educated young people - Under the difficult conditions that emerged following the spread of the COVID-19 virus and in the face of the global pandemic, we didn’t stop working, thanks to the digitalisation of our business processes. By respecting all recommendations for preserving the safety of our employees and clients, we responded successfully to all requests, and continue to do so now. On a daily basis, we monitor the situation that’s important in our field of activity and adapt to unfolding changes.

How is WTO preparing for the future challenges? - World Transport Overseas started the integration of its own ERP system onto the TradeLens blockchain platform, helping ensure a more timely and consistent view of logistics data for its containerized freight around the world. TradeLens is an open and neutral supply chain platform underpinned by blockchain technology. In addition, it is an interconnected ecosystem of supply chain partners — cargo owners, ocean and inland carriers, freight forwarders and logistics providers, ports and terminals, customs authorities, and more. Currently, we are the first company in Bulgaria and the region to utilise this platform.

LJUBOMIR LAZAREVIĆ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACROSS COMPANY

BUSINESS

AIR CARGO WORLD Apart from organised transportation for export shipments, Across Company organises collections of goods purchased abroad and secures their transportation to the final destination. This implies transport to Belgrade, but also transports from third countries to destinations anywhere around the world

e help our clients, both in the country and abroad, to obtain the required documentation, including permits, guarantees, certificates and everything needed to ensure safe transport. Thanks to that, we can also organise the transport of sensitive goods, explainsAcrossCompanyMDLjubomirLazarević As a representative of Across Company, which is a leader in this line of business, could you tell us more about the transport of goods by plane? - Our experience shows us that the plane is a very powerful resource when it comes to international transports of all kinds of cargo. It is a mistaken opinion to suggest that Serbia, as a small country, lacks possibilities to transport cargo by air, as is ordinarily done in the so-called developed world. It is only with air transport that you can today promise that a shipment with important contents, or a shipment for an exhibition set to start the next day on another continent, will indeed be on that other continent by tomorrow.

All freight forwarding costs for any destination, including air transportation from airport to airport and local transportation to the address of the recipient, can be paid in dinars There’s no congestion on the roads, no waiting at borders, no need to traverse five customs controls from the airport of departure to the airport of final destination. Does the large number of airlines served by Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport enable goods to be sent by plane to countless destinations around the world? - Air Serbia has a large number of international flights. With airlines, as contractual partners, there’s no destination that can’t be covered from Belgrade with Air Serbia. What is even more interesting is that all freight forwarding costs, for any destination and with any airline, can be

paid in dinars. This includes air transportation from airport to airport and local transportation from/to the address of the sender/recipient. We can organise transports of sensitive goods that require specific temperature conditions, transports of medicines, fresh agricultural products, hazardous substances, live animals, pets, animals for zoos and chics aged up to 72 hours.We also have experience with charter transports of live monkeys for theTorlak Institute, transporting vaccines fromTorlak for the entire world, a unique transport of a pair of rhinosfromZimbabwe to the Belgrade Zoo and a charter transport of breeding heifers, transports of cars and various types of equipment. We participated in the organisation of the event “Around the world by car in eight days” by providing charter transports for about 100 cars, on the same day, in three cargo planes, along the route from Belgrade airport to the next destination, where participants used their cars to continue travelling by road. Transporting by air is considered by many to be an expensive way of transporting goods. Is that really the case? - Air transport is an expensive form of transport, particularly for users who opt to use aircraft at the last minute in order to meet an agreed delivery time. However, if air transport was calculated and included in the price of the product, then it is a price like any other transport cost. Unfortunately, little is known about air cargo transportation and air cargo is rarely mentioned in economic and transport stories. You will hear stories every day about new planes, new airports, runways, gates, passenger numbers and luxury lounges, but no one mentions cargo. The Morava Airport in Lađevci, Kraljevo, could be a nice story on the topic of cargo transportation. Fortunately, the Across Company office and headquarters are located in the building of the Cargo Centre at Nikola Tesla Airport, and our “air cargo world” is present on all sides.

Transport & Logistics 2021

NEWS

Faster Delivery WORLDWIDE The global pandemic has changed both the world and us - from mind sets, priorities and environmental awareness to our attitudes towards health, business and quality of life. Thanks to this, all companies, whatever their sector and industry, will have to become more efficient, sustainable and consumer-orientated. The need for social distancing and avoiding direct contact to preserve health has led to great innovations, progress, improvements and new services in the transport, logistics and distribution sector, and insiders say that this trend will continue in the years to come. There's no turning back!

DISTRIBUTION CENTRES WITH SMART CAMERAS Thanks to new technology, smart video equipment and video solutions installed in logistics centres, unlike traditional security cameras, make it easier for operators to store, transport, and control the movement of goods and staff. When goods move 24/7, 365 days a year, it is natural to look for a way to increase work efficiency, because goods must always be available to be delivered on time. This is why it is important to install suitable security systems that allow operators to monitor the movement of vehicles and people in the facility and monitor goods, both entering and leaving. Here are three more reasons to implement smart technology: 1. The level of protection of staff from accidents is raised, because modern video surveillance can signal that the employee does not have part or complete personal protective equipment prescribed for his workplace. 2. The security level of the distribution centre is raised because it is easier to register suspicious movements, both inside and outside the facility. For example, thermal cameras take clear shots even in low light conditions. 3. With the help of smart surveillance systems, the operator can easily follow the entire flow of loading and unloading goods.

Transport & Logistics 2021

GIVE SOME WORK TO A ROBOT, YOU WON’T REGRET IT One of the biggest hits in warehouses and distribution centres is the introduction of robots, which is why it is estimated that the warehouse robotics market will be worth six billion dollars next year. The fact that there are several types of storage robots that offer different functions allows warehouses to choose the best solution for a particular process. Warehouse managers should understand the available options for applying the right technologies to suit the needs of the warehouse, so as to invest wisely in technology.

WALMART SENDS FOOD AND TESTS BY DRONE From the very beginning of the pandemic, the American company Walmart tried to contribute to the fight against the virus with donations in money and goods, as well as volunteer actions, innovations for contactless shopping, and by developing delivery systems for Coronavirus testing kits. To be ready for possible new pandemic waves requiring additional isolation and self-isolation, Walmart has organized trial deliveries of basic foodstuffs, and tests, drugs and other medical substances by drone. In partnership with Quest Diagnostics and Drone Up, a leading national supplier of drones, Walmart launched test deliveries of kits in northern Las Vegas in late September, organized deliveries in New York State in early October, and continued throughout 2021.

THREE TRENDS IN LOGISTICS To more easily meet the growing needs and expectations of their clients, the world’s leading authorities in this economic area advise distribution and logistics companies to become acquainted with trends that will prevail in the next few years. In order to be successful, logistics and transport companies will have to accept technology and automation, to follow customer demands but also to create them, to create the need for their services. 1. R ely on Technology Automation in the industry has been a trend for several years, but this year its wider application is expected because more and more companies are realizing that this saves time and money and other resources. This is due to the automation of the process, efficiency, control over the movement of goods, inventory management ... 2. Insist on Speed and Precision If you ask the client, the delivery would be completed even before the order, when he imagined what he wanted, but there is no solution for that. But this does not mean that it is not possible to speed up the delivery of packages. The solution for those traveling from one end of the world to the other will be a better combination of different types of transport or the creation of distribution centres at strategic points from which it is easier and faster to deliver. 3. The struggle to protect the environment Consolidation of shipments and packaging, reduction of plastics, use of biodegradable packaging, these are just some of the solutions to the growing need to reduce pollution. This way of doing business benefits the environment, and it is also profitable, because it increases customer loyalty.

GLOBAL TRADE RETURNS TO PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES In the first two or three months of the pandemic, as states closed and citizens were quarantined, the same fate befell international transport. Currently, however, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global trade has already jumped to exceed pre-pandemic levels. This rapid recovery in global trade is important for enabling the recovery of major world economies and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, but also for the survival of the distribution, logistics and transport industry.

Transport & Logistics 2021