German shippers expect further internationalisation of their logistics as a result of moreinternational supplies and customers. At the same time, the potential for logistics outsourcing and
supply chain management will continue to grow. These were two of the main findings of a survey of400 German companies presented at this week’s BVL German logistics conference in Berlin. The 10thannual trend survey was commissioned by the German logistics association (BVL) and carried out byfour academic organisations.One key trend, according to project manager Prof. Dr. Frank Straube, of the Berlin TechnicalUniversity, is that shippers are more interested in time-certain transportation rather than thespeed of the transportation. A further internationalisation of their customers is expected by 77per cent of German industrial firms and by 73 per cent of retailers. Two-thirds of industrial and54 per cent of retailers also expect growth in the number of their international suppliers.
While outsourcing of transport and warehousing services is already high in some industrialsectors such as automotive, the potential is still considerable in many other sectors, Straubesaid. There was also clear growth potential in other, high-value logistics activities such asnetwork management (21 per cent) and procurement, order and supply chain management (8-14 per cent)where outsourcing remained relatively low.
