Logistics and supply chain professionals have never been more valued than in the last two years, a time in which the sector has gained more weight in the global economy. The pandemic, the improvement in electricity trade, the rise in energy prices and the last straw of the war in Ukraine have meant that logistics, from being practically unconscious, must be considered a key sector for the economy and of the utmost necessity. This visualization is one of the novelties of the XII Barometer of the Logistics Circle carried out for the International Logistics Exhibition (SIL) that will turn Barcelona from May 31 to June 2 into the capital of southern Europe and Latin America of the sector.
The results of a survey of 1.032 managers in the sector reveal that the pandemic has been the main cause for citizens to value this activity as essential with 46,3%, followed by the rise of 'ecommerce' with 41,6 % The microchip crisis has contributed to the increase in prominence with 10,4%, but only 1,7% causes the loss of professionals, reverse logistics or shortages.
The barometer indicates that the most important aspect of the logistics of the future will be the automation of operations (32,1%) followed by collaboration in transport material (26,4%) and the exchange of standardized information (24,1%). ), while collaboration in terms of storage is in fourth place with 7,7% of the responses and personalization of the service (7,4%) in fifth place in this ranking. 2,3% of the participants affirm that they will use the 'blockchain', the regularization of transport, the promotion of multimodal transport, the professionalization of personnel, the coordination and technology associated with robotics, the collaboration of the different links of the padlock supply or the challenge of relocation.
Regarding the anticipated investments for the next five years to adapt to the 4.0 economy, the results of the barometer highlight that they increase significantly compared to the last one made in 2020. 54,3% of the directors affirm that their companies will invest less than one million (-10,3%). However, 32,1% stated that they will invest an amount that will range between one million and 5 million (+8,2%). The same happens with the company that has an investment forecast of between 5 and 10 million, which on this occasion represents 5,6% and in the latest edition of this study it represents 3,5%, but also 5,6 % of those surveyed say they will invest between 10 and 50 million, a figure very similar to that of 2020. The number of companies that plan to make an investment of more than 50 million represents 2,4% this year, (+0,6, XNUMX%).
Quality and flexibility
Quality being the most valued aspect when subcontracting a logistics service, with 82,4% (+6,9%). Flexibility is the second aspect with 61,1%, second for certainty due to experience and trust with 59,2%, figures in both cases similar to 2020. The savings that the company supposes by subcontracting a certain logistics service are remains in fourth place, with 48,4% (-6,9%), but its significant increases experienced by specialization, with 31,4% (+4,8%) and the rapids with 29,6 % (+10%).
The main concerns of logistics carriers focus on service and quality (21,5%), and efficiency and optimization of costs and stocks are in second position (18,9%). 13,9% mark the speed, punctuality and commitment of logistics companies as the third headache. Communication and information (control technologies) follow with 7,3% (-5,1%), planning with 7,1% (+2,8%) and sustainability with 6,1% ( +0,8%). However, delinquency is an issue that hardly worries anyone (0,1% of cases).
For 96,2% of those surveyed, the most outsourced logistics activity is transport, a long way from distribution (52,8%). In this edition of the Barometer, the number of Spanish shippers decidedly drops from the implementation of 44-ton trucks in the transport of goods by road, with 58% (-7,7%), while detractors increase by 2,2 % is its 10,8%. Also, 72,3% of Spanish industrial companies state that they are committed to the SDGs.
The year of Extremadura
Extremadura will be the invited community in the 22nd edition of SIL. After the signing of the agreement between the president of the Board, Guillermo Fernández Vara, and the special delegate of the State in the CZFB, Pere Navarro, Rafael España, Extremaduran Minister of Economy, Science and Digital Agenda, stressed that the invitation has been motivated " for the logistics strategy with which it has endowed the region”. For his part, Father Navarro assured that "Extremadura is a region with great interest and logistical capacity and we are proud that they want to be present at SIL to value their role before the main players in the sector in Spain, but also at a international ".
