LOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION
Future-proofing through foresight John echoes Carl’ s experience, stressing the value of partnerships and shifting the perception of sustainability and customs regulation altogether.
“ Working with experienced customs and trade advisors helps you interpret complex regulations and anticipate how policy shifts might affect your supply chain, even when you’ re really busy – without the need for costly, permanent, in-house capacity,” he says.
“ Customs compliance is not just a checkpoint to be crossed off at the end of a process. When it’ s built into planning from the outset, it can drive business growth through resilience and efficiency, as well.
“ Businesses have to stop treating customs as an obstacle and start recognising the opportunities that expertise and insights in this field can bring.”
Sustainability is ranked as a high priority by 81 % of organisations.
Like route planning itself, sustainability is not a one-department, nor onecompany challenge. The emissions reductions required across logistics demand an industry-wide response
PLAN AHEAD, BUILD VISIBILITY, INVEST
John’ s advice to logistics leaders looking to enhance their international route planning strategies:
“ First, plan ahead and consolidate. Concentrating volumes through ports with modern customs systems, consistent procedures and strong cooperation with local authorities will always result in smoother operations and far fewer regulatory surprises.
Second, build real-time visibility into changing regulations – from new sanctions and tariffs to evolving customs rules – using digital tools and data platforms that pull trade compliance directly into your planning process. This is something Customs Support Group can help you with.
This brings me onto my third piece of advice: invest in the right partnerships. Working with experienced customs and trade advisors helps you interpret complex regulations and anticipate how policy shifts might affect your supply chain, even when you’ re really busy – without the need for costly, permanent, in-house capacity.
Finally, however you approach things, always ensure compliance sits at the heart of every business decision. Customs compliance is not just a checkpoint to be crossed off at the end of a process. When it’ s built into planning from the outset, itcan drive business growth through resilience and efficiency, as well. Businesses have to stop treating customs as an obstacle and start recognising the opportunities that expertise and insights in this field can bring.”
100 December 2025