SupplyChain Magazine August 2020 | Page 79

“ The higher the complexity , the more attractive it is to outsource to a 3PL provider ”
— Jaap Bruining , Head of Europe , Coyote Logistics
harder than others , resulting in a sharp drop in demand , estimated to be around 30 % across Europe . Carriers have been struggling during this phase but as we see a gradual opening up of facilities , demand is slowly recovering . As a result of all of this , there has been a need for the industry to handle the situation dynamically .”
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 , Bruining states that the pandemic has certainly been testing the global supply chain , highlighting the importance of innovation . “ From a desire for greater resilience to the accelerated adoption of warehouse automation and alternative transportation modes , the crisis is throwing open a new world of challenges and possibilities . But it ’ s not only about improving supply chain resilience , it ’ s also about driving innovation at the same time . Companies that double down on innovation now will maximise their chances of emerging from the pandemic in good shape .” As a result of the pandemic , Bruining has seen the deployment of robotic process automation ( RPA ) and autonomous vehicles for moving and storing products accelerate further . “ Although the trend lines were already in place , the reality of managing supply chains in the era of COVID-19 has dramatically upended old ways of doing things . Take physical distancing and stay-at-home orders , which are already having a deep impact on distribution and logistics . Warehouses that use robots may not only be more efficient but might be less likely to shut down if workers get
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