SupplyChain Magazine August 2020 | Page 80

LOGISTICS

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— Jaap Bruining , Head of Europe , Coyote Logistics

sick .” With supply chains being reconfigured in response to the pandemic , Bruining predicts many organisations will relocate their operations to regions where free trade agreements are in place , particularly for companies now reviewing the finer detail of their supply chains . For similar reasons , an increased appetite for shorter supply chains is expected to drive a rise in nearshoring .”

Undoubtedly , like many others Bruining has witnessed an acceleration in the digitalisation of processes , not just in terms of consumer behaviour but also within companies . “ What we have been seeing is that on the carrier side , carriers have become much more interested in engaging digital freight brokers like Coyote Logistics . On the customer side , we see people moving from telephone communication and meeting in person to online chatting , video conferencing and EDI / API integration . We have also seen customers finally accepting to move from paper to digital invoicing and PODs . As a company with a heavy foundation in technology is a big advantage to us .”

Without a doubt Bruining states that “ this has been the most difficult shipping environment for supply chain and logistics professionals in our observed history , but as an industry , we ’ re continuing to produce and deliver the essential goods that we all need to survive . As tough as the previous quarter has been , and though we are far from a full recovery , we believe that we have passed through the trough and have begun the climb upwards .”

With COVID-19 revealing for many organisations that they have a lack of visibility in the further reaches of their supply chain , Bruining expects to see a move toward improved visibility as the pandemic unfolds . “ Technology has a key role to play here . Advanced data analytics will prove pivotal in helping firms gain more visibility into their

AUGUST 2020