Day: 6 November 2019

Omni-channel shift is driving growth of next-generation logistics and supply chain, presenting important opportunities and challenges for retailers, real estate developers and investors, according to JLL’s new Redefining Retail Logistics report. JLL’s research illustrates that effective supply chain and logistics management will become crucial differentiators to enable retailers to have a competitive advantage and thrive in today’s world. For retailers:

• Consumers will be the continued and uncompromising drivers of change in retail in the next 10 years, requiring seamless in-store and online experiences.
• Adopting an end-to-end supply chain approach will ensure responsiveness and agility, enabling retailers to fulfil in-store and online purchases in the most efficient and profitable way.
• Physical stores will be key for omni-channel fulfilment – the right space in the right location will continue to attract consumers and generate returns for retailers and investors.
• Click-and-collect (and click-and-returns) will play a crucial role in retailers’ profitable fulfilment strategies.
• Sustainable and transparent supplychains will continue to grow in importance owing to the climate emergency and growing interest in economic and social sustainability.

Jon Sleeman, Head of EMEA Industrial and Logistics Research and co-author of the report, commented: “We are at an inflection point where it is clear that profitable retail can now only be achieved through efficient supply chain and logistics management and the resulting consumer experience. Omni-channel is adding new layers of complexity to retail logistics and retailers have to rethink their strategies to optimise their real estate portfolios and engage customers across digital and physical channels. The digitalisation of retail and logistics is a huge challenge but investors who understand the longer-term impact of change and think creatively to future-proof their assets can create new opportunities for their customers and deliver strong returns.”

Real estate investors will also need to think flexibly and develop a broader understanding of supply chains in order to successfully stay ahead of the curve. They will need to:

• Understand and cater for changing retailer requirements – buildings or locations that fail to meet retailers’ and consumers’ requirements will become obsolete.
• Embrace the increasing importance of asset management to become real estate operators, not just owners. Investors who better understand their customers and their people can offer appropriate asset management services to preserve or enhance real estate value.
• Identify resilient retail and logistics real estate to better understand the characteristics that underpin outperformance and minimise risk.
• Change the way they value retail real estate – it’s not just on sales volumes but also what retailers bring to the brand and customer experience.
• Think clearly and act appropriately because environmental considerations will become paramount as regulatory and reporting frameworks become more rigorous.

Omni-channel shift is driving growth of next-generation logistics and supply chain, presenting important opportunities and challenges for retailers, real estate developers and investors, according to JLL’s new Redefining Retail Logistics report. JLL’s research illustrates that effective supply chain and logistics management will become crucial differentiators to enable retailers to have a competitive advantage and thrive in today’s world. For retailers:

• Consumers will be the continued and uncompromising drivers of change in retail in the next 10 years, requiring seamless in-store and online experiences.
• Adopting an end-to-end supply chain approach will ensure responsiveness and agility, enabling retailers to fulfil in-store and online purchases in the most efficient and profitable way.
• Physical stores will be key for omni-channel fulfilment – the right space in the right location will continue to attract consumers and generate returns for retailers and investors.
• Click-and-collect (and click-and-returns) will play a crucial role in retailers’ profitable fulfilment strategies.
• Sustainable and transparent supplychains will continue to grow in importance owing to the climate emergency and growing interest in economic and social sustainability.

Jon Sleeman, Head of EMEA Industrial and Logistics Research and co-author of the report, commented: “We are at an inflection point where it is clear that profitable retail can now only be achieved through efficient supply chain and logistics management and the resulting consumer experience. Omni-channel is adding new layers of complexity to retail logistics and retailers have to rethink their strategies to optimise their real estate portfolios and engage customers across digital and physical channels. The digitalisation of retail and logistics is a huge challenge but investors who understand the longer-term impact of change and think creatively to future-proof their assets can create new opportunities for their customers and deliver strong returns.”

Real estate investors will also need to think flexibly and develop a broader understanding of supply chains in order to successfully stay ahead of the curve. They will need to:

• Understand and cater for changing retailer requirements – buildings or locations that fail to meet retailers’ and consumers’ requirements will become obsolete.
• Embrace the increasing importance of asset management to become real estate operators, not just owners. Investors who better understand their customers and their people can offer appropriate asset management services to preserve or enhance real estate value.
• Identify resilient retail and logistics real estate to better understand the characteristics that underpin outperformance and minimise risk.
• Change the way they value retail real estate – it’s not just on sales volumes but also what retailers bring to the brand and customer experience.
• Think clearly and act appropriately because environmental considerations will become paramount as regulatory and reporting frameworks become more rigorous.

After successfully extending services in the first half of 2019 with additional connections between Switzerland and Belgium, Schweizerzug AG is now increasing the frequency between Frenkendorf and Neuss and at the same time boosts Niederglatt’s links to Antwerp and Rotterdam.

With the change in the 2019/2020 timetable, the Swiss rail freight company will increase the existing number of round trips between Frenkendorf near Basel and the German hub in Neuss from three to six per week and will thus be operating a daily service Monday to Saturday from 16 December 2019 onwards. The direct train to Antwerp will therefore make a stop in Neuss. The Neuss hub will also serve the service between Switzerland and Rotterdam, replacing the existing direct connection. In line with this service extension, Schweizerzug will link Niederglatt and Neuss directly twice a week with further connections to the Port of Antwerp as well as Port of Rotterdam.

With this service extension, Schweizerzug AG is reacting to the growing demand on this route and offering shipping companies in Germany and Switzerland not only more capacity but also more flexible transport options. The new direct connection to Deurganckdok-Kai 1742, operated by MPET in Antwerp, provides even more options. Customers benefit from the daily connections to the seaports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, without any additional surcharges. The same price applies for services to and from both Frenkendorf or Niederglatt and all deep-sea terminals in Antwerp. Similarly, there is no price difference for services from Frenkendorf or Niederglatt and dee-sea terminals in Rotterdam.

The Swiss service provider for container transport by rail promises an even more flexible and stable product range as a result of the increase in frequency, which is in direct response to existing customer requirements.

Roman Mayer, CEO of Schweizerzug, explains: “Our range of services will only attract customers if we recognise their requirements and wishes at an early stage and serve them accordingly. By
expanding the frequency on a par with growing demand, we intend to precisely meet customer requirements. In this way, we are not only contributing to competitive freight transport by rail, but also making a contribution to the promotion of climate-friendly transport.”