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Month: October 2023

Webinar: Improve Delivery Route Management Efficiencies

Posted on by David Priestman

Gain greater operational visibility while driving significant cost savings with improved delivery route management. Register here now to watch this free webinar on Wednesday 8th November at 12.00 GMT.

Discover how to transform your route optimisation and delivery planning processes. From route optimisation and proof of delivery to resource-level planning and capacity management – leveraging integrated end-to-end-delivery route management is the key to your operational success.

Join Aptean for an exclusive Lunch & Learn webinar, where the company will share new insights and knowledge to help drive continual improvements and create greater efficiencies across your business. This interactive session will also provide focused time for questions with Aptean’s industry experts.

You’ll learn how you can:

Make cost savings of up to 30%
Optimise vehicle and driver utilisation and performance
Drive continuous improvement with increased operational visibility
Improve delivery service and customer satisfaction
Join up your transport operation to reach your full potential

Complete the form to secure your place and discover how to achieve greater modern delivery route management efficiencies, whilst making savings of up to 30%.

Orange Lorry on a motorway in motion near London, United Kingdom

*Not for you? Please feel free to forward to any colleagues who may benefit from joining this session. And if you’re unable to join live, please register and we’ll send you a copy of the recording after the event.

Setlog and Rhenus Join Forces

Posted on by David Priestman

The software vendor Setlog has been part of the Rhenus Group since October 24th, 2023. Setlog was founded in 2001 by Guido Brackelsberg, Ralf Duester and Jakob Gielen and has since developed into one of the world’s leading software specialists for end-to-end supply chain management solutions.

The digitalization of the supply chain by Setlog is characterized by transparency, consistent data communication without media breaks and the replacement of manual processes. With the Setlog system OSCA, customers can network collaboratively with all partners along their supply chain. Integration via a central platform enables comprehensive communication and data exchange. Holistic control of the end-to-end supply chain is therefore guaranteed at anytime and anywhere.

Both companies already know each other through their collaboration within the non-profit organization Open Logistics Foundation. Setlog and Rhenus see the merger as an opportunity to further expand Setlog’s software solutions, market them worldwide and thus make them accessible to even more industries and customers. “We have always seen ourselves as a reliable partner in exploiting the full potential of our customers’ supply chain.

The merger with Rhenus immediately offers us another opportunity to respond to the constantly changing and increasingly complex requirements in logistics. The affinity of both companies and our complementary skills will therefore promote our growth in the long term,” says Ralf Duester, co-founder and board member of Setlog. He further describes the partnership as a strategic investment through which new solutions for customers can be developed and implemented together. There will be no change in day-to-day business for employees and customers, who primarily come from the Textile & Apparel and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods sectors. The software developer continues to operate independently under its own logo and with its own business. The neutrality of the company is fully maintained and is a prerequisite for further expansion of the business.

Through the partnership, both companies benefit from each other’s expertise. “As Rhenus, we can already look back on a long-standing and excellent partnership with Setlog. With Setlog, we as Rhenus add a missing component to our offering for our customers. The interlinking, complete transparency and control of the supply chain has become increasingly important in recent years, not least due to more volatile markets. We will continue to expand this together with Setlog. We rely on the neutrality of Setlog. This enables us to further develop the software in a flexible and agile manner, as well as to create additional added value for customer-oriented solutions,” says Tobias Koenig, Chief Commercial Officer at Rhenus. “By combining our know-how as a logistics service provider with Setlog’s expertise in state-of-the-art software technology, we can serve our customer bases even better, expand our range and offer new products.”

Setlog Holding is a provider of Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions. The central product is the cloud-based software OSCA with the solutions Procurement, SRM, Global Logistics, CSR and Quality Control. OSCA, which stands for “Online Supply Chain Accelerator”, is used by more than 150 brands in the apparel, electronics, food, consumer goods and hardware sectors. With the help of OSCA, companies connect their supply chain partners, suppliers and service providers to optimally coordinate their supply chain and efficiently manage supply chains.
Setlog GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Setlog Holding AG. The company was founded in 2001 and is today one of the leading providers of SCM software with over 40,000 users in 92 countries. The software house employs 60 people at its locations in Bochum (headquarters), Cologne and New York.

Setlog and Rhenus Join Forces

Posted on by David Priestman

The software vendor Setlog has been part of the Rhenus Group since October 24th, 2023. Setlog was founded in 2001 by Guido Brackelsberg, Ralf Duester and Jakob Gielen and has since developed into one of the world’s leading software specialists for end-to-end supply chain management solutions.

The digitalization of the supply chain by Setlog is characterized by transparency, consistent data communication without media breaks and the replacement of manual processes. With the Setlog system OSCA, customers can network collaboratively with all partners along their supply chain. Integration via a central platform enables comprehensive communication and data exchange. Holistic control of the end-to-end supply chain is therefore guaranteed at anytime and anywhere.

Both companies already know each other through their collaboration within the non-profit organization Open Logistics Foundation. Setlog and Rhenus see the merger as an opportunity to further expand Setlog’s software solutions, market them worldwide and thus make them accessible to even more industries and customers. “We have always seen ourselves as a reliable partner in exploiting the full potential of our customers’ supply chain.

The merger with Rhenus immediately offers us another opportunity to respond to the constantly changing and increasingly complex requirements in logistics. The affinity of both companies and our complementary skills will therefore promote our growth in the long term,” says Ralf Duester, co-founder and board member of Setlog. He further describes the partnership as a strategic investment through which new solutions for customers can be developed and implemented together. There will be no change in day-to-day business for employees and customers, who primarily come from the Textile & Apparel and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods sectors. The software developer continues to operate independently under its own logo and with its own business. The neutrality of the company is fully maintained and is a prerequisite for further expansion of the business.

Through the partnership, both companies benefit from each other’s expertise. “As Rhenus, we can already look back on a long-standing and excellent partnership with Setlog. With Setlog, we as Rhenus add a missing component to our offering for our customers. The interlinking, complete transparency and control of the supply chain has become increasingly important in recent years, not least due to more volatile markets. We will continue to expand this together with Setlog. We rely on the neutrality of Setlog. This enables us to further develop the software in a flexible and agile manner, as well as to create additional added value for customer-oriented solutions,” says Tobias Koenig, Chief Commercial Officer at Rhenus. “By combining our know-how as a logistics service provider with Setlog’s expertise in state-of-the-art software technology, we can serve our customer bases even better, expand our range and offer new products.”

Setlog Holding is a provider of Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions. The central product is the cloud-based software OSCA with the solutions Procurement, SRM, Global Logistics, CSR and Quality Control. OSCA, which stands for “Online Supply Chain Accelerator”, is used by more than 150 brands in the apparel, electronics, food, consumer goods and hardware sectors. With the help of OSCA, companies connect their supply chain partners, suppliers and service providers to optimally coordinate their supply chain and efficiently manage supply chains.
Setlog GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Setlog Holding AG. The company was founded in 2001 and is today one of the leading providers of SCM software with over 40,000 users in 92 countries. The software house employs 60 people at its locations in Bochum (headquarters), Cologne and New York.

Recognise Logistics Facilities as Critical Infrastructure

Posted on by David Priestman

St. Modwen Logistics, one of the UK’s leading logistics owners and developers, and property adviser Savills, have called for improvements to the planning system to support the growth of the logistics sector and encourage more development of modern, sustainable warehousing to keep pace with increasing demand.

According to analysis undertaken by St. Modwen Logistics and Savills, historic land constraints have suppressed industrial demand by 29% over the past decade. Over that period national availability has consistently been below the ‘equilibrium rate’ of 8% – the rate at which supply and demand are considered to be in balance – leading many fast-growing firms to halt their expansion plans, creating inefficiencies in supply chains. Savills calculates that annual demand for new logistics space exceeds the delivery of new units by 58%.

Responding to the UK Government’s call for evidence on the freight and logistics and the planning system, St. Modwen Logistics and Savills have recommended five key policy changes focused on enabling the planning system to better facilitate the freight and logistics sector’s growth:

• Implement a national policy recognising industrial and logistics facilities as critical national infrastructure and introduce guidance which recognises the importance of wider supply chain employment and the indirect gross value added (GVA) as part of the wider planning balance;
• Utilise the Savills / St. Modwen Logistics ‘Suppressed Demand’ Model within national planning practice guidance (NPPG) as the basis for assessing future demand for logistics space;
• Require local authorities to set five-year employment land supply targets, mirroring their approach to residential land supply;
• A more effective approach to strategic planning, favouring the reintroduction of a strategic tier of planning, helping to broaden planning authorities’ scope of considerations beyond housing market areas and travel to work patterns when assessing potential new logistics developments; and
• Implement a Government-led training programme to upskill local government planners, local members and planning inspectors on commercial markets and the key trends and market conditions that influence future logistics demand.

Together, these measures have the potential to enable the planning system to effectively fulfil its vital role in facilitating freight and logistics growth.

The logistics sector is the fastest growing commercial sector in the UK, and supports a growing, diverse and increasingly higher skilled workforce. The number of people employed across the sector has grown by 30% in the last ten years, versus 15% for the economy as a whole, and average pay within the sector is higher in all regions of England when compared to respective average regional earnings.

This is supported by evidence which shows that in the decade between 2011-2021, the share of higher-skill roles increased by almost a fifth (17%), with the biggest increase being in Professional Occupations, where roles have grown by more than a third (36%). These roles are typically associated with engineering and technological professions as the use of automation and robotics increases in the sector. There has also been an increase in the traditional office-based roles, with roles in this category up by 11% as more businesses choose to bring their operations under one roof and utilise the Grade A office space being provided by developers within warehouse buildings.

Overall, the logistics sector now contributes £238 billion of GVA to the economy each year, accounting for 14% of the UK’s total GVA.

Richard Hickman, Senior Director of Planning at St. Modwen Logistics, commented: “Logistics is a high-productivity and high-growth sector and one of the engines of the national economy, supporting an increasing number of high-skilled jobs across the country. The policy changes we recommend would unlock the delivery of high-quality new warehouse space in the locations where it is most needed.”

Mark Powney, Director of Economics at Savills, added: “The logistics sector has been the fastest growing commercial sector in the UK for over a decade. Jobs in the sector pay better than the national average across an increasingly diverse range of occupations. It is time the planning system takes measures to plan proactively for commercial uses in order help our struggling economy. As part of this, improving the way we plan for the strong demand from logistics occupiers must be a major focus.”

Recognise Logistics Facilities as Critical Infrastructure

Posted on by David Priestman

St. Modwen Logistics, one of the UK’s leading logistics owners and developers, and property adviser Savills, have called for improvements to the planning system to support the growth of the logistics sector and encourage more development of modern, sustainable warehousing to keep pace with increasing demand.

According to analysis undertaken by St. Modwen Logistics and Savills, historic land constraints have suppressed industrial demand by 29% over the past decade. Over that period national availability has consistently been below the ‘equilibrium rate’ of 8% – the rate at which supply and demand are considered to be in balance – leading many fast-growing firms to halt their expansion plans, creating inefficiencies in supply chains. Savills calculates that annual demand for new logistics space exceeds the delivery of new units by 58%.

Responding to the UK Government’s call for evidence on the freight and logistics and the planning system, St. Modwen Logistics and Savills have recommended five key policy changes focused on enabling the planning system to better facilitate the freight and logistics sector’s growth:

• Implement a national policy recognising industrial and logistics facilities as critical national infrastructure and introduce guidance which recognises the importance of wider supply chain employment and the indirect gross value added (GVA) as part of the wider planning balance;
• Utilise the Savills / St. Modwen Logistics ‘Suppressed Demand’ Model within national planning practice guidance (NPPG) as the basis for assessing future demand for logistics space;
• Require local authorities to set five-year employment land supply targets, mirroring their approach to residential land supply;
• A more effective approach to strategic planning, favouring the reintroduction of a strategic tier of planning, helping to broaden planning authorities’ scope of considerations beyond housing market areas and travel to work patterns when assessing potential new logistics developments; and
• Implement a Government-led training programme to upskill local government planners, local members and planning inspectors on commercial markets and the key trends and market conditions that influence future logistics demand.

Together, these measures have the potential to enable the planning system to effectively fulfil its vital role in facilitating freight and logistics growth.

The logistics sector is the fastest growing commercial sector in the UK, and supports a growing, diverse and increasingly higher skilled workforce. The number of people employed across the sector has grown by 30% in the last ten years, versus 15% for the economy as a whole, and average pay within the sector is higher in all regions of England when compared to respective average regional earnings.

This is supported by evidence which shows that in the decade between 2011-2021, the share of higher-skill roles increased by almost a fifth (17%), with the biggest increase being in Professional Occupations, where roles have grown by more than a third (36%). These roles are typically associated with engineering and technological professions as the use of automation and robotics increases in the sector. There has also been an increase in the traditional office-based roles, with roles in this category up by 11% as more businesses choose to bring their operations under one roof and utilise the Grade A office space being provided by developers within warehouse buildings.

Overall, the logistics sector now contributes £238 billion of GVA to the economy each year, accounting for 14% of the UK’s total GVA.

Richard Hickman, Senior Director of Planning at St. Modwen Logistics, commented: “Logistics is a high-productivity and high-growth sector and one of the engines of the national economy, supporting an increasing number of high-skilled jobs across the country. The policy changes we recommend would unlock the delivery of high-quality new warehouse space in the locations where it is most needed.”

Mark Powney, Director of Economics at Savills, added: “The logistics sector has been the fastest growing commercial sector in the UK for over a decade. Jobs in the sector pay better than the national average across an increasingly diverse range of occupations. It is time the planning system takes measures to plan proactively for commercial uses in order help our struggling economy. As part of this, improving the way we plan for the strong demand from logistics occupiers must be a major focus.”

End-to-End Supply Chain Digitalization

Posted on by David Priestman

Party City Holdings Inc. (PCHI), a global leader in the celebrations industry, has adopted TradeBeyond as its multi-enterprise supply chain platform. Party City will use TradeBeyond to improve operational efficiency across inventory management, end-to-end merchandising, and vendor compliance.

Prior to TradeBeyond, Party City grappled with manual processes revolving around emails and Excel. The company wanted a robust, integrated solution to manage its volumes of purchase orders. TradeBeyond’s CBX suite has already streamlined Party City’s vendor onboarding and purchase order management processes, while introducing critical path management tools and functionalities like e-signature and Work-in-Progress (WIP) tracking, which have already created significant efficiencies for the company.

“With TradeBeyond, we finally have one system to manage all data,” said Lorne Cytrynbaum, Party City’s Director of Sourcing and Product Operations. “In an era that demands agility and efficiency, the comprehensive suite eliminates redundancies and ensures smooth collaboration and communication between all stakeholders. We now have the foundation to continue to significantly optimize all of our supply chain operations.”

“Our vision has always been to empower businesses with innovative solutions tailored around their existing workflows,” said Michael Hung, CEO of TradeBeyond. “We’re excited to play such a critical role in Party City’s digital transformation as they harness the full capabilities of our platform. This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting retailers as they navigate the complexities of the global supply chain.”

Party City went live with the first phase of the implementation on September 11th, 2023, just several months after partnering with TradeBeyond, and plans to roll out additional capabilities in the months to come. TradeBeyond’s tailored implementations allow clients to address their greatest needs first, allowing them to realize rapid efficiencies and cost-savings from the platform.

End-to-End Supply Chain Digitalization

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Party City Holdings Inc. (PCHI), a global leader in the celebrations industry, has adopted TradeBeyond as its multi-enterprise supply chain platform. Party City will use TradeBeyond to improve operational efficiency across inventory management, end-to-end merchandising, and vendor compliance.

Prior to TradeBeyond, Party City grappled with manual processes revolving around emails and Excel. The company wanted a robust, integrated solution to manage its volumes of purchase orders. TradeBeyond’s CBX suite has already streamlined Party City’s vendor onboarding and purchase order management processes, while introducing critical path management tools and functionalities like e-signature and Work-in-Progress (WIP) tracking, which have already created significant efficiencies for the company.

“With TradeBeyond, we finally have one system to manage all data,” said Lorne Cytrynbaum, Party City’s Director of Sourcing and Product Operations. “In an era that demands agility and efficiency, the comprehensive suite eliminates redundancies and ensures smooth collaboration and communication between all stakeholders. We now have the foundation to continue to significantly optimize all of our supply chain operations.”

“Our vision has always been to empower businesses with innovative solutions tailored around their existing workflows,” said Michael Hung, CEO of TradeBeyond. “We’re excited to play such a critical role in Party City’s digital transformation as they harness the full capabilities of our platform. This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting retailers as they navigate the complexities of the global supply chain.”

Party City went live with the first phase of the implementation on September 11th, 2023, just several months after partnering with TradeBeyond, and plans to roll out additional capabilities in the months to come. TradeBeyond’s tailored implementations allow clients to address their greatest needs first, allowing them to realize rapid efficiencies and cost-savings from the platform.

Logistics 5.0 Opportunity to Improve Resilience, Sustainability

Posted on by David Priestman

DANX Carousel Group’s thought leadership white paper, ‘Logistics 5.0: Strategy Beyond Data – Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity,’ concludes that adaptability, resilience, and carbon footprint reduction are the key areas for technology investment to focus on as the supply chain industry enters the next chapter of digital transformation.

The report, which surveyed supply chain leaders, acknowledges the leap forward brought about by digital transformation from Logistics 4.0, but forewarns how Logistics 5.0 will demand a broader approach to how technology is used.

“When deciding on new technology to support your business it is important, from a technology perspective, not to be overly excited by the new shiny toys out there,” said Thomas Wad Jelle (pictured), Chief Technology and Information Officer, Danx Carousel.

“Instead, focus on the business risks and customer requirements to understand what needs to be solved and how technology can be part of that solution. There is no silver bullet for bringing your data perfectly together across companies and supply chain.”

In a note of caution, the white paper highlighted concern among those surveyed over the worrying lack of talent needed to make successful digital transformation and development possible. The report revealed that 21 percent of organisations attributed their experienced disruption to a loss or lack of talent, while 15 percent are struggling to find the right people to lead their organisation into this new era of optimisation.

“Technology is the enabler, not the solution,” said Ulrik Find, Chief Operations Officer, DANX Carousel Group, adding that tapping into the talent pool and attracting the right people to a career in the supply chain industry is essential.

Find illustrated his point by pointing to the example of organisations that had the right tech during the pandemic, but lacked the “nimble, ‘fleet of foot’ mentality” embodied by many start-ups who thrived.

When setting out his three-point roadmap to transformation, Find also emphasised the need for a ‘mindset shift’ among industry leaders, calling for them to reinvent how they attract talent, who they do business with and why, how they build their strategy, and where they allocate their capital.

“The dawn of Logistics 5.0 has very much arrived – it marks a new phase in the supply chain, one that is heading toward an increasingly digital world, but this time with the incorporation of sustainability and learnt lessons from the past,” concluded Find.

 

Logistics 5.0 Opportunity to Improve Resilience, Sustainability

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DANX Carousel Group’s thought leadership white paper, ‘Logistics 5.0: Strategy Beyond Data – Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity,’ concludes that adaptability, resilience, and carbon footprint reduction are the key areas for technology investment to focus on as the supply chain industry enters the next chapter of digital transformation.

The report, which surveyed supply chain leaders, acknowledges the leap forward brought about by digital transformation from Logistics 4.0, but forewarns how Logistics 5.0 will demand a broader approach to how technology is used.

“When deciding on new technology to support your business it is important, from a technology perspective, not to be overly excited by the new shiny toys out there,” said Thomas Wad Jelle (pictured), Chief Technology and Information Officer, Danx Carousel.

“Instead, focus on the business risks and customer requirements to understand what needs to be solved and how technology can be part of that solution. There is no silver bullet for bringing your data perfectly together across companies and supply chain.”

In a note of caution, the white paper highlighted concern among those surveyed over the worrying lack of talent needed to make successful digital transformation and development possible. The report revealed that 21 percent of organisations attributed their experienced disruption to a loss or lack of talent, while 15 percent are struggling to find the right people to lead their organisation into this new era of optimisation.

“Technology is the enabler, not the solution,” said Ulrik Find, Chief Operations Officer, DANX Carousel Group, adding that tapping into the talent pool and attracting the right people to a career in the supply chain industry is essential.

Find illustrated his point by pointing to the example of organisations that had the right tech during the pandemic, but lacked the “nimble, ‘fleet of foot’ mentality” embodied by many start-ups who thrived.

When setting out his three-point roadmap to transformation, Find also emphasised the need for a ‘mindset shift’ among industry leaders, calling for them to reinvent how they attract talent, who they do business with and why, how they build their strategy, and where they allocate their capital.

“The dawn of Logistics 5.0 has very much arrived – it marks a new phase in the supply chain, one that is heading toward an increasingly digital world, but this time with the incorporation of sustainability and learnt lessons from the past,” concluded Find.

 

Biggest Mass Timber Logistics Centre

Posted on by David Priestman

Global fashion company Bestseller and architecture studio Henning Larsen have unveiled the concept design for a new ground-breaking logistics centre to be built in the Netherlands. The centre will be the biggest of its kind in Europe made with mass timber, and the companies aim for the building to reach ambitious standards for design and sustainability.

Located in Lelystad, 60 km east of Amsterdam, the 155,000 m2 logistics centre will be built over the coming years. Logistics Centre West (LCW) as the building is known, is being built by the fashion company BESTSELLER, and it was designed by the architecture firm Henning Larsen. When completed in 2026, it is expected to be the largest logistics centre built using mass timber in Europe.

“We are happy to be able to unveil the design of our new logistics centre, for which we have very big ambitions. Not only because it strengthens our opportunities for future growth, but also because it was designed to excel in sustainable construction through, not least, the choice of mass timber in the construction. We wanted the building to demonstrate our desire for aesthetic design, and we are very proud of what we have succeeded in jointly with Henning Larsen,” said Allan Kyhe Kjærgaard, Logistics Director at BESTSELLER.

In addition to the striking mass timber construction, the building will also be equipped with 23,000 square meters of solar panels.

Aesthetics and excellence

An important part of the design process was creating a workplace that is both visually appealing and healthy for the almost 600 colleagues who are expected to be work at the centre. The team from Henning Larsen has, among other things, prioritised daylight and green areas as well as harmonising indoor and outdoor elements to promote employee well-being.

“The design of Logistics Centre West represents a fundamental change to the way we imagine how a logistics centre should look. It’s a result of a united client and consultancy team committed to creating a design that is visually stunning, carbon efficient and has a positive biodiverse impact,” says Eva Ravnborg, Country Market Director, Partner, Henning Larsen.

Promoting biodiversity

More than half of the total site is dedicated to its landscape. The majority of the area will thus be dedicated to wetlands and forest to protect biodiversity and help absorb CO2.

In order to preserve and protect the area’s animal and plant life, the construction will be surrounded by a constructed wetland, which will contribute to promoting microhabitats for native species. The centre will also have an optimised rainwater system that, among other things, protects against flooding and recycles rainwater from the roof.

“We are very aware that constructing new buildings affects the environment, the climate and the local community. Therefore, a very thorough process has taken place before we can now present the plans for our new logistics centre. There have been many ambitions which had to be united in one building, but we believe that we have succeeded – not least thanks to a good and close collaboration with Henning Larsen. We look forward to putting the logistics centre into use in 2026, says Allan Kyhe Kjærgaard.

 

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