Questions and Answers
The total costs consist of base freight rates, variable surcharges for fuel and tolls, as well as administrative costs for processing and invoice verification. A professional Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach also takes into account costs for insurance, packaging and capital tied up during the transport period. Only complete transparency regarding these cost drivers enables a sound identification of potential savings and inefficient tariff structures.
Among the most effective methods are strategic shipment consolidation to increase load density and targeted modal shift to utilise more cost-efficient modes of transport. This is complemented by data-driven freight rate benchmarking and automated tendering processes (e-sourcing) to secure market-competitive terms. Simulation tools also make it possible to validate complex network scenarios in advance for their cost and service impact before physical changes are implemented.
The focus is on conducting manufacturer-neutral freight tenders and establishing proactive service provider management with robust KPI dashboards. We identify potential savings through detailed shipment structure analyses and support the physical implementation of new transport models right through to operational stabilisation, working directly on site. By using specialised analysis tools, we ensure the optimal balance between freight costs, transit times and the carbon footprint of your logistics operations.
In addition to significantly reducing direct logistics costs, optimisation improves transparency across the entire supply chain and enhances on-time delivery through more stable processes. It creates scalable structures that respond agilely to market volatility and minimise reliance on individual carriers through a diversified carrier portfolio. This process transforms transport costs from a rigid budgetary burden into an actively controllable, strategic competitive advantage.
It acts as a key driver in the S&OP process by reducing inventory levels and increasing global responsiveness through synchronised transport scheduling. An optimised transport structure sustainably reduces the ‘cost-to-serve’ and ensures supply stability even under volatile market conditions. In doing so, it makes a decisive contribution to the resilience of the entire end-to-end network and strengthens operational excellence against the competition.
