Logistics in a turbulent environment
Due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, supply chains have become more challenging. This “new normal” in supply chains requires increased attention as well as innovative and sustainable solutions. For over 20 years, ebp-consulting GmbH in Stuttgart has been a trusted partner to companies when it comes to logistics planning and optimization.
With its consulting expertise, ebp-consulting covers the entire spectrum of supply chain management, logistics and transport management, as well as factory and warehouse planning. “Key issues for our clients currently include the optimization of their supply chain networks, center of gravity analyses, and warehouse planning and optimization,” explains Managing Director Frank Gehr. “In Eastern European countries, particularly the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, but also in England and South Africa, optimized intralogistics is at the top of the agenda in the context of factory planning and expansion.”
The economic turbulence during the pandemic years has shown that supply chains can hardly be planned or reliably managed anymore. Instead of focusing on streamlining processes, the result is a renewed emphasis on security through local stockpiling and even more regional procurement. The additional sharp rise in transportation costs has further increased the importance of logistics issues. Resilience and cost-effectiveness in logistics have become top priorities for companies.
Optimization and Efficiency
ebp-consulting fundamentally always strives for sustainable, functional, and cost-effective solutions, whether it involves logistics processes, transport concepts, or the use of automation technology (Industry 4.0). When planning new factories or logistics centers, companies focus not only on long-term efficient concepts but also on environmental issues. Examples include the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of the carbon footprint.
Digitalization is also an important driver of innovation and a guarantee of growth in logistics. “Many of our customers are suffering from a shortage of skilled workers,” says Frank Gehr. “They therefore have no choice but to automate in order to achieve growth with their existing workforce. The key is finding the right balance between digitized processes and the use of technology.”
Operational Transport Logistics
ebp-consulting has big plans for the coming period. “Last year, we launched ebp-logistics GmbH in collaboration with a partner company,” says Frank Gehr. “The importance of transportation issues—and especially the sensitivity regarding the sharp rise in freight costs—has increased significantly among our customers. That’s why we now also offer Fourth-Party Logistics, or 4PL for short, as a standalone service. In addition, we have established a new subsidiary in Bratislava, which will enable us to serve the Eastern European logistics consulting market even better.”
“We hope that companies’ willingness to invest will remain high despite all the current economic uncertainties—such as rising interest rates and the ongoing war in Ukraine—and that our clients’ strategic initiatives can be consistently advanced.”