In a scenario of growing international trade, it becomes essential to efficiently manage the flow of information along the supply chain. The logistics operator is in a privileged position to assume this management and use it as a competitive advantage.
Technology is the main driver of international trade
Technologies have always played a fundamental role in the globalisation of trade, even more so than different international trade policies. In the case of transport, railways and, above all, containerized transport have had a drastic impact on the volume of goods moving between continents, and in terms of information technology, fax, e-mail and standards such as EDI have made the flow of information between actors in the supply chain more agile and secure. In this way, José Miguel Aliaga, professor of international trade, logistics and customs at the degree of Logistics and Maritime Business at Pompeu Fabra University, maintains that the globalisation of trade is precisely what allows companies to reduce stock management and supply to longer times. "Just-in-time," he says, "would not be possible without technology. In addition, a study compiled by UPS on the dynamics of industrial purchasing concludes that international business-to-business sales continue to grow along with the general increase in e-commerce. Industrial buyers belonging to the millennials generation say they get almost half of their products internationally, much more than buyers of the baby boomer generation or the X generation. Respondents are also willing to pay more for a cross-border service more quickly.
The logistic operator has in his hands the management of the information flow of the logistic chain.
The application of these methodologies of procurement and distribution of technology-based companies have a direct impact on the basic objectives of any business model: the reduction of costs, reduction in response times to the client (leap times) and an increase in the quality of their service. However, the implementation of these strategies is strongly linked to excellence in supply chain management, and in particular, in the management of the flow of information between the different actors involved in it. The role of the logistics operator then becomes a fundamental piece in a global trade scenario. While the value of a good logistics operator to date has been to dominate the flow of goods and transport, it now becomes necessary for logistics operators to also dominate the flow of information generated from the flow of goods. The position is strategic and necessary: a company with import or export operations needs an interlocutor capable of proactively providing information on the most relevant milestones for its production process, connecting with the logistics ecosystem to obtain this information and interacting with it to optimise time and costs. It is just as important today that a good arrives on time as it is that it is properly reported.
The differential value is in the information
The management of information through digital media then becomes an indispensable tool for logistics operators. With it, it is able to provide in a competitive, agile and reliable way, all the information that the charger needs for its operation. "In sectors as important in Spain as the automotive, fashion, chemical or food - says Aliaga, with very tight just-in-time models, knowing the location of the goods and the information needed for the "exception management" is critical for the business. The logistics operator holds information management as the key to developing long-term relationships with its customers and adding value to its operations."
The challenge: making decisions from the flow of information
The use of information technology for logistics operators is not just about the provision of information. As data managers, logistics operators have in their hands the ability to draw conclusions from the data handled that can provide actionable information for decision making and improve the performance of their customers' operations. In this way, as Francisco Aranda, president of the employers' association UNO Logística, says, "[logistics] has gone from being a simple cost centre to becoming one of the main tools for the competitiveness of companies". It is up to each logistics operator to manage the flow of information in the logistics chain to provide a differential value to their industrial customers. The use of specialized ERP software for transport and logistics companies helps decision-making by facilitating traceability and efficiency in the logistics operations of freight forwarders and logistics operators.
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Consultant in Logistics and Supply Chain Technologies
