As part of a short survey, transport researchers from the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) investigated the impact of the Covid-19 virus on the logistics industry.
One result: Currently Maintain all supply chains and 20 per cent more food can be transported. The biggest challenge at the moment is the Availability of drivers and lorries represent.
Scientists at the DLR Institute of Transport Research examined the question of whether the political measures and economic effects of the Covid-19 virus has an impact on transport and logistics processes have. To this end, they conducted a series of interviews with transport and logistics service providers.
„The positive thing is that all supply chains can currently be maintained and that no area has been identified where logistics represents a real bottleneck,“ summarises Prof Gernot Liedtke, Head of the Commercial Transport Department.
While there are signs of a decline in transport volumes in many transport sectors In the food sector, an increase of around 20 per cent above the normal seasonal level can be determined. These are primarily replenishing empty stocks in supermarkets. In order to fill the gaps in the product ranges, the supply chains are being restructured so that, for example, the shops are supplied directly by the producers and wholesalers for certain products.
The impact on the value chains due to lack of deliveries from China will result in in one to two weeks at the earliest noticeable, since currently container ships with goods are on their way to Germany.
Positive effects in times of crisis: Willingness to co-operate and flexibility
The survey also revealed positive effects in times of crisis. national logistics networks remain stable are. Service providers in urban delivery traffic are pleased that there are no more traffic jams, even at peak times. Also the Cooperation between service providers and recipients has become easier. Logistics companies report that the Better cooperation with retailers than before the crisis: customers are becoming more flexible and are more willing to talk. If deliveries are delayed, they are still accepted the next day. Something like that was unthinkable before the crisis.
Furthermore, companies are not adopting a wait-and-see approach, but are react actively to the changed situation. For example Delivery concepts adapted: Some consumer goods are delivered no longer via the central warehouse of the retail group, but the goods come directly from the manufacturer to the shops. Delivery deadlines and time windows are only planned and agreed to the exact day. Long-term strategies and competitive behaviour are currently not relevant. Qualified and Prudent personnel become a key factor for functioning logistics. The Industry moves closer together in times of crisis, finds new and flexible solutions for the delivery of goods and implements them in a cooperative manner.
Now it depends on the people
„Nevertheless People are the critical factor, on which the system ultimately depends,“ says DLR scientists Liedtke. The Availability of drivers and lorries for logistics companies across the board major challenge represent. Drivers and vehicles are gradually becoming less available to the German transport market, as they can no longer return from Poland due to quarantine measures.
„It can therefore not be ruled out that this will happen in a few days or weeks. to failures in the transport and thus the logistics chains leads“, says Gernot Liedtke.
An additional problem lies in the decreasing punctuality in delivery traffic. Straight for cross-border traffic checks delay the delivery time.
The current higher freight volumes in the food sector and the need for constant rescheduling due to delayed arrivals of international lorry journeys, many companies are faced with a Declining staff availability to the other. This causes additional stress for employees. Furthermore, the overall psychological strain is increasing significantly: there are Hardly any smooth routine processes.
New concepts are in demand
Specific challenges are faced by the Courier, express and parcel logistics sector exposed: On the one hand, consideration is given to, Additional services for pharmacies, health authorities, hospitals and other facilities in the health and care sector. On the other hand, a Switch to contactless delivery which dispenses with the signature as confirmation of delivery. For this purpose Concepts for „unmanned“ handovers developed and tested.
Overall, the Sharp drop in demand in courier, express and parcel logistics, even collapsed in urban areas. The reason for this is the closure of many offices and workplaces of companies and the shift to working from home, which was also accompanied by the closure of daycare centres and schools. This meant that from one day to the next, thedemand will fall by 20 per cent. Only in the first few days of last week was there still some compensation for the decline, as employees had to have their home office equipment delivered.
Source: DLR
