At the recent Cool Logistics Conference in Rotterdam, Fellman explained, “this gives transparency and visibility; it allows for better control of equipment and carrier, uniform reports and prevents finger pointing from one logistics provider to another; it also helps reduce costs.”
One of the big trends in fruit shipping is a move from bulk to packaged produce. The main reason is “the flexibility; larger retail outlets like to specify the packaging unit very close to the point of sale. It also facilitates quality checks and rebranding, and as an integrated logistics provider, it gives the business another source of revenue,” says Markus.
Visibility tools have also brought great improvements. Markus explains that “it provides end to end cargo monitoring, real time tracking via GPS satellite, temperature monitoring, intrusion detection, control of G-force impact and air composition analysis. Depending on your needs, you can set different KPI’s.”
Lastly, it is worth noting how the South America-North Europe trade is changing, with the former becoming more import-driven due to a growing middle class that is boosting large retailer sales. “Additionally, the rise of e-commerce in China will diversify the industry’s players and decision-makers and will significantly change our business model.”