DB Schenker Logistics plans to invest 250m euros in IT systems for land transport, according to board member Karl Nutzinger.
The company believes that in the future, general cargo networks in Europe will have to be more flexible in adapting to key account requirements.
Speaking at a conference in Hamburg, Nutzinger said: “In the next five to six years, we will be investing up to 250m euros in further standardisation and improvements to our information technology, particularly for land transport.”
Flexibility was an important success factor, he said. Key account customers were increasingly making every effort to optimize their supply chains, and demand additional services.
“This can lead to situations where the service we provide our customers goes above and beyond the actual network, with us assuming the function of lead logistics provider and controlling the capacities of other contractors.”
Increasingly, customers are also demanding transparency right across their global supply chains. “E-services” based on the internet are playing an ever increasing role in this context. “A change of generation is currently taking place here,” Nutzinger continued. “The changes in general purchasing behaviour are also being reflected in our industry. E-services are not only driven by the business, but have a cultural component in addition to their functional role.”
