Carousel found that 46% believe they will have time to prepare for Brexit (while just 18% believe they will not), in an exclusive survey of senior logistics and supply chain professionals from 80 multinational organisations in the UK and Germany.
However, 50% still feel in the dark about the specifics of what is required. Only one in five UK companies feel informed about the consequences of Brexit; as one respondent commented: “Until we receive more guidance on the likely outcomes of trade negotiations it’s difficult to plan anything.”
Other key findings:
• Over a third (38%) of UK businesses say Brexit has increased their need for better technology solutions, compared to just 18% of German companies
• Nearly a third (30%) of UK businesses say Brexit has prompted their business to be more innovative with solutions
• 44% of UK manufacturers foresee an increase in logistics spend post-Brexit
Graham Martin, CEO of Carousel, said: “Brexit is the latest in a long list of disruptive forces to have shaped the logistics space in recent years, and it’s positive to see that organisations in the UK and Germany are ready to adapt to the challenges of Brexit. Nonetheless, many are still desperate for clarity on the specifics of the future relationship before they do put a plan into action.
“As history has taught us, digitalisation is the key to maintaining and even improving services, within challenging circumstances. A failure to innovate at any time could leave some organisations far behind, and there is a chance that Brexit could widen this gap if action can’t be taken by organisations soon.”
Thomas Griese, European, chief operating officer at Carousel, said: “Companies will need to adapt quickly to market needs and open-up new opportunities as they present themselves. As such, it will be increasingly important for logistics service providers to step up to meet these changing demands, with the priority being on providing the right technology systems, flexible network options plus economies of scale. All three will be vital in a post-Brexit landscape.”
