The transformation: Digitization means the conversion of analog values, the collection of information about physical objects in formats that are suitable for processing or storage in digital technical systems. At least half of today's logistics is digital and therefore state-of-the-art. The accelerated digitization of industry (Industry 4.0) also inevitably has an impact on logistics. Logistics 4.0 followed, derived from this, and with it increased risks. One of these dangers are the constantly recurring email inquiries and marketing calls. A flood of mail traffic usually prevents the speedy work and increases the stress level enormously. Providers of processes and software from all over the world offer necessary changes and suggest daily that forwarding, courier, logistics and transport companies can only be considered in the digital planning of the customer for the execution of the transport in the medium term if they think digitally themselves and form interfaces. Because one thing is clear: the goal of Industry 4.0 is the unity of the digital factory across the entire value-added process. It must therefore be possible to map the dispatch in the IT network. The large, global freight forwarder is investing millions in the implementation.

The family, medium-sized forwarding companies also had to make digitization an issue. During the pandemic, many were able to use the time and have become experts for digitization in the industry.

Professional. Well thought. In stages.

What could be the reason for a sudden change of customer within a functioning digital process? In the past, it was often assumed that it was perhaps due to a competitor's lower price. But that no longer seems to be the case today, on the contrary! The price is usually only the final decision criterion, which is why a transport order is placed with a specific forwarder. Customer advisors from IT often replace professionals with the respective industry background in order to drive digitization internally. We are slowly trying to increase the loyalty to existing customers from industry and trade with digitization. Without pressure. The industry has been doing this successively as experts for digitization in logistics for twenty years. Through the flow of goods, modes of transport, networks and customs duty collection for the state, digitization automates sales and operations.

Logistics, transport companies or freight forwarders who have actively dealt with digitization in the logistics industry and whose internal processes, procedures and documentation (e.g. E-AWB) are constantly digitizing in operation, still did not show any effect on the freight price. So the transport price cannot really be reduced by digitization. However, when choosing a partner, our young team will attach more importance to the technical equipment and the degree of digitization. For our internal development, it is and was important to us that great importance is attached to the interface to sustainability, because that is part of future-oriented thinking. We have been working digitally for a long time and are increasingly trying to become "paperless". But at what point does total digitization and later artificial intelligence damage the economy? We face the future and are more positive things. In regular team meetings, topics such as sustainability, energy conservation, hybrid workplaces, four-day weeks and digitization have become indispensable.