Consulting

The spread of the coronavirus pandemic has triggered the worst economic downurn in Europe in 10 years.

How to choose a logistics company? What should one pay attention to? Some are guided by the recommendations of colleagues, others look for information with search engines, and some look for references in the media.

To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the vast majority of office workers have already switched to telecommuting. Logistics and supply chains continue to function regardless of the circumstances. The AsstrA transport and logistics corporate group team also continues to handle its daily duties, but now in a new mode. There are pluses and minuses to working from home, which therefore requires its own set of practical skills and competencies.

Over the last five years, remote work has been associated primarily with freelancing. Today, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, companies from a wide variety of industries are switching to this format of work globally. Employees of companies that have not embraced home offices before have to adapt to this new approach to achieving business goals. Team members must take greater responsibility for managing their time and complying with cybersecurity policies.

The main point of insurance is to protect against risk. As a rule, risk is understood as the probability that property, interests, or goals may be adversely affected. A person would seek to avoid these scenarios or receive compensation if they do occur. Insured events are assessed in terms of their probability of happening and the amount of damages they would cause if they do happen.

On January 1, 2020, a decision to reduce the permissible sulfur content in fuel from 3.5% to 0.5% came into force for marine vessels. The measure was adopted to combat the growing threat pollution poses to the world’s environment. Road transport emission regulations are also undergoing a transformation. Starting in 2020, plans call for a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 3% every year. By 2025, CO2 emissions from trucks will be reduced by 15% of today’s levels. And by 2030, emissions will be 30% lower vs 2019.

According to research and consulting company IDC’s “Data Era 2025” report, by 2025 the amount of data in the world will be 10 times greater than in 2015.

From 5-7 November this year, International Transport and Logistics Exhibition VII was held in Warsaw. TransLogistica Poland 2019 is a key event in the transport and logistics industry in Poland. The seventh edition of the expo brought together 285 exhibitors and 8,100 visitors. Statistically, the 2019 edition far outshone last year's. As in previous years, the AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG international corporate group had its own booth at the exhibition.

On October 7-9 this year, Breakbulk Americas, the largest project transportation and breakbulk expo in Canada, the USA, Latin America or the Caribbean, was held. The event brought together all those involved in the organization of project transportation and bulk cargo transportation. For the first time, the AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG international corporate group participated in this XXL freight logistics event.

Collaboration between established businesses and startups is generally considered a win-win strategy. However, according to Kommersant magazine, 78% of larger companies see startups as a threat, and 45% fear they won’t be able to compete with the young “piranhas.”

Over the AsstrA corporate group’s 19 years in Lithuania, the local market has repeatedly changed. The economic crisis of 2008 had quite a big influence, as well as the Russian food embargo. In 2019, the Mobility Package is a major issue in the transport and logistics industry along with Brexit and the trade war between China and the USA. What changes will affect people working in the logistics industry? How will Lithuanian carriers reorganize their businesses in the new conditions? AsstrA Vilnius team members share their opinions.

The global transport and logistics industry is a huge sector that demands fast processes, secure data and information flows, and above all the safety of the goods being transported.

At the Brussels summit at the beginning of April this year, EU and UK leaders agreed that the Brexit date would be moved from March 30 to October 31 2019. Nevertheless, recent events do not inspire optimism. A Hard Brexit looks increasingly likely. This means, among other things, that a customs border will be created between the European Union and the British Isles with many consequences for the TSL industry. Are Polish carriers ready for a hard landing?

Among sectors where new IT solutions are being implemented, the transport and logistics industry is at the forefront. Drones, self-driving cars, and process Uberization are just a few examples. 20 years ago, films showed a future that has become today’s reality. Here we find out how communication in the B2B sector is changing and how freight market conditions look from Marina Rybchik, Key Account Specialist at AsstrA.

Today, 3D printing is a hot topic of conversation among many entrepreneurs. The main two issues are how enterprises can best use innovative 3D printing and how this revolution will affect them.

After disrupting consumer transport, Uber has turned to the freight industry. The newly developed UberFreight* and UberRush** applications aim to disintermediate forwarding agents. What does it mean for transport and logistics companies? Denis Gural, Chief Operating Officer of the AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG international corporate group, answers this question.

Would New Silk Road cargo flows significantly increase if Russia lifted the embargo and result in less traffic between Europe and China? It depends.

In cargo transportation, there are four “whale” modes: road, air, sea and rail. Which whale is the biggest and most reliable? To answer, we have prepared a series of interviews on intra-European transport. In the first installment, we discuss railway deliveries with Eva Trohimyuk, Head of the European Rail Department at logistics company AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG.

Today, how process automation may cause people to be laid off and how robots can take over human responsibilities are hot topics. Automation plans are also affecting the TSL industry. Are there serious reasons for concern? Will automation be a job killer?

Project logistics has become an integral part of AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG’s business. Several German-speaking companies regularly rely on the transport and logistics services provider for support in this area. The main destinations of these shipments are Russia, Central Asia, and China.

Emotions or rules? What drives tender selection processes in the B2B sector? Can purchases through tenders protect against emotions and help follow the rules when choosing a logistics partner?

Business processes automation is gaining popularity around the world. What benefits can a transportation and logistics company and its Customers get from running processes with machines?

On May 30-31, the 24th BAMAP expo-forum took place in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk. The organizer, the Association of International Road Carriers, traditionally combines its General Meeting of Association members with this transport equipment and spare parts event.

Chemical industry logistics is fraught with many challenges, both for customers and for transport companies. Any hazardous chemical cargo belonging to one or another ADR class immediately hangs a danger sign on what would otherwise be standard carriage.

According to Mariusz Borkowski, AsstrA Polish Region Country Manager, since 2017 the corporate group has noted 20% more Eastern business

Certifications and quality are part of everyday life, whether or not everyone knows it. GOSTs, ISO, DIN, and EN certificates and other standards help regulate the production, supply, and use of many commonplace items.

Defining waste is easy. According to the Polish legal Act of 14 December 2012, waste is any substance or object whose holder is or will be disposing of it or has the obligation to do so. Removing waste, however, is not so easy.

Company rankings: to participate or not to participate? Many entrepreneurs ask this question every day. Some do not believe in disclosing company data to the public and some – like those at AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG – very much do!

Every year during the Hi-Tech Supply Chain Summit, transport services providers, technology manufacturers, retailers and telecom infrastructure providers discuss the latest challenges and opportunities facing the hi-tech supply chain

We talked with experts from the international transport and logistics group AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG about the carriers selection process.

"Delays at the European Union border, road inspections, bureaucracy – these complications are a regular part of transporting cargo from Poland to its east. Such factors have a negative impact on the predictability of the supply chain and the punctuality of cargo delivery. The driver needs a responsible and competent guide who will help him navigate all these challenges. And that’s what we do best," emphasizes Poland Country Manager Mariusz Borkowski.

This year the international logistics provider AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG welcomes the guests of the exhibition at its own stand E245 in the Hall of the 3rd International Exhibition Center «Crocus Expo»