Logistics Cooperation LogCoop Strengthens SMEs Even in Times of Crisis
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Jul 22, 2020 at 7:04 AMThe IDS Logistik GmbH freight cooperation reviews the first half of 2020 and the time of the Corona crisis. Despite the crisis, IDS was able to increase its shipment volume by one percent. Online trade has significantly contributed to this positive result. The outlook for the entire year is optimistic.
(Kleinostheim) The largest German freight cooperation, IDS Logistik GmbH, was able to slightly increase its national shipment volume by one percent in the first half of 2020 – despite the Corona pandemic. Without a second “Corona wave,” IDS expects around 12 million freight shipments in the national business for the entire year 2020.
“The feared drops in volume at the beginning of the Corona crisis did not occur. On the contrary, we were able to exceed the plans made before Corona,” explains Michael Bargl, Managing Director of IDS Logistik GmbH. The reason for this is that the declines in the crisis months of March and April were more than compensated by significant increases in May and June.
Online Trade Boosted Shipment Volume
In particular, the rapidly growing online trade has contributed to this, more than offsetting the losses in the sectors most affected by the crisis, such as automotive and mechanical engineering. While the share of private customer deliveries in the IDS network was still 14 percent before Corona, it has now increased to 20 percent. During the peak of the shutdown, the rate was even temporarily over 30 percent.
To protect both recipients and drivers, IDS introduced contactless delivery of freight shipments on March 25, 2020. “The response to this and our quick actions was extremely positive,” summarizes Bargl in retrospect. Currently, only about 5 percent of deliveries are contactless at the request of the recipient. However, IDS is always ready with its IT systems to switch back to contactless delivery immediately in the event of a second Corona wave or a regional shutdown.
“And to particularly highlight the services of the driving personnel as well as the employees in handling during the Corona crisis, but also to show what lies behind IDS now, we have intensified communication via Facebook and Instagram,” says Bargl.
Cautiously Optimistic for the Future
Overall, IDS looks cautiously optimistic to the future and currently expects a stable volume of shipments at last year’s level for the current fiscal year. The already initiated digitization projects are being pushed forward with great intensity by the freight cooperation. For example, all administrative processes of the approximately 2,000 commercial employees in the incoming and outgoing freight will be streamlined further through a relaunch of the IDS portal starting in autumn 2020. Many functions, including shipment tracking, communication and billing between depots, shipment monitoring, and much more will be consolidated on one screen page, allowing for quick overview and processing with just a few clicks.
In addition, IDS continues to work on increasing the attractiveness of the network for drivers and developing concrete responses to the energy transition. “Whether home office solutions for commercial staff, reduced travel effort through video conferences or ‘mixed meetings,’ we are also taking positive impulses and new solutions for our daily work from the Corona crisis,” summarizes Michael Bargl.
Photo: © IDS
