The German Logistics Congress of BVL with a View to the Future

The program for the German Logistics Congress of the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) from October 18-20 in Berlin. The German Logistics Congress will take place for the 40th time in 2023. In its anniversary year, it is characterized by continuity and innovation and promises three days of excellent information and networking.

(Bremen/Berlin) “As the Federal Association of Logistics, we connect people in a unique network. This is particularly palpable at the German Logistics Congress: Together we shape the logistics of the future,” says BVL Chairman Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Wimmer. “Think Networks.” is therefore this year’s guiding principle. Due to current geopolitical shifts, networking takes on a whole new meaning. “Real and digital networks are important because they enable transparency and agility – within companies and throughout the entire supply chain. Complex connections between producers, traders, suppliers, service providers, and customers, with clients and contractors, form the basis of all economic activity. They function in a special way as personal, human networks. All participants face the same challenges – decarbonization, digitalization and AI, skilled labor shortages, resilience in supply chains,” Wimmer explains. These challenges are also the focus of this year’s congress.

Participants from previous congresses were asked what new features they would like to see. The result: The exhibition area will be changed. An integrated forum and interactive workshops will create space for knowledge exchange. Among other things, with masterclasses, content-to-go formats, briefing sessions, and additional networking formats, the desire for shorter units will be addressed.

The program for the German Logistics Congress 2023 is now available for download as a PDF at https://www.bvl.de/dlk/home, and registrations are already possible.

Speakers at the German Logistics Congress include:

Ilse Henne, CTO and Board Member at thyssenkrupp Materials Services, Essen and on the board of BVL, Anette Matre, Chief People and Information Officer at AutoStore AS, Oslo, Dr. Martina Fohr, Consultant at Spencer Stuart & Associates GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Nicolas F. Steinbacher, Head of Strategy and Program at Northvolt AB, Hamburg, Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Stefan Paul, CEO at Kühne + Nagel International AG, Schindellegi/Switzerland, Hanno Brümmer, EVP, Head of Supply Chain & Logistics EMEA and Latin America at Covestro Deutschland AG, Leverkusen, Prof. Dr. Gabi Dreo Rodosek, Chair of Communication Systems and Network Security at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Andrew Bell, VP Product Management at Kinaxis, Ottawa/Canada, Carina Lebsack, Head of Corporate Sustainability & Circularity at Würth Group, Künzelsau.

Human Resources: Much More Than Labor

Personnel shortages and a lack of skilled workers are severely hindering companies in the logistics sector: Unfilled positions slow down innovations, investments in new technologies, and growth for future generations. More than ever, successful companies in the future will be those that inspire their employees and stand out as attractive employers. At the congress, exciting personalities will convey how this can be achieved: After a plenary discussion with Anette Matre (AutoStore), Dr. Martina Fohr (Spencer Stuart & Associates), and Paul von Preußen (DIGITAL8.ai), questions about new leadership, the peculiarities of SMEs, or appreciation for the workforce will be explored and discussed on Wednesday in a specialized sequence in the style of a World Café from four perspectives. Among others, Christine Mezger-Behan (KION Group), Fabienne Wohlt (FESTO), Julia Jocher (GROUP7), and Alexandra Barber (Frontline Sidekicks) will discuss.

Must-haves of Sustainable Logistics

The requirements for sustainable logistics are increasing. More and more often, emissions balances are required in tenders, and the obligation for sustainability reporting applies to an increasing number of companies, especially smaller ones. The EU taxonomy regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will gradually apply to the entire economic sector. It is now time to address the tasks and learn from others. A three-part specialized sequence offers the opportunity to showcase and discuss the logistics potentials in the circular economy. Among the experts are Dr. Nadine Kiratli-Schneider (Schaeffler), Andrea Goeman (JAS Forwarding), Carina Lebsack (Würth), and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Müller-Steinfahrt (TH Würzburg-Schweinfurt and spokesperson for the BVL topic group on sustainable design).

Actively Shaping the Energy Transition

Two specialized sequences deal with the question of how the energy transition can be managed in Germany and Europe. Rising costs, excessive regulation, and the need for a sustainable economic system have a significant impact on the European chemical and pharmaceutical sector. Industrial competitiveness is at stake. What approaches exist to meet this challenge? On Thursday, among others, Ralf Busche (BASF), Dr. Andreas Brockmeyer (Infraserv Logistics), Hanno Brümmer (Covestro Deutschland), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Przemyslaw Komarnicki (Fraunhofer IFF), and Thomas Panzer (Bayer AG) will discuss this.

The latest developments and progress in energy efficiency at logistics locations will be the focus of a second sequence on Friday. The potentials for energy generation and savings at logistics sites are enormous. The initiative “Power of Logistics,” which was launched as part of the BVL topic group on logistics real estate, has identified these potentials and is working to advance their realization at as many locations as possible. Among others, Kuno Neumeier (Logivest Group and spokesperson for the BVL topic group on logistics real estate), Richard Schneider (fabrikon), and Volker Rügheimer (Volkswagen Group After Sales) will discuss.

Networking is part of the German Logistics Congress

Exhibition, Networking Night, and After-Work Hangout

The German Logistics Congress enables personal exchange between decision-makers from industry, trade, and logistics services like no other event. On the congress days, this is achieved in the exhibition area with the new DLK forum as well as in the various lounges and at the coffee bars. After the great success last year, there will again be a networking evening in 2023 following the award ceremony of the German Logistics Prize. The After-Work Hangout with original Berlin currywurst has already become a tradition on Thursday in the exhibition area, then a DJ and a live act will provide atmosphere in the DLK forum.

German Logistics Prize

The award ceremony of the German Logistics Prize is one of the highlights of the German Logistics Congress and will take place on Wednesday evening at the Intercontinental Congress Hotel. The jury, chaired by Dr. Ursula Weidenfeld, honors exemplary concepts that have been developed and implemented despite all the adversities of recent months – particularly innovative and sustainable solutions will be awarded this prize to promote them and encourage imitation.

More information at: www.bvl.de/dlp

Photo: © BVL