The digital revolution was topic No. 1 at transport logistic 2017, which took place from May 9 to 12, 2017 in Munich. Another much-discussed topic of the discussions was rising national protectionism which is a risk for international trade. The world´s largest sector gathering for the transport and logistics sector attracted a record number of participants.
“Networking - digital and across all borders - was the dominant theme at transport logistic 2017,” said Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München. “On show here are future-oriented technologies in self-driving vehicles, telematics, smart data and Cloud solutions.” Criticism was leveled at the protectionist tendencies of some nations. “Following Brexit and ‘America First’, the outcome of the election in France is a positive signal for the global logistics sector,” said Rummel, adding: “International exchange of goods, knowledge and ideas is an essential factor in prosperity.” The importance of this sector was also underlined at the opening event by Alexander Dobrindt, German Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure: “Logistics is and will continue to be a key factor in modern economies.”
Every company is a software company
With digitalization “logistics is on the threshold of the most exciting phase of innovation in recent decades—and as a result it is becoming even more important,” continued Dobrindt. “Developments such as online trade, Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things mean more goods, more transport and more logistics.”
Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen explained in a panel discussion: “Every company has to become a software company, because software is a key factor.” Bernd Schwenger, Country Director Amazon Logistics, said that supply chain was the wrong word, “it should be called demand chain, the customer must be in the focus. The last mile is the biggest challenge in this.” In order to support the customers better, “these must also be prepared to share their data,” added Stefan Karlen, CEO of the Panalpina Group. And Stefan Buchner, a member of the Divisional Board of Daimler Trucks & Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Daimler AG, said: “Thanks to digitalization we are getting ever closer to our vision of seamless transport in the future. We are integrating all the processes and all those involved in transport.”
Record demand from all around the world
transport logistic 2017 is pleased to report record participation figures: 2,162 exhibitors from 62 countries showcased their products and services at the industry´s leading international trade fair, a rise of 5.4 percent. The number of visitors rose by 9.5 percent to 60,726 from 123 countries. The exhibition space covered by the trade fair grew to 115,000 square meters, all nine halls were fully booked.
New exhibitors from all around the world were on board, among them China Railway Container Transport, DP World, Heathrow Airport, Kerry Logistics and Maersk. In addition there were 17 national pavilions, from Bahrain to China and Slovenia. The top ten exhibiting countries, after Germany, were: Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, France, Austria, Spain, UK, the Czech Republic, Poland and China.
