Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies for the 2020s: Vital Skills for the Next Generation

Logistics and supply chain management is facing disruptive economic, technological and climate change developments that require new strategies. New technologies such as the Internet-of-Things, digital manufacturing or blockchain are emerging quickly and could provide competitive advantage to those companies that leverage the technologies smartly while managers that do not adopt and embrace change could be left behind. Last but perhaps most important for mankind, sustainability aspects such as low-carbon transportation, closed loop supply chains or socially-responsible supply chain setups will become essential to operate successfully in the future. All these aspects will affect logistics and supply chains as a whole as well as different functional areas such as air cargo, maritime logistics or sourcing/procurement.

This book aims to dive into several of these functional topics to highlight the key developments in the next decade predicted by leading global experts in the field. It features contributions and key insights of globally leading scholars and senior industry experts. Their forward-looking perspectives on the anticipated trends are aimed at informing the reader about how logistics and supply chain management will evolve in the next decade and which academic qualities and skills will be required to succeed in the ＂new normal＂ environment that will be characterized by volatile and increasingly disrupted business eco-systems. Future scenarios are envisaged to provide both practitioners and students with insights that will help them to adapt and succeed in a fast changing world.

Rico Merkert is Professor in Transport and Supply Chain Management and Deputy Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at The University of Sydney Business School. He has taught and researched at several high-profile institutions such as Cranfield University or Haas Business School (UC Berkeley) and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Air Transport Management. Rico has been a strategic advisor to boards and C-level management providing deep insights and research related to performance measurement, strategic management, innovation, and supply chain analysis, economic impact and demand analysis for a range of major logistics, freight forwarding, airline and airport companies, both in the global and regional context.

Kai Hoberg is Professor in Supply Chain and Operations Strategy and Head of the Operations and Technology Department at Kühne Logistics University, Hamburg. He was a visiting researcher at leading universities such as Cornell University, National University of Singapore, Saïd Business School and The University of Sydney. Before returning to academia he worked as a strategy consultant and project manager in the operations team of Booz & Company (Strategy &). His current research focuses on supply chain analytics, the role of technology in supply chain management and inventory management. In his research he has been working with renowned partners like McKinsey & Company, Zalando, Procter & Gamble or the World Bank.