One-stop shop - multitasking is a skill we learn
Multitasking is an artform. Accomplishing different tasks at the same time under shifting conditions has been a feature of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. A key aspect of this is the growing digitalization of communicationand shopping. DACHSER DIY Logistics supports change and the associated challenges of the sector.
The crisis can always be seen as an opportunity. For the DIY and garden center sector, this has certainly been the case. More time at home and restricted leisure opportunities have given the trend for home improvement a powerful boost. This is reflected in the figures published by the German Retailers’ Association for Home Improvement, Building, and Gardening (BHB): With total sales of EUR 22.14 billion in Germany, 2020 saw an increase of 13.8 percent for DIY and garden centers.
One of the main things that helped consumers overcome lockdown blues was e-commerce. According to the German E-Commerce Association bevh, e-commerce sales (gross) increased by 23.2 percent to EUR 45.2 billion in the first six months of 2021. bevh Managing Director Christoph Wenk-Fischer sees initial signs here of a “substantial change” likely to endure beyond the pandemic. People would have come to know e-commerce as a reliable partner during the pandemic and use it even more naturally than before.
It can be concluded from this that the relevance of pure online retailing, and above all the intelligent linking of online and stationary - i.e. omnichannel - will continue to rise in the industry.
Strategic partnerships are in demand
In all these DIY growth scenarios, logistics plays a crucial role. "What businesses need above all are strategic partnerships that pave the way for new business models”, says Jens Wollmann, Head of Corporate Solutions and Department Head DACHSER DIY Logistics at DACHSER. But to make this possible, they first need to ensure seamless, transparent transport of goods and the associated data – from the factory in Asia to the DIY center, or, depending on the recipient’s preference, right to their front door.
"What businesses need above all are strategic partnerships that pave the way for new business models”, says Jens Wollmann, Head of Corporate Solutions and Department Head DACHSER DIY Logistics at DACHSER.
The bad news is that the dangers posed by the pandemic are still present and are being exacerbated by market effects. After all, the closure of manufacturing sites, borders, or retail outlets during lockdowns are not the only issues. Then there’s the overloading of supply chains, the effects of which are currently making themselves felt worldwide as economic activity ramps up again. Whether it is the traffic jams blocking global trading routes, the increasing scarcity of containers and pallets, international customs and trade disputes impeding economic recovery, or the shortage of drivers in Europe to bring the goods from A to B: all these things have far-reaching effects on ordinary logistics processes and ultimately on cost and price structures. The reason is that resilient supply chains, which are founded on elements such as more broadly based supplier pools, are more complex by their very nature.
Network resources matter
“Managing them hinges on having well-resourced, robust, and yet finely balanced transport and logistics networks”, says Wollmann. Security, quality, and transparency – which in the current situation trump efficiency and speed as success factors – result from a homogeneous network and homogeneous IT. On top of this, there is the commitment and dedication of well-trained logistics specialists with the ability to find solutions even in difficult situations. Another important factor for the sector is the predictive planning of warehouse capacities to ensure the availability of goods during the fall and winter seasons. Underpinned by these network resources, the DACHSER DIY Logistics industry solution has been growing for over 20 years together with manufacturers and retailers.
A fundamental part of this service is helping businesses navigate change. Even before the pandemic, the trend toward omnichannel logistics was underway. “As traders began offering a variety of individual buying options and shopping experiences in their B2B and B2C segments”, explains Jens Wollmann. This begins with flexible choice in everything from in-store consulting and online support through apps, to the option of viewing or even trying out individual products in the nearest outlet. Customers can then take their purchases with them, arrange to collect them in or at the store, or have them conveniently delivered to their home.
Thinking along with all processes
For DIY logistics, this means taking all these processes into consideration from the outset and plotting courses for such a digital/analog customer journey. A good example is the delivery notification, which is dispatched automatically as soon as the consignment leaves the outbound branch. Via interfaces, EDI connections, links and portals the various warehouses and transit terminals, the customer’s points of sale and showrooms, and ultimately the individual recipients are integrated into the transport and logistics processes.
DACHSER DIY Logistics becomes a "one-stop store”
B2C solutions are generally associated with more complexity and higher costs, as idle times in transit terminals are usually much longer and the notification processes more complicated. Managing this complexity efficiently relies chiefly on large logistics networks such as those operated by DACHSER. With experience, manpower, and digital technologies, a special industry solution such as DACHSER DIY Logistics will become a one-stop shop for all transport and logistics requirements. In this time of transformation, this is essential. After all, multitasking is a skill we learn.
