Focus on digitalization and sustainable hinterland transport
“Better data for better decisions” – this is the most important goal when it comes to digitalizing the supply chain for almost half (42%) of the more than 100 participants at this year’s BCO Conference. The survey, which was conducted digitally at the event venue, the historic coffee exchange in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt, also revealed that accurate planning, combined with better forecasting, is a priority for 28% in the context of digitalization. Access to real-time data (20 percent) and cost transparency (8 percent) were voted for by significantly fewer participants.
Background: The BCO Conference takes place annually at key European port locations and is considered an important industry event for Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCO). The term refers to the actual owner of a cargo who takes control of the entire transportation process. The conference is organized by shiftX (formerly Xstaff), a global network of BCOs that jointly develops solutions, such as the bundling of goods flows, for the challenges of supply chains.
74% of data attributes already digitized – but there is still room for improvement
Following opening speeches by Jens Meier (CEO Hamburg Port Authority) and Nils Kahn (Managing Director MSC Germany), the focus was on digitalization. Dave van Diggele from the Digital Container Shipping Association (DSCA), based in Amsterdam, pointed out that 74% of the data attributes generated in container shipping are already standardized, which corresponds to a 92% share of the total data flow. Data attributes define the various characteristics or properties of data and help to better organize and analyze it. According to van Diggele, the number of standardized data attributes tripled between 2020 and 2023 alone – but there is still room for improvement.
Cloud solution provides efficiency benefits
“Digitize to Collaborate” is the motto of Hamburg-based IT service provider Logward. CEO Jonas Krumland presented the new cooperation with shiftX: Based on a cloud platform, the aim is to create significant efficiency benefits in tender, transport and allocation management in the future. Logward is contributing its digital expertise, particularly in transport and capacity management, which will enable transparent planning and monitoring of supply chains.
Modal shift still not working
Beyond digital solutions and trends, the BCO Conference also focused on “classic” transportation challenges. Under the direction of Stephan Schiller, Managing Partner of shiftX, Gerhard Oswald (consulting firm GoMultimodal, Hamburg), Anisa Rizvanolli (Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services CML, Hamburg) and Malte Siegert (NABU Hamburg) discussed the possibilities of environmentally friendly hinterland transport in the age of climate change. Oswald pointed out that the rather negative image of rail in passenger transport should not necessarily be transferred to freight transport: with the “Albatros Express” network, Central Europe has been successfully connected by rail on the north-south axis for many years.
For Malte Siegert, on the other hand, one thing is certain: the repeatedly propagated shift of traffic from road to rail is still not working across Europe and emissions from truck traffic remain high. It is first and foremost up to politicians to change this, rather than the companies.
Anisa Rizvanolli advocated bundling cargo flows even more, as ShiftX is doing, and also achieving environmental benefits in the process. Smart solutions are needed here. And even if the infrastructure is often old and dilapidated: The potential of inland shipping should not be forgotten in hinterland transportation.
Xstaff becomes shiftX
As part of the 7th BCO Conference, the two Managing Partners and organizers Antonios Rigalos and Stephan Schiller announced the name change from Xstaff to shiftX: “With the new name, we want to position ourselves even more strongly as a ‘shifter’ in logistics by creating synergies, competitive conditions and reliable capacities for BCOs with our network in an increasingly complex transport market.”
