Great dynamics in the city logistics sector (PHOTO)

2023-06-29 14:02:30

Berlin/Karlsruhe (ots) – Amendment to the postal law causes discussion / Small and medium-sized towns are also challenged / LMCL in Switzerland in the future

The smooth organization of inner-city logistics is a growing challenge for many cities. Harmony with sustainability goals requires forward-looking planning and innovative technical solutions. In 2022, 4.15 billion parcels were delivered in Germany and more than 14 billion letters were delivered by Deutsche Post alone. At the Last Mile City Logistics (LMCL) in Berlin, an intensive dialogue took place between logistics companies and CEP service providers, innovative companies as well as urban planners and the real estate industry about the future of city logistics in a modern Confex format.

Great interest in innovative products and solutions

Well-known companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland presented a wide range of innovative products and services, from electric cargo bikes to software for route planning, to an expert audience from all over Germany and neighboring countries. Amazon Logistics presented a ‘Delivery Service Partner Program’, with which people willing to set up a business should be able to set up their own business as a parcel delivery service over the last mile.

Discussion about the amendment of the postal law

The upcoming amendment to the postal law provided plenty of material for discussion at the LMCL. The participatory process, in which many players in the market are extensively involved, was praised. However, there are still some fundamental points of criticism. Industry expert Walter Trezek advocated a change of perspective from the sender’s to the consumer’s point of view, so that the law would not have to be revised again soon. Trezek also sees a stronger focus on the last mile as necessary. Another point of criticism that was often heard is the still restricted competitive situation to the detriment of private providers. Referring to the assessment of the Monopoly Commission, Carsten Hansen from the Bundesverband Paket & Expresslogistik eV demands that a cross-subsidization of the state-determined letter postage revenues at dominant companies in the parcel delivery service to the disadvantages of private providers must be regulated in accordance with competition.

Small and medium-sized towns come into focus

Christian Jacobi from the German Logistics Association makes it clear that not only large cities are sensitized to this topic, but that the interaction between goods traffic, logistics and mobility is also being brought together in small and medium-sized towns. The municipal workshop, which was held for the first time as part of the LMCL, dealt with relevant topics such as the use of micro-depots in urban logistics or the development of strategies for emission-free and city-friendly delivery traffic with a lot of best-practice interaction.

Positive balance sheet and outlook

Andreas Schumann (BDKEP eV) was satisfied with the course of the LMCL and sees the congress fair as an absolutely necessary platform to actively shape the future of the parcel industry and, above all, to promote innovations through the targeted networking of the players in the last mile.

The organizing HINTE Expo & Conference GmbH, together with relevant associations and industry partners, developed and implemented a concept with a lecture program, company pitches, workshops and a cargo bike test track, in which the focus is on future solutions. The LMCL format is being continuously developed and on 15.11.23 it will be making a guest appearance in Berlin and the Swiss capital Bern for the first time.