Ahead of IMHX, UKWA’s Peter Ward warns that 3PLs that fail to recognise changes in society risk being left trailing in the wake of those operators that do.

Pete

One of the attractions at IMHX will be the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) Pavilion.

Prominently located within Hall 9 of the NEC, the UKWA Pavilion will showcase the products and services offered by UKWA’s members and associate members.

UKWA is constantly introducing significant new member benefits designed to help members grow and succeed in a fast-moving, rapidly changing and increasingly competitive marketplace.

Of course, the quickly evolving nature of our society has already prompted a seismic shift in the way supply chains operate and logistics leaders have plenty to consider.

What is undeniably clear, is that 3PLs that fail to recognise the changes in the landscape will almost certainly be left trailing in the wake of those that do.

The UK’s population is growing, people are living longer and they’re choosing to reside in major cities and towns. As consumers we’re doing more of our shopping online and we expect the goods we order to arrive within hours – not days.

The reality is that supply chain efficiency is now as important to many online retailers as the quality and price of the goods they sell and it is transparent that if the logistics sector is going to have any chance of meeting the demands of retailer clients in the internet-age the UK needs to start building different kinds of warehouses, distribution sites and fulfillment facilities close to or within our major population centres.

We live in a market economy that dictates that land for house building will be more valuable than industrial property space, but surely the time is fast approaching for some kind of Government intervention to set aside part of the public land given up for new housing schemes for use as storage space to allow warehouses and distribution centres to be built where they will be able to serve our rapidly expanding communities?

For this to happen, property developers will have to overcome objections from town planners who have traditionally considered residential and logistics properties incompatible neighbours.

There are examples – in Stoke and Dunstable, for instance – of fulfillment centres incorporated into the design of residential estates to the benefit of the community.

But, with all due respect, such schemes are unlikely to get the green light in, say, West London, or other parts of the South East. As an industry we must come together to put the case for ‘beds and sheds’.

Overturning the protests of the ‘Nimbys’ will require, among other things, the creation of an awareness and understanding of the central importance of our industry and the companies that operate within it to the smooth running of ‘UK plc’.

It is also essential that the view – widely held by many of those outside of our sector, that jobs in logistics are poorly paid, unskilled and insecure – changes.

At the moment, the online channel accounts for around 12 per cent of all UK consumer spending. It is forecast to reach 40 per cent in the not too distant future.

Forecasting is a difficult business, but if this prediction does prove anywhere near accurate, the impact on the supply chain will be massive.

It is incumbent on us all to ensure that we are prepared – but we will need the support of policy makers and planners at all levels of Government to allow us to be.

Visit UKWA at IMHX 2016 on the UKWA Pavilion Stand SK9

www.ukwa.org.uk

Comments are closed.