2022 Proved that In-Person Events Matter!

This year, we returned to in-person events post-Covid 19. What did this mean for RWSolutions and networking as a whole? In this article, I reflect on the importance of person-to-person networking in a world that’s changed drastically since 2020.?

2022 has surely been an eventful year, quite literally a year full of freight-forwarding events and conferences all over the world! As we wrap up Q3, I wanted to share my insight about the freight industry to date, what RWSolutions Ltd. have been up to this year, and key takeaways from the industry and communities.

The Return of In-Person Events

This year marks the full return of in-person meetings (with few exceptions), Q3 will be in the record books with the number of back-to-back freight forwarding conferences happening throughout Asia. Some freight forwarders like Blake Fleming , CEO of Compass and a fellow Combined Logistics Networks (CLN) member and Freight Summit attendee from Atlanta, were in Asia for 10 weeks attending seven events in one go - including The Freight Summit (TFS). That is true dedication and, of course, shows the importance we place on in-person meetings!

This instance made me think and question: What are the key takeaways, realizations, and benefits of attending events like The Freight Summit and others, throughout the year?

Hosting The Freight Summit and Beyond!

RWSolutions pioneered the re-opening of in-person conferences, holding the very first Freight Summit Privé in Dubai in September 2021. Even when much of the world was still closed due to pandemic regulations, 120 companies attended. In early 2022, we hosted our first CLN members meeting in Thailand, with restrictions still in place, followed by a sequence of RW networking events held in Dubai in May which hosted perishables group Cold Chain Connect , pharma group Life Logistics Network , airfreight groups Global Aircargo Alliance and co-hosting the Air Cargo Group. Finally, we concluded the May events calendar with our consolidators group, Neptune Cargo Network .

We recognized freight forwarders were hungry for more in-person meetings, so we launched The Freight Summit 13th Global Conference in Bangkok in early October; an open networking event all forwarders were welcome to attend. By then, RWSolutions had welcomed over 950 freight forwarders throughout all network meetings this year alone! That's amazing coming off the back of a complete two-year COVID hiatus. This shows that we freight forwarders were back on the road!

What’s Ahead for RW

Our philosophy as a membership-based networking and open events company is to hold multiple focus-oriented networking communities. The key benefits and takeaways are obvious: by hosting specialized communities and networking events, attendees are able to focus their business development with likeminded company owners that want to take their businesses to the next level. Owners want to meet with other fellow owners and decision-makers for more productive business development meetings, and RW Solutions provides an environment for those connections to forge and thrive. The Freight Summit provides attendees the opportunity to meet with NEW agents without being exclusive to a specific group.?

Looking forward to next year, RW is adding two more networks to the growing number of specialized associations with the addition of Emerge - A Freight Alliance for Africa , a network dedicated to freight forwarding in the Middle Eastern and African regions, and Latam Forwarders Club , which focuses on Latin America, opening up business opportunities across more continents. Our next year will be another for the books for RW and our networks, with plenty of online orientation meetings and in person event in Turkey, Brazil, Cambodia and beyond!

Since 2002, RWSolutions Ltd. networks and events like The Freight Summit, promote community and unity amongst freight forwarding experts, owners, and decision-makers alike. With more than 1000 members across multiple specialty networks allow us to continuously build focused communities that foster real business development partnerships between company owners and decision-makers.

From our teams across RWSolutions' 8 networks, we wish you a happy holiday season as you enjoy a much-needed break with loved ones. 2023 promises to be an exciting and historic year, broadening our communities even further to the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America!??

Does this sound exciting to you too? Then this is the perfect year to consider becoming a member of RWSolutions. Book a call with me and let’s connect!