SEKO Logistics at the Asia Logistics and Maritime Conference

We have just wrapped up two eventful days here in Hong Kong at the Asia Logistics and Maritime Conference. Special thanks to the SEKO team here in HKG (Especially Suki Cheung) that organized a fabulous event, and thank you to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and their office in Chicago for the invitation to speak.

"Traditionally, retailers as well as service providers thought about only ‘Supply Chains’. This model and way of thinking is being disrupted not by Amazon or e-retailers, but rather by the consumer. This disruption is a shift to a new way of thinking with focus not on supply, but on demand: We need to think about ‘demand chains’ instead of ‘supply chains’." - James Gagne

Our President, James Gagne, joined a panel focused on Crossborder eCommerce. The timing could not have been better, with it both being on Black Friday as well as coinciding with a dramatic rise in Airfreight pricing on the back of surging crossborder eCommerce orders. 

"The demand channels are diversifying, the final miles are multiplying and the speed/velocity of both commerce and rate of change are increasing. All of this amounts to disruption towards demand chain. Shippers, retailers, e-tailers logistics providers, etc. are all responding with innovation and solutions." - James Gagne

We also held a VIP private forum with mostly Hong Kong retailers and brands on Day 2 offsite. Among the most discussed topics included: growing into new markets like China, UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United States, managing returns logistics and challenges, evaluating channel partnerships with Alibaba, Amazon, Walmart and others, leveraging physical stores more for inventory and 'click and collect' operations, managing increasing transportation costs and consumer perceptions of 'free shipping' and much more.

In summary, when it comes to new trends like crossborder eCommerce; Retailers and logistics companies alike that think only about supply chains will not be around in 3-5 years. Those that embrace demand chain thinking will not only be around, they will be thriving and dominating the market. It's not just about eCommerce, either. Retail is not dying, but rather evolving into a diverse and varied purchase journey where bricks and mortar physical infrastructure still very much plays a key role. (As James Gagne would say, just ask Alibaba or Amazon)