Why Do I Need Consulting? A Subjective 2024 Recap
Greg Urban
Business consulting in logistics, postal and parcel, supply chain professional, strategy, innovations, AI, IT, and due diligence in supply chain, Last Mile Expert
As 2024 comes to a close, one event stands out vividly in my memory: the annual Logistics Gala. It’s an occasion where countless awards are handed out, recognizing achievements across various categories in logistics. From innovative projects to customer service excellence, the gala highlights the accomplishments of industry leaders.
These awards often go to companies that are not only economic powerhouses but also drivers of change. The logistics world watches these leaders closely, aiming to emulate or even surpass their achievements.
This year, two awards particularly caught my attention.
Recognizing Innovation, but Missing the Bigger Picture
The first was for implementing paperless logistics in a major transport company. While undoubtedly a step in the right direction, I couldn’t help but recall that I had proposed and pitched the same concept to this company six years ago.
The second award was for introducing AI in logistics, earned by another firm where, four years earlier, I had led a successful Proof of Concept (PoC). Back then, it was called RPA (Robotic Process Automation), though it essentially performed the same tasks now rebranded under AI. The irony? These achievements celebrated now, could have been realized years earlier had they embraced consulting opportunities when presented.
The Unseen Winners
There’s another story worth mentioning—one without medals but just as impactful. Back in 2019, an innovative company (then a market challenger) hired my team to design a logistics network and automate their warehouses. This company was staffed with brilliant specialists, but they recognized the value of bringing in external expertise to accelerate their plans.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, their newly designed network—with its high capacity—enabled them to handle the surge in volume effortlessly. This agility helped them rise to become an undisputed market leader.
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Why Consulting Matters
So, why do you need consulting if you’re already great at what you do? Because true leaders don’t just see immediate costs; they recognize opportunities and leverage consulting to seize them as quickly as possible.
Consultants can help you identify and implement solutions that might otherwise take years to develop internally. The value lies not just in what you can do but in how fast you achieve it.
Further Reading
If this topic resonates with you, here are a couple of articles that might provide additional insights:
Season’s Greetings
As we wrap up the year, I want to extend my warmest holiday wishes and a very successful New Year to all our readers—from me and the team at Last Mile Experts .
Here’s to seizing opportunities and driving innovation in 2025!
Best regards, Greg Urban
Last Mile Expert, Independent Board Advisor & Business Angel. Specialises in CEP and e-commerce last mile with focus on PUDO/parcellockers and M&A due diligence support.
2 个月Greg Urban you won't be surprised to hear that this is what caught my eye; I still fail to understand why so many smart operators act first and then call people like Last Mile Experts in to save the day, but once the milk has been spilt. Of course, we can still help at any point, but especially with planning things like #parcellocker networks, 9/10 of success in in good pre-planning. A good example are our workshops: https://lastmileexperts.com/workshops/
Strategic Transformation Service Practice Business Director @ Blue Yonder | Warehousing, Transportation, Order & Returns Management
2 个月Greg Urban Powerful insights! Your reflections highlight a critical lesson: consulting isn't just an expense—it's a strategic investment that transforms potential into actionable success.