Globalization has been a key driver in the ever increasing complexity of supply chains. As a direct consequence of this ongoing dynamic development, service providers in the forwarding and outsourced logistics marketplace face consistently changing requirements from customers. The need for integrated solutions, which guarantee end-to-end control of processes combined with seamless real-time visibility is pushing service providers – whether they operate in a domestic or in an international domain – to constantly adapt their capabilities.

Considering today’s competitive landscape, combined with value growth-and bottom-line expectations from shareholders, the pressures of industry consolidation will continue to be a major factor in the years to come. Innovation and disruptive IT technology will play an equally significant part in this exiting but challenging trend.

The opportunities for mergers & acquisitions are enormous, however so are the risks. It is a well known fact, that many M&A transactions in the logistics industry do not deliver the desired returns established in the original business case. No doubt, there are countless reasons why this happens, but at the end of the day three main factors determine the successful or failed outcome of an acquisition or an integration: planning, disciplined execution and a sound post-merger integration strategy.