The era of unbridled globalization is over, for now. Europe is at war, with countless victims, economic damage, and an as yet unforeseeable potential for escalation. The major economic blocs of the EU, the USA, and China are engaged in a trade conflict that will likely intensify under President Trump. New tariff barriers are looming, resulting in further economic disruption. In all regions, people and governments are once again favoring national over international solutions. Instead of a regionally limited division of labor between development sites and workbenches, there is a shift in production and competition between locations for technological development, impacting labor markets and social structures. This reduces the predictability and reliability that had ensured smoother development during the globalization phase.
This situation means an unprecedented level of unpredictability, volatility, and the need for adaptation, not only for the manufacturing sectors, but especially for the logistics industry. Companies are therefore facing challenges that place the highest demands on management in terms of willingness to learn, willingness to experiment, and courage.
