Ideal logistics for every region

If a company decides to export goods to a country or region, it is extremely important to examine a country’s special characteristics in addition to studying the general conditions. The logistics system must make special preparations to deal with the different conditions. The differences among the individual regions or countries are too great for them to be served by the same strategy.

Country-specific conditions in global logistics

Different languages, mentalities and ways of life in other countries complicate communications in international logistics processes. In addition, global logistics becomes even more complicated as a result of laws, administrative practices, technical development and infrastructure that are sometimes considerably different [1].

Legal conditions

Country-specific legal conditions such as workweek regulations - including vacation and holiday rules - have an impact on the logistics services that are offered and demanded. To facilitate trade, bilateral and multilateral agreements are used in addition to national laws to harmonize individual countries’ regulations [1].

Administrative conditions

Country-specific administrative conditions establish procedures for applying legal regulations and organizing processes for cross-border flows of information and goods - e.g., differing product-inspection processes [1].

Technical conditions

Country-specific technical conditions are regulations governing the permissible dimensions and weights of resources to be used - e.g., differing electrical systems, gauges of rail tracks and construction of rail lines as well as varied computer equipment among forwarders in various countries [1].

Infrastructure and geographic conditions

Country-specific infrastructure and geographic conditions arise first from countries’ different topographic features - e.g., the width and depth of waterways. They are also the result of national policies governing transport routes and communications. It has only been in recent years that infrastructure work has taken on a multinational dimension within the context of large economic regions like the European Union - e.g., at border-crossing and customs offices en route [1].

Cultural conditions

Country-specific cultural conditions such as countries’ differing ways of life, mentalities, education systems and languages form a major barrier to the organization of international logistics systems.
For one thing, communications are complicated by such differences. For another, the differing levels of abilities and commitment on the part of logistics personnel mean that the smoothly running logistics systems of one country cannot be automatically transferred to other countries. This results from factors such as different education levels, living standards and values among countries [1].

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