The Evolution of the Supply Chain with COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the global economic system.

Logistics — positioned at the heart of global trade — has been one of the sectors most severely affected by its negative impacts.

The Evolution of the Supply Chain with COVID-19

Since the early 2000s, manufacturing companies — under pressure from rising labor costs — have increasingly turned to offshoring production, particularly toward Asia.
This trend has led to a growing interconnection and dependency of European supply chains on third countries.

The restrictions introduced to contain COVID-19 infections affected the availability of logistics personnel — from road transport operators to port workers — resulting in daily operational delays.
At the same time, quarantine measures for cargo ships arriving from high-risk countries added to the difficulties already faced by the sector, creating a climate of uncertainty and disruption.

Because of this global interconnection, even a delay in the production or delivery of raw materials in Asia can trigger a chain reaction — impacting the manufacturing of finished goods in Europe and, consequently, the delivery to the final customer.

The COVID-19 crisis revealed the fragility of the European production system and its heavy reliance on foreign suppliers.

Major European multinationals have therefore begun to redesign their production systems, adapting them to the post-pandemic era with a focus on relocating production closer to their target markets.

However, for many products, replacing a distant supplier with a geographically closer one is not always feasible due to higher costs.
The solution lies in a more efficient and flexible logistics system, capable of improving companies’ responsiveness to rapid market changes.

The evolution of European supply chains toward just-in-time models has reduced inventory levels of raw materials and finished products — limiting operational flexibility, especially during demand peaks.
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need to improve reaction times and to reassess storage capacity where necessary.

BRIDGE was created to stand alongside European businesses, supporting a sustainable transition toward the reshoring of production activities within the continent.

The digitalization of road transport is at the heart of the supply chain revolution — driving it toward a structure that is more efficient, flexible, and sustainable.