It's the summer of the Paris Olympics – but amongst the sporting prowess, learn from the hard-working logistics professionals making it all possible! With 35 venues and around 185km of Parisian roads exclusively reserved for athletes, the scale of the games necessitates a bedrock of operational talent and forward planning. Get inspired by some of the innovative ideas and organisational feats of Paris’s logistical partners, and the Olympic Games of years gone by...
1. Lesson: Extra staff? You also need extra strategic input
Inspiration: DPD at the London Olympics 2012
Logistics leaders often deal with disruption by deploying extra manpower. However, this must be underpinned by strategic guardrails, to ensure that your people resource is utilised effectively – and it isn’t just a case of throwing bodies at a problem!
DPD demonstrated this at the London Olympics. The parcel carrier not only deployed 200 extra staff, but appointed designated Olympics specialists at each depot to ensure that this new team was well directed; the specialists managed and resolved disruptions and provided regular updates. Increasing operational direction helps optimise a temporary workforce.
2. Lesson: Deal with demand by increasing visibility
Inspiration: Port of Tokyo at the Tokyo Olympics 2020
When demand and congestion increases, there is a high risk of bottlenecks and delays, especially at choke points like ports. One way to cope is by leveraging tools for monitoring – facilitating informed decision making, operational agility and responsiveness when infrastructure is under pressure and conditions are unpredictable.
The Port of Tokyo rose to the challenge of the Olympics by enhancing the provision of information – installing more web cams, providing coastal area traffic congestion maps and opening a specially made website to keep relevant parties informed. Embracing advanced information-sharing mechanisms empowers logistics teams to navigate challenges effectively.
3. Lesson: Prioritise sustainability with innovative warehouse technology
Inspiration: CEVA Logistics at the Paris Olympics 2024
Logisitics companies are under governmental and customer pressure to increase the sustainability of their operations. By integrating technology solutions like smart energy management and digital monitoring, logistics leaders can significantly reduce their environmental impact while enhancing operational efficiency.
CEVA Logistics is implementing cutting-edge sustainability techniques at its new warehouse in Ile de France, devoted to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. For example, the team has a dedicated digital platform for monitoring their recycling rates, to drive them to reach their minimum target of 80 per cent. Embracing innovative warehouse technology not only fosters a greener footprint but presents opportunities for cost-saving and improved brand reputation.
The Olympic Games are an extraordinary display of human talent, perseverance, and global unity. Yet, behind the scenes, an equally impressive feat unfolds—the seamless orchestration of logistics. We hope this article has provided some logistics lessons to fire the imagination, when it comes to reacting positively to challenges and achieving operational excellence.
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