International companies dealing with logistics consulting have been operating in their home markets for decades. They have gained experience in many renowned companies. There is probably no need to convince anyone that specialized consulting has a huge future. Efficient logistics management is not only becoming a source of competitive advantage, but also determines whether a given company will exist on the market at all. Manufacturing companies, focused on their core business, have less and less time, resources, and lack the appropriate experience to identify and analyze their needs thoroughly.
Very often, therefore, they reach for the advice of consulting firms experienced in this field – especially those that are able to incorporate the latest IT solutions into their strategies. The example of developing countries, such as Brazil, Argentina, and India, shows that logistics consulting has a future. It is there that large-scale projects are currently being implemented – both distribution center projects and strategic concepts or advanced training programs for logistics services. Providing services in the field of logistics consulting is a tempting prospect. This can be seen by observing the huge interest of companies that previously did not deal with this to such an extent. However, the scope of the offer they propose is limited. Large consulting firms mainly offer strategic consulting. In contrast, companies employing consultants and engineers advise not only in the strategic area, but also in tactical and operational areas, keeping in mind engineering, technical, and IT issues.
The Polish logistics consulting market is small and very young. Companies that professionally advise enterprises on logistics on a daily basis can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Most of them are branches of foreign representative offices that currently have a small number of implemented solutions on the Polish market. Representatives of consulting firms often, although less and less frequently, encounter a lack of trust in an external advisor. And yet, openness and cooperation with an advisor are a necessary condition for the success of a logistics project. However, there are huge opportunities ahead for the Polish market.
After the extremely dynamic “marketing era” that swept through Poland from the beginning of the nineties, we are currently witnessing the development of the “logistics era”. Enterprises on the Polish market are successfully implementing modern logistics solutions, often matching the level of solutions on foreign markets. Thus, the demand for logistics consulting is also growing, although this market is characterized by a specific type of competition. Polish branches of foreign companies most often transfer experience gained in European and global markets to our backyard. But they also learn to identify and satisfy the needs of domestic enterprises.
Enterprises dealing with logistics consulting employ specialized consultants and engineers who combine knowledge in the fields of technology, IT, as well as economics and logistics. They treat each project individually and independently, while trying to best meet the expectations of their clients. They solve problems related to the specifics of various branches of the economy, exchanging experience among themselves. Thanks to their rich practical knowledge and familiarity with many industries, they also have the ability to implement modern and at the same time proven solutions, independent of manufacturers, system suppliers, and equipment providers.