Economic Makers Survey Consumers on Logistics Performance

German consumers have experienced an improvement in logistics performance over the past decades and have come to appreciate the associated convenience. This is shown by a representative consumer survey conducted in the fall by the initiative “Die Wirtschaftsmacher”. The current disruptions in supply chains are felt as a significant setback: about 72 percent of respondents report noticing the effects of the current crises personally. Younger people, who relatively often rely on the larger international product range, are particularly sensitive to this.

In a recent representative flash survey conducted in September 2022, “Die Wirtschaftsmacher” asked about the purchasing behavior of over 1,000 German consumers. The results show that the majority of people, regardless of their year of birth, have experienced an improvement in logistics performance in their lives. Thus, 85 percent see an increased performance compared to their youth. Improvements are particularly perceived in delivery times, reliability, and product variety. Today, clothing, electronics, and computers including accessories are primarily ordered consciously from abroad – less frequently luxury goods, indulgent products, or bulky items.

People have become accustomed to strong logistics performance

With the higher standards enabled by international markets and supply chains, such as in terms of product variety, expectations regarding availability seem to have risen as well. About 72 percent of respondents perceive the current disruptions in international supply chains firsthand. As the cohort analysis shows, the consumption behavior of people in their first half of life is becoming increasingly international. Given bottlenecks, these are particularly noticeable to them, especially among those aged 26-30.

“The flash survey provides us with a snapshot of how logistics is currently perceived and valued, especially in light of the existing supply chain problems,” explains Frauke Heistermann, spokesperson for the initiative “Die Wirtschaftsmacher”. “People have become accustomed to strong logistics performance and do not want to miss it anymore, which they feel acutely in light of the current crises.”

1,009 People Surveyed

With 1,009 respondents, the survey represents a representative snapshot of the perception of the logistics sector in the German public. In addition to answers to the three core questions, participants also provided information about their age, gender, education, and industry affiliation. The flash survey was conducted in September 2022 and supported by the members of Die Wirtschaftsmacher: Panattoni, Seifert Logistics, and PSI Logistics.

Link to the survey

Graphics: © Die Wirtschaftsmacher