ASTRE Congress Addressed Artificial Intelligence

From October 1 to 4 of this year, member companies and partners from across Europe gathered at the 32nd ASTRE Congress in Bordeaux. The aim was to share experiences and develop new strategies. Expert presentations and discussions on economic and technological focal points shaped the program to optimally prepare companies for future challenges.

(Müllheim/Bordeaux) The event was characterized by the strength of the collective, a family spirit, and intergenerational diversity. Following recent structural changes, the new goals and strategies of the cooperative were explained to the 125 member companies, 127 partners, and 90 other participants. About 200 executives from six different nations attended.

A highlight of the congress was the deliberately unconventional plenary session held in the auditorium of the “Cité du Vin,” a tourism project in Bordeaux. ASTRE organized two presentations with experts from the fields of economics and artificial intelligence (AI) to showcase long-term success strategies to the members.

Ingo Malsbenden, Managing Director of ASTRE DACH member Moeller – Internationale Spedition + Logistik GmbH, one of the representatives of the ASTRE national association in the German-speaking region, praised the new impulses of the congress: “The presentations and discussion rounds focused on those areas that provide us as members with the greatest added value. Every meeting in the network is valuable, as our collective cohesion is one of our greatest competitive advantages.”

Particularly memorable was a statement from economic expert Philippe Dessertine, as Ingo Malsbenden continued, who informed the members in his presentation about current and future economic challenges as well as new growth opportunities, reminding them of their key role as the “backbone of the economy.” In a subsequent panel discussion, experts and executives from ASTRE members discussed topics such as the CSRD directive, tax increases, and European regulations – challenges that significantly affect the logistics industry.

Impacts and Risks of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence also played a central role as a globally and cross-industry relevant topic. ASTRE invited experts Jérôme Lucereau, Chairman of Galances Conseil et Formation and founder of the “Fresque de l’AI,” and his co-founder Nicolas Blanchon. The discussion covered predictive and generative AI, ecological impacts, and risks of this technological revolution. The experts provided valuable insights on how ASTRE members can profitably utilize AI.

Photo: © ASTRE