Logistics Purchasing Network Xstaff is Now ShiftX

“Better data for better decisions” – this is the main goal of digitizing the supply chain for almost half (42 percent) of the over 100 participants at this year’s BCO Conference. At the event organized by them, Xstaff also announced the name change to shiftX.

(Düsseldorf/Hamburg) The digitally conducted survey at the venue, the historic coffee exchange in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt, also revealed that accurate planning, combined with better forecasting, is a priority for 28 percent in the context of digitization. Significantly fewer participants voted for access to real-time data (20 percent) and cost transparency (8 percent).

Background: The BCO Conference takes place annually at important European port locations and is considered a key industry event for Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCO). The term refers to the actual owner of a good who takes control of the entire transport process. The conference is organized by shiftX (formerly Xstaff), a global network of BCOs that jointly develops solutions, such as the bundling of goods flows, for the challenges of supply chains.

74 percent of data attributes already digitized – but still room for improvement

After opening contributions from Jens Meier (CEO Hamburg Port Authority) and Nils Kahn (Managing Director MSC Germany), the topic of digitization was at the forefront. Dave van Diggele from the Digital Container Shipping Association (DSCA) based in Amsterdam pointed out that 74 percent of the data attributes generated in container shipping are already standardized, which corresponds to a 92 percent share of the total data flow. Data attributes define the various characteristics or properties of data and help to organize and analyze them better. Between 2020 and 2023 alone, the number of standardized data attributes has tripled, according to van Diggele – yet there is still room for improvement.

Cloud solution provides efficiency advantages

“Digitize to Collaborate” is the motto of the Hamburg IT service provider Logward. CEO Jonas Krumland presented the new cooperation with shiftX: Based on a cloud platform, significant efficiency advantages are to be created in tender, transport, and allocation management in the future. Logward contributes its digital expertise, particularly in the area of transport and capacity management, which enables transparent planning and monitoring of supply chains.

Shift of traffic still not functioning

Beyond digital solutions and trends, “classic” transport challenges were also the focus of the BCO Conference. Under the leadership of Stephan Schiller, Managing Partner of shiftX, Gerhard Oswald (consulting firm GoMultimodal, Hamburg), Anisa Rizvanolli (Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services CML, Hamburg), and Malte Siegert (NABU Hamburg) discussed the possibilities of environmentally friendly hinterland transport in the age of climate change. Oswald pointed out that the rather negative image of rail in passenger transport does not necessarily transfer to freight transport: With the “Albatros-Express” network, Central Europe has been successfully connected by rail for many years along the North-South axis.

For Malte Siegert, it is clear: The repeatedly propagated shift of traffic from road to rail is still not functioning across Europe, and emissions from truck traffic remain unchanged high. It is primarily up to politics to change this, rather than companies.

Anisa Rizvanolli advocated for even stronger bundling of cargo flows, as shiftX demonstrates, while also achieving environmental benefits. Smart solutions are needed here. And even if the infrastructure is often old and dilapidated: The potential of inland shipping should not be forgotten in hinterland transport.

Positioning stronger with the new name

During the 7th BCO Conference, the two managing partners and organizers Antonios Rigalos and Stephan Schiller announced the name change from Xstaff to shiftX: “With the new name, we want to position ourselves even more strongly as ‘Shifters’ in logistics, creating synergies, competitive conditions, and reliable capacities for BCOs in an increasingly complex transport market with our network.”

About shiftX GmbH

shiftX GmbH was founded at the initiative of COOP Switzerland and the Belgian Colruyt Group as an international logistics purchasing network. shiftX negotiates with shipping companies and other logistics service providers and helps the members of the network optimize their supply chains through the bundling of forces. The network portfolio includes over 50 network service providers in Europe and Asia and has offices in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Katowice, and Hong Kong. The motto is: “It is the strength of the alliance that distinguishes us and enables us to achieve goals that would be a challenge for individual companies. Together we are simply stronger.”

Photo: © shiftX