Although the term VUCA was coined in the 1990s by American soldiers, the acronym makes sense in its English meanings: volatility (V – Volatility), uncertainty (U – Uncertainty), complexity (C – Complexity), and ambiguity (A – Ambiguity).
In the dynamic VUCA environment, logistics of goods face unprecedented challenges. In this context, that was precisely the message conveyed by Martin Sack, Regional Head Americas at Leschaco, highlighting how rapid and unpredictable changes in the supply chain must be accepted, which requires agility, strategic planning, collaboration, and strategic alliances.
At the 14th Leschaco Seminar, four main areas related to the VUCA effect on logistics were addressed, with the aim of approaching this new reality, explained Francisco Gálvez, General Director of Leschaco Mexicana.
Within the panel “Pacific Ports: The Nearshoring Boom,” it became clear that the ports of Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas are essential to leverage Mexico’s new momentum. This includes the multimodal interconnection with both rail and trucking, as well as customs modernization, elements that can benefit situations such as dwell times.
In the session on “Sustainable Logistics: The Journey between Green and Grey,” the urgency of aligning the objectives of the different links in the supply chain was expressed, where all parties must contribute to solutions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint.
The representatives from the maritime world who participated in the panel “Maritime Transport: Overview, Analysis, and Outlook 2024/2025” agreed that this industry is synonymous with resilience, where they have had to adapt to the various logistical “tsunamis” stemming from the pandemic, and thus, the geopolitical challenges they face that affect the pace of the supply chain.
In the panel “Road Transport: Trends and Challenges in a Growing Market,” there was agreement on the urgency of recognizing the value of operators, where users are key to retaining these professionals, as well as to efficiency and productivity in the sector.
In this edition, Colombia was the guest country, a relevant country for Leschaco’s operations where their presence has increased in recent years. Meanwhile, Mexico is a key player in the Colombian economy, ranking among the top 5 trading partners of the South American country.
In the 15th Leschaco Seminar, to be held in 2025, the guest country will be the Netherlands.
