A little over a year has passed and Brexit is still causing many disruptions amongst industries. Virtually any company that must maintain a streamlined Supply Chain cannot deny the strong effects Brexit has had within the industry. Companies must deal with rising issues such as changing Import/Export regulations, restrictions concerning the free movement of people and managing supplier relations. One of the most predominant effects faced by companies concerns the increase in complexity in cross border customs/tax regulation. This is especially relevant in the Transport and Logistics sector.
The new customs/tax regulations force companies that conduct trade between the UK/EU to reassess their strategic decision-making regarding the clearance of goods and paying VAT (this includes any additional tariffs when selling to EU customers). Doing so is necessary, but will result in increased transport costs, extensive paperwork, and prolonged delivery times. Companies can also choose to regain control by acquiring warehouse space within the EU to function as a fulfillment center and vice versa. This decision will, however, implicate high opportunity costs (Williams, 2021).
In addition to the increase in complexity concerning customs/tax regulations, UK regulatory compliance now exists separate from EU regulatory compliance. The most essential requirements in terms of environmental issues, safety, and health will not change substantially. However, there are most certainly some major changes applicable to UK/EU product compliance regime (Grist & Erasmus, 2021). Two of the most significantly changing instances are:
- The introduction of a UKCA mark and a UK Declaration of conformity for market entering products.
- A shift in obligations and duties between ‘manufacturers’, ‘importers’, and ‘distributors’
Brexit has caused many Supply Chains to have their weaknesses exposed as a result from the above stated effects. This does not mean, however, that there are no opportunities for the sector. Experienced businesses know that problems create opportunities for improvements. Organizations are adapting by reassessing their current Supply Chain operational processes. This is vital for improving post Brexit. Companies must reevaluate their current transport activities and adjust their strategies in accordance with the Brexit effects and regulations. One of the ways of doing so is Outsourcing.
According to Investopedia (2021), the definition of outsourcing is defined as: ‘the business practice of hiring a party outside a company to perform services and create goods that traditionally were performed in-house by the company’s own employees and staff.’.
In essence, companies that outsource elements of their Supply Chain can achieve benefits such as:
- Reducing Operational Costs
- Increasing Flexibility
- Mitigating risks
- Creating opportunity for innovation
- Streamlining operational processess
Working with experienced professionals that deal with outsourcing daily is an effective way to quickly increase your company’s efficiency. Some organizations outsource their entire Supply Chain to expert companies that are up to date with the latest knowledge. This allows them to tackle the complex issues concerning customs/tax changes resulting from Brexit. Others merely outsource elements of their Supply Chain to increase their proficiency in that specific area. For both cases, Moduslink is your partner of choice and can provide you with customized solutions that fit to your needs, increasing your needs and allowing you to anticipate growth, streamlining your costs, increasing your revenue, and building brand loyalty.
If you are a company that is struggling to effectively resume your business between the UK and EU, allow Moduslink to relieve you of your worry by offering a wide variety of outsourcing solutions backed by industry experts. Our solutions allow you to improve your Supply Chain by implementing:
- Packaging, Kitting & Assembly
- B2B and B2C Fulfillment
- Reverse Logistics
- Warehousing and Distribution
- Delivery and Logistics
- Location optimization
Gain control over your Supply Chain and experience the benefits from Outsourcing through Industry experts.
Sources:
Supply Chain Statistics – 18 Key Figures of 2022, Accessed 25 October 2022 From
https://procurementtactics.com/supply-chain-statistics/
KPMG International. (2017, February). Brexit: The impact on sectors. https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/uk/pdf/2017/03/brexit-the-sector-impact.pdf
Investopedia. (2021, May 2). Why Companies Use Outsourcing. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/outsourcing.asp
SchoenHerr, T. S. (2010, January). Outsourcing Decisions in Global Supply Chains: An Exploratory Multi-Country Survey. International Journal of Production Research. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247162714_Outsourcing_Decisions_in_Global_Supply_Chains_An_Exploratory_Multi-Country_Survey
Williams, C. W. (2021, March 26). How is cross-border e-commerce and distribution adapting to Brexit? KnightFrank. https://www.knightfrank.com/research/article/2021-03-26-how-is-crossborder-ecommerce-and-distribution-adapting-to-brexit
Grist, E. G., & Erasmus, P. E. (2021, January 1). Brexit: Product Compliance and Liability implications. Bird & Bird. https://www.twobirds.com/en/news/articles/2016/uk/brexit-product-compliance-and-liability-implications