Getting Our Future on the Right Track

We need an efficient and innovative logistics sector to deal with constantly-changing patterns of consumption and enable manufacturing businesses to thrive. Should we just look on while others show us the way? Alain Picard argues that logistics, the “oxygen of the economy”, will be essential to wealth creation in the coming decades. In spite of this, it is too often under-estimated. That needs to change: you can’t have an economy built on trade without moving objects!

Logistics has ambitious aims: to make things flow more smoothly, support the development of our companies, meet demands for immediacy and proximity, and simplify everyday life. This ever-changing “invisible machine” is tackling head-on future challenges such as drones, connected railcars, green logistics, data mining and infrastructure development.

What’s the best of way of bringing about successful change and inno- vation in this sector? Alain Picard believes France must play a full part in national and European developments. He also argues it is vital to kick-start social mobility with support for jobs that are hard to delo- calize. Another key challenge will be to bridge the gap between what consumers want and what citizens need. France has assets with huge potential: logistics businesses that could play a crucial role in boosting growth, performance and the country’s global standing.