The Agenda within the Congress Area

Global economic relations are undergoing a profound transformation: Geopolitical tensions, technological disruptions, climate change, and shifting trade dynamics are challenging businesses and decision-makers around the world. Building resilient, sustainable, and future-proof supply chains is becoming a strategic imperative.

• Which trends are shaping the global economic order?
• How are the demands on international supply chains evolving?
• What political and economic course-setting is now required?

Join us for two inspiring keynotes followed by a high-level panel discussion that will provide valuable insights – and spark strategies to turn global challenges into entrepreneurial opportunities.

Transformation is no longer a buzzword. The geopolitical world order is also currently undergoing a transformation - economic dependencies, new power blocs and strategic interests are shaping the future of Germany as a business location. In this top-ranked panel, participants will experience an analysis of geopolitical power shifts and their direct impact on security, the economy and strategic options for Germany and Europe. Gain deep insights and examples to make your organization fit for the future and navigate it successfully through geopolitical transformations.

In an exciting discussion, leading experts will show how robotics and AI are changing logistics in Europe. The focus will be on strategic approaches to automation, current AI innovations and their impact on the competitiveness of European companies. From smart warehouses to scalable automation - the session will provide insights into technologies and trends that are redefining supply chains in the digital age.
 

The Metaverse opens new perspectives for the supply chain: Digital, collaborative environments help to design processes more efficiently and conserve resources. Errors are detected at an early stage and logistics services are improved continuously. Fleets of autonomous robots are controlled in real time and maintained predictively. Simulation-based planning increases the efficiency and safety of logistics system. One key is the integration of metaverse-based simulations and existing ERP, WMS and TMS systems. New players are entering the metaverse market, which means that the balance of power is shifting and strategic positioning needs to be reconsidered. With new insights from science, this session provides a practical classification and illustration of several perspectives from everyday business life in the context of metaverse-based simulations and systems for maintenance, control, delivery, and more.
 

Integrated and digitalized logistics networks are transforming the supply chain at all levels: planning, control, warehouse logistics and transport - important areas that can benefit enormously from successful digitalization. But what exactly does this process look like? What requirements, challenges and benefits can be expected? In three keynote speeches, experts will shed light on how they have approached the implementation of the digitalized supply chain, what status quo they have already achieved and what steps are planned in the medium term. In the subsequent discussion, synergies, advantages and concrete steps for implementing the digital end-to-end supply chain transformation will be discussed. Analogue was yesterday!
 

This practical talk is all about the further development of lean through digitalization and AI. Participants will receive valuable insights into how they can use the AI toolbox in a targeted way to optimize lean processes and equip their organization for the future. The keynote speech will highlight a specific example of an application and show how digitalization and collaboration go hand in hand to increase efficiency and promote innovation. This will be followed by an open discussion in which the discussion partners will share their own experiences and challenges to jointly identify solutions for the successful integration of AI and lean.
 

Why do digitalization projects fail? Experts from various fields such as industry, logistics services and consulting will address this question. Participants will learn about the typical challenges that arise in digitalization projects in logistics and how these can be overcome. How can you ensure that projects remain within budget and on schedule? How can risks be identified and minimized at an early stage, and what role do leadership, corporate culture and change management play in successful implementation?

This session offers practical insights and strategies to make the digitalization process as successful and efficient as possible.
 

Proven concepts continue to find the right setting at BVL Supply Chain CX: On the evening of the first CX day, the logistics world looks to Berlin: The presentation of the German Award for Supply Chain-Management 2025 is undoubtedly one of the highlights, moderated again this year by BVL board member Christina Thurner, as it was in 2024. 
Under its new chairman Christian Mohr, the independent and expert jury will select three finalists and the winner. The prestigious award honors unique innovative solutions in the field of logistics. Look forward to an exciting award ceremony where outstanding achievements and future-oriented projects in supply chains will be honored and celebrated. With a Congress ticket, you can be there live when this year's winner is announced.

Good to know: as part of a “shoulder glance,” the winning project will be presented at a separate event after the BVL Supply Chain CX on site at the winner's premises. In addition, on the second day of the CX, the winner will have the opportunity to present their winning project in a separate session on the Center Stage of the Expo Area.
 

An absolute highlight of the supporting program and exclusively for congress participants is this year's Networking Night, directly following the German Logistics Award ceremony. 
This event offers a great opportunity to make valuable new top-level contacts and reconnect with familiar faces and friends. The Networking Night in the Kaleidoscope Stage area is the place to meet and reconnect – in a lively atmosphere with a cosmopolitan flair. Whether enjoying exquisite culinary delights, dancing to the vibrant beats of DJ Dandy-O or engaging in discreet conversations in the Blue Angel Bar – there are no limits to the professional exploration of relevant topics and high-quality encounters with like-minded people at the Networking Night.
It is exactly what should follow a prestigious award ceremony for the business sector: networking in a relaxed atmosphere, in high-caliber company, and with an appealing entertainment program.
 

This keynote highlights the strategic realignment of the Volkswagen Group's global production and logistics network in response to the current challenges facing the automotive industry.

Cross-brand synergies and cost benefits will be realised through regional governance. Regionalisation also enables faster adaptation to changing conditions in the production and sales markets.

In addition to the strategic realignment of the network, the implementation of further efficiency measures in production and logistics contributes to achieving the company's ambitious goals.

The keynote speech will provide concrete approaches on how reorganisation and efficiency can secure the company's future viability in the long term.
 

What strategic opportunities and challenges do circular business models present for the logistics sector? How can companies adapt their logistics processes to meet the requirements of the circular economy without compromising profitability? The panel discusses how the circular economy can transform the logistics industry and what concrete steps are needed to move from theory to practice. Only through close collaboration among stakeholders can the full potential of a circular economy be realized to ensure long-term resource efficiency and sustainability.

Global supply chains have been under constant pressure in recent years – from the pandemic and trade conflicts to ongoing geopolitical tensions. In this panel, industry leaders from various sectors will share their perspectives on current developments, explore the associated risks and opportunities, and discuss the concrete measures they are taking to respond to increasingly complex global challenges.

The focus will be on short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to stabilize global supply networks, as well as actionable approaches for risk mitigation and adaptation in an unpredictable environment.

Gain real-world insights, learn from successful resilience strategies, and join the discussion on how to build future-proof global supply chains.

Returns are more than just a necessary evil – when managed effectively, they become a strategic lever. In this session, we’ll explore how intelligent returns management can transform the entire value chain: from efficient intralogistics – from unpacking to resale – to AI-powered returns forecasting and seamless integration into demand planning and inventory management. We’ll address key challenges such as quality assessment and product refurbishment, and include the customer perspective: What do consumers expect from returns today? Discover how returns can become a true source of value.
 

The geopolitical situation, NATO obligations and the comprehensive modernization of the Bundeswehr require increased civil-military cooperation in logistics.
This interactive session brings together key stakeholders from the armed forces, procurement agencies, and the logistics industry. The emphasis is on creating real value: asking questions, sharing experiences, fostering understanding – talking with each other, not about each other. A moderated intensive exchange at eye level enables trust to be built in the sense of the common concern: binding, open, but not public.
To ensure meaningful dialogue on equal footing, the number of participants is deliberately limited. The session is especially aimed at logistics service providers looking to engage directly with military decision-makers and procurement authorities.
 

In times of change, storytelling is a powerful tool to engage stakeholders, especially internal teams. To "sell" change, leaders must create a compelling narrative that connects with employees' values and emotions. Transparency is key — explaining the why behind the change helps foster trust. Tailor the message to different groups within the organization, showing how the change benefits them directly. In a crisis, it's essential to maintain clear communication, offer support, and show resilience. A shared vision unites, making the transition smoother. Join our top-tier main stage session, featuring keynote speeches followed by an insightful panel discussion, where industry experts will share actionable strategies for leading change effectively.

Artificial intelligence is already fundamentally changing processes in logistics - from automation and increased efficiency to intelligent control. But AI is also having an impact at a strategic level: corporate management and decision-making processes are changing, new business models are emerging and market structures are shifting. AI opens up potential for operational excellence and confronts companies with the question of which short and long-term changes are realistic. At the same time, regulatory hurdles, risks and new skills requirements are coming into focus - and the interaction between people and technology is gaining new importance.
 

The session provides an overview of the current state of transport logistics in the consumer goods industry and in retail, highlights the transport logistics strategies of market-leading manufacturers and retailers, classifies current transport logistics challenges and ventures an outlook on relevant future developments. With a special thematic focus on transport logistics between manufacturers and retailers, the make-or-buy question and collaboration with logistics service providers, the session lays the foundation for the subsequent Coffee Talk.
 

The Coffee Talk picks up on selected topics from the previous panel discussion, such as the level of logistics costs in consumer goods retail, and explores them in greater depth in a relaxed atmosphere. Practitioners' theses on selected transport purchasing topics will be discussed at several bar tables in a moderated round and reflected on from different perspectives. This new format offers space for an open and interactive exchange between consumer goods manufacturers, retailers and logistics service providers on transport purchasing issues.
 

In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and global uncertainty, the logistics and trade sectors are undergoing profound transformation. Key areas such as digitalization, sustainability, and resilience are reshaping how goods are moved across borders.

Disruptions in global supply chains are prompting the search for alterna-tive routes. One such route, the Middle Corridor, links China and Central Asia with Europe via the Caspian Sea, South Caucasus, and Turkey or the Black Sea.

Recent global disruptions have made one thing clear: supply chain resilience is no longer optional. In the aerospace and defense sector in particular, complexity, limited transparency, and slow capacity adaptation are major challenges.

Europe is facing complex economic, political, and societal challenges – but these also present tremendous opportunities for agile and transformation-ready companies.