Modern trade requires goods to be purchased, stored, handled and transported in the most effective manner across the globe. To that end, effective logistics management is key in helping companies reduce cost, improve product availability, shorten delivery times, all the while providing a service of quality to the customers, leading to an improvement in their capacity to compete in global markets.
The COVID-19 pandemic has added a layer of complexity to logistics management by re-shaping worldwide trade flows, and disrupting global supply chains, forcing businesses to re-think the way goods can cross borders and reach customers in a safe and timely manner.
Stemming from this rationale, the “Moving Your Business” webinar, organized and supported by AzExport and the International Trade Centre under the Eastern Partnership: Ready to Trade- an EU4Business initiative, was recently held to familiarize Azerbaijani businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, with logistics concepts, tools and applications.
“During the pandemic, the strict quarantine rules imposed in the majority of the world, including Azerbaijan, have given us an additional impetus to conduct trainings online. This new series of webinars conducted under the Ready to Trade initiative has brought forth positive feedback, as well as many expressions of interest to have more trainings covering logistics issues in the future", said Aykhan Gadashov, Manager of Azexport.az portal.
This webinar is a series of modern logistics management courses held online over the course of several days and covers topics, such as an introduction to logistics, smart procurement, smart transportation and Incoterms 2020 in four modules.
The course explained to the participants what the Incoterms rules are, and how to best utilize them. The Incoterms rules are the world’s essential terms of trade for the sale of goods, and have recently been updated in 2020. Their latest revision format was detailed in the online class. It also provided business owners with a unique understanding of how logistics can be managed effectively in contemporary times, starting with an analysis of their business priorities and the nature of their products. Specific techniques in managing procurement and transportation were also shared during the webinar.
The Ready to Trade programme helps small and medium-sized enterprises from Eastern Partnership countries to integrate into global value chains and access new markets with a focus on the EU, by assisting SMEs in producing value-added goods following international and EU market requirements, while connecting them with buyers from global value chains and markets. This project is supported by the European Union as part if its EU4Business Initiative.