The impact of a pandemic on the development of logistics: EU experience and problems in Ukraine

Abstract

An important aspect of any industry is the rapid and effective adaptation to changing conditions. The logistics market during the pandemic and related constraints has changed significantly, and competition in this segment has become higher than ever. Many consumers are forced to reduce consumption, companies have reduced supplies and production, diversified their activities. The transportation market has become denser and the struggle for the customer has intensified. Optimization of financial, labor, and material resources through the reduction of activities can negatively affect the quality of logistics services, the speed of processing goods, and their delivery to the final consumer. Based on the relevance, the aim of the research is to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on logistics, assess the results of such impacts in the EU, as well as outline trends and prospects for the logistics market in terms of declining coronavirus and market recovery. The research methodology is based on the use of general scientific and specific methods, in particular: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systematization, generalization. The scientific novelty of the study is that the changes that have taken place in logistics have led to the emergence of new trends and trends that need to be generalized and evaluated in terms of prospects for impact on the industry. The study summarized the conclusion that the coronavirus pandemic created opportunities for some companies and threats for others. As a result of the constraints and challenges that have become inherent in international business and logistics, e-commerce, on-demand delivery, and the concept of “last kilometers” are developing rapidly in the EU and Ukraine. The logistics market has a tendency to consolidate and diversify. At the same time, once the European economy returns to normal, most of the changes that have taken place in logistics will be irreversible. Keywords: logistics, pandemic consequences, trade, supply chain, transport