The UK Logistics Confidence Index H1 2016

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The UK Logistics Confidence Index H1 2016Barclays and Moore Stephens explore the logistics industry

Contents3Introduction4Confidence Index H1 20166Outlook for the next year8The competitive environment11 A changing supply chain13 Strategies for survival and growth16 Industry insight: CollectPlus18 Key takeaways19 About the authorsAll figures and data relating to the UK Logistics Confidence Index within thisreport have been researched by Analytiqa.Analytiqa is a market analysis and business intelligence company providingpublished reports, custom research and strategic advisory for multinationalclients across all sectors and industry verticals of the global supply chain.Analytiqa delivers high quality, commercially relevant research to assistclients to grow and profit in challenging and competitive markets.www.analytiqa.com2 of 20

IntroductionBarclays and Moore Stephens, in conjunction with specialist sector researchagency Analytiqa, have undertaken the latest in a series of biannual surveys toassess confidence and expectations in the UK logistics sector.More than 100 senior decision-makers, including chiefexecutive officers, managing directors and financedirectors, provided their views and insights for this survey,with many having completed each of our past surveys.We greatly value this loyal following.Our survey respondents have evaluated the recentperformance of the sector, as well as their expectationsfor the near term. Their responses have been compiledto create the UK Logistics Confidence Index H1 2016.Confidence slips to the lowest point since Index beganThis is our eighth biannual survey of the UK logisticssector since 2012 and our overall Confidence Index hasfallen significantly to 51.8 for H1 2016, compared to 61.9in H2 2015. This fourth successive drop in confidence isthe biggest the report has ever recorded and takes theIndex to its lowest point since it began four years agoand below the previous lowest recorded Index of 52.5in H2 2012.Despite continued, albeit slower growth of the UKeconomy, it is clear that respondents’ big concern is theimpact of downward price pressure from customers onrevenues and margins. A fiercely competitive marketand rising costs in all areas apart from fuel are stillputting severe pressure on profit margins and may welllead to further falls in confidence in the short term.Nervousness about the faltering global economy,particularly the performance of China and the eurozone,plus the upcoming referendum on UK membership ofthe European Union also appear to be adversely affectingoperators’ confidence.Nevertheless, the Index has fallen considerably from theH2 2015 survey and is now close to the key benchmarkfigure of 50, a score below which would mean that thelogistics sector has entered into a pessimistic mode. Fornow, the key questions are whether the Index is currentlyat its low point and whether it will bounce back in theimmediate future.We trust that you will find this report informativeand helpful.It is clear that respondents’ bigconcern is the impact of downwardprice pressure from customers onrevenues and margins.It should be noted that any Index score above 50indicates that confidence is still in positive territoryand operators remain optimistic, as evidenced byrespondents’ expectations for key indicators such asturnover, profitability, investment, employment andmerger and acquisition activity.3 of 20Rob RiddlestonPhilip BirdHead of Transport and LogisticsCorporate BankingBarclaysPartnerCorporate FinanceMoore Stephens

Confidence Index H1 2016Our Index has fallen for the fourth successive time, dropping to 51.8, the lowestlevel it has ever reached.H1 2012H2 2012H1 2013H2 2013H2 2014Note: Index calculations do not include Q3 (turnover expectations).4 of 20H1 2015H2 201551.874.960.352.557.2Logistics Confidence Index – results from H1 2012-H1 2016The significant fall in the overall Confidence Index takes ourbiannual barometer of optimism to its lowest level since westarted the Index in 2012. This is perhaps surprising giventhat although the UK economic recovery is slowing andthe overall picture is more mixed, on the face of it, the UKeconomy is stronger than it was four years ago.61.9Just 11% of respondents say that business conditions are‘somewhat more favourable’, a decrease of 26% comparedto sentiment this time last year. However, a majority ofrespondents still believe turnover and profits will rise.This mixed message shows the differing challenges theeconomy is throwing at the sector.Economic drivers69.2Respondents reveal that while ongoing industryissues, such as driver and skills shortages and a lack ofwarehouse space, are still important factors, their biggestconcerns in the short term are customer price pressureand cost control. While 40% of respondents say thatbusiness conditions have stayed the same, 43% believethey are ‘somewhat more difficult’ – an increase of27 percentage points compared to H1 2015 and 17percentage points compared to H2 2015. A further 6%go so far as to say the situation is ‘much more difficult’,which is 3 percentage points rise on both our surveyslast year.71.4Our latest survey shows a striking trend of falling optimismabout the outlook for UK logistics, with 49% of respondentssaying current business conditions are tougher than theywere six months ago.H1 2016

In his March Budget speech, the Chancellor, GeorgeOsborne, revealed that the UK economy is now expected togrow 2% this year, compared to a previous 2.4% forecastin November 2015. He added that although the UK is“not immune” to the global slowdown, it is still expectedto grow faster than any other major Western economy.1“It’s a challenge convincing customersthat lower fuel prices do not necessarilymean lower transport prices – the drivershortage and increased costs outweighthe fuel benefit.”However, respondents answered our survey against acontinuing backdrop of unease about the global economy,with a dramatic slowdown in China and doubts over thefuture of the eurozone. As a key part of a trading nation,UK logistics companies are, unsurprisingly, expecting tofeel the pinch from these global economic concerns,despite the fact that they have yet to have a dramaticimpact on the UK.Downward price pressure and rising costsOur survey respondents’ views clearly highlight the impactof continuing downward price pressure from customers.Ever-present and increasing competition is clearly continuingto squeeze prices, with many retailers and manufacturersthemselves under pressure to reduce their costs.Some survey respondents say that falling fuel prices areprompting their customers to demand lower rates. Butincreases in other business costs for logistics operatorsare cancelling out lower fuel prices. One such concern,highlighted by our respondents, is staff costs, perhapsexacerbated by the new National Living Wage of 7.20an hour, which came into effect on 1 April.40%43%How do you view current businessconditions versus the last six months?The possibilities of Brexit, and the as yet unknownconsequences, are undoubtedly further cause for uncertainty.The forthcoming EU referendum may well have promptedmany businesses, particularly those involved in Europeantrade, to put key business decisions about their future onhold, as was the case with the Scottish referendum in 97.Much morefavourableSomewhat morefavourable5 of 20The sameSomewhatmore difficultMuch moredifficult

Outlook for the next yearJust under half of respondents (47%) expect the outlook for the sectorto get tougher.While our survey results show there is still a narrow majorityof respondents (53%) who predict the short-term outlookfor the sector won’t deteriorate further, the number ofoperators who are worried has risen significantly.14% think that business conditions in the next six monthswill be ‘somewhat more favourable’ in the next six months,which is a fall of 20% on the number that held this viewa year ago.However, the biggest change can be seen in the share(41%) who think the outlook will be ‘somewhat moredifficult’. This is a 23% rise on the figure for this time lastyear and a 30% increase compared to H1 2013. Our latestresults show a further 6% of companies feel conditionswill be ‘much more difficult’.Turnover and profitabilityBased on these responses, we might expect our nextConfidence Index, for H2 2016, to fall further.However, it is worth noting that our respondents’ forecastsahead of the peak trading activity of Christmas 2015 showjust how difficult it can be for logistics companies topredict future business conditions. For example, 52% ofrespondents told our H2 2015 survey that they expectedvolumes to go up. In fact, our H1 2016 survey found thatonly 37.5% actually experienced a rise.How do you foresee business conditionsto be over the next six months?A large majority of those surveyed (69%) still expect theirturnover to increase in the next 12 months. This may seemcounterintuitive when compared with the increasinglypessimistic overall outlook. 37% of respondents forecasttheir turnover will rise 2-5%, while 14% expect a turnoverincrease of 5-8%.14%Somewhat morefavourable38%1%More favourableThe same6%Much moredifficult6 of 2041%Somewhatmore difficult

Do you expect an increase or decrease inturnover over the next 12 months?Increase (10% )9%Increase (8-10%)9%14%Increase (5-8%)37%Increase (2-5%)14%No change (-2% to 2%)7%Decrease (2-5%)Decrease (5-8%)4%Decrease (8-10%)4%Decrease (10% )Do you expect an increase or decrease in profitover the next 12 months?aseDecre10% %33%aseDecre 8-10%aseDecre5-8%3%7%aseDecre2-5%Noechang5%210 % crea10% 8%2%However, the biggest change from our H2 2015 survey sixmonths ago is an 11.8% fall in the number of operatorsforecasting higher turnover. It’s also the case that the lasttime our survey produced a comparable result was the firsthalf of 2013 at 70%.Perhaps of greater significance is the fact that just 52%of respondents forecast profitability will increase over thenext 12 months – the lowest such figure since our surveybegan and down 14.7% compared to H1 2015. The shareexpecting a fall in profitability is 23%, which is an increaseof 14% compared to this time last year.Investment forecastsClose to 71% of logistics operators feel sufficientlyconfident to be planning to invest in capital expenditureover the next six months. However, in line with the morecautious trend emerging in our latest survey, the numberwho say they are ‘very likely’ to invest is down 12% on sixmonths ago and down close to 16% compared to the H12015 survey.There is still a need for investmentin more warehouse capacity.A continued willingness to invest partly reflects thesector’s need for investment in technology to drive greaterefficiency and productivity, reduce costs and to improveclient service – critical to winning and keeping new business.Our survey also confirms there is still a need for investmentin more warehouse capacity. However, analysis of anticipatedcapital expenditure by size of company shows that whereaspreviously it has been smaller players more willing to declarethemselves ‘unlikely’ to make significant capital expenditurein the short term, our most recent results illustrate smallercompanies and larger companies now showing equalreluctance to do so, at 29% and 30% respectively.7 of 20How likely is it that your company will make significantcapital expenditure over the next six months?Likely45.5%Unlikely29.5%Very likely25.3%

The competitive environmentJust 52% of respondents forecast profitability will rise over the next12 months – the lowest such figure since our survey began.Respondents’ turnover and profitability predictions reflectconcern that customers are squeezing prices. Customerprice pressure is identified by 49% of survey respondentsas the most important issue facing their businesses inthe next six months, a rise of 12.5% on H2 2015 results.What will be the most important issue facingyour business in the next six months?Operators’ comments paint a picture of aggressivecontract negotiations and purchasing departmentspushing prices down, with some respondents reportingthat prices have “collapsed”.Lack of warehouse capacity is still a concernA lack of warehouse capacity in the UK is also still a worryfor some respondents, although the number citing this asthe most important issue facing their business in the nextsix months has fallen slightly to 9%.Customer price pressure is now themost important issue facing businessesover the next six months.Falling prices even eclipse the long-running issue of lackof drivers and other skills in the industry as the mostimportant issue facing operators. 30% of respondentsindicate that driver and skills shortages is the mostimportant issue facing businesses over the next sixmonths, down 14% on figures for H2 2015.Nevertheless, logistics operators voice their concernabout the shortage of not only drivers and warehousestaff but of suitably qualified people in management andleadership roles. The industry struggles with a reputationfor long hours and low rewards for drivers and other staff,and continues to debate how to attract the nextgeneration of logistics professionals.Customer price pressure 48.9%Driver/skills shortage 30%Shortage of warehouse space 8.9%Employee wage pressure 7.8%Lengthening payment terms from customers 3.3%Other 1.1%8 of 20The apparent disparity between falling confidence andcontinued, albeit reduced, turnover and profitabilitygrowth may hint at a divergence in fortunes betweendifferent types of logistics business. Some 3PL operators,for example, may be better able to cope with pricingpressure due to a broader service offering and the abilityto provide value-added services, compared to, say, moretraditional haulage businesses offering a narrowerservice range.

This possible polarisation of the sector has in the pastbeen partially explained by the different experiences oflarger and smaller operators. Analysis of previous surveyresponses by size of company showed that smallercompanies were markedly less confident about theoutlook for turnover and profit.However, our latest survey shows a convergence ofviews, with 70% of smaller companies and 68% of largercompanies expecting an increase in turnover over the next12 months. It is the same picture with profitability: 53% ofsmaller companies forecast an increase and 51% of largercompanies agree.While the share of smaller and larger companies thatexpect no change or a fall in profitability is almostidentical, a higher share of smaller companies (21%)expect a fall in turnover than larger companies (13%).Winning new businessOur survey emphatically demonstrates the intensecompetition in the sector by showing that winningbusiness from rivals through price competitiveness is vitalfor logistics operators. Figures for the main source of newbusiness wins in the past six months show 62% are aresult of new customers switching from other serviceproviders, a rise of 9% on this time last year.This increase appears to be prompted by a fall in newbusiness coming from current customers who areexpanding, with the H1 2016 figure at 17%. This isdown 11 percentage points on six months ago and16.5 percentage points on 12 months ago.The squeeze on prices from both customers andcompetitors is demonstrated by our survey results for thekey drivers behind contract wins in the past six months.While offering value-added services has often previouslybeen the key factor, price competitiveness has risen tothe top of the rankings in our latest results, with 31% ofrespondents pinpointing it as the key driver, a 7.5% riseon H1 2015.51%53%Do you expect an increase or decrease inprofitability over the next 12 months?Larger companiesSmaller companies26%23% 23%25%Some respondents are concernedthat a sustained price war couldcause long-term damage to thelogistics industry.DecreaseNo change9 of 20Increase

Customer expectationsAnecdotal comments from our survey respondentsreinforce the message that there is continuing pressureon prices from customers. Several highlight a customerexpectation that prices will go down because of lower fuelcosts. However, according to our respondents, customersseem unaware or unwilling to accept that the benefits ofcheaper fuel have been cancelled out by higher costs ofstaff, vehicles, insurance and new technology. Somerespondents are concerned that a sustained price warcould cause long-term damage to the logistics industry,highlighting that operators will struggle as a result to findfunding to invest for the future in people and equipment.The ability to offer valued-added services still ranks asthe second most important key driver for contract winsat 26%. Observations from operators suggest that evenhere price pressure looms large as many major retailersand manufacturers not only want extra services but wantmore for less before they will agree a new contract.What has been the single main source of newbusiness won in the last six months?In the last six months, what are the key drivers behind your contract wins?According to 24% of operators, the importance ofpersonal relationships – often associated with a trackrecord of delivering on promises and going the extra mile– is still important to business wins. This figure is up 7%on H1 2015. IstPrice competitivenessValue-added servicesPersonal relationshipsScale of networkMarket consolidationof service providersOther30.7%New customers switching 62.1%Current customers expanding 16.8%Current customers renewing 15.8%New customers outsourcing for the first time 4.2%Other 1.1%11.4%10 of 2025.6%5.7%23.9%2.8%

A changing supply chainNew digital technologies, automation and innovation are changing themake-up of the supply chain.From our latest survey results, there is a strong sense ofrecognition among logistics business leaders of the impactof new technologies, automation and innovative supplychain solutions.With customers apparently demanding more and morefor their money, respondents clearly recognise the potentialfor technological innovations to both cut their costs andadd value.Respondents clearly recognise thepotential for technological innovationsto both cut their costs and add value.For the first time in our survey, respondents were askedabout omni-channel retailing – specifically over theChristmas 2015 period – and its impact on the supply chain.How did the shape of the 2015 Christmas peakactivity and volume of trading differ this year incomparison to previous years?A majority confirm that the share of retail sales throughstores is on the wane. 34% respond that retailers increasedthe use of delivery direct to customers from distributioncentres, while 18% report an increase in drop-shipping.Volumeup overallWhile retail is just one part of the logistics picture –and the supply chains for industries such as automotive,pharmaceutical and construction also have their ownunique and changing requirements – nevertheless, theseresults underline a changing world in terms of how goodsare being moved from A to B to C.No changeThese changes in the make-up of the supply chain areincreasingly calling for different types of logistics operator,as evidenced by the changing roles of 3PL providers,distributors and parcel delivery providers in ‘last mile’deliveries to consumer’s homes.37.5%35.2%Volumedown overall27.3%11 of 20

Innovative solutionsAsked if they will be implementing any new innovativesupply chain solutions over the next 12 months, themajority of survey respondents, 58%, say they will.The most popular choices for innovative solutions arethe technologies around so-called big data and analytics(26.5%), automation (20.6%), cloud computing services(20.6%) and the Internet of Things (IoT) (17.6%).While big data and analytics tops our respondents’ wish list,some industry observers suggest companies may still be atthe beginning of a journey to fully understa

Logistics Confidence Index – results from H1 2012-H1 2016 Note: Index calculations do not include Q3 (turnover expectations). H1 2012 57.2 H2 2012 52.5 H1 2013 60.3 H2 2013 7 4.9 H2 2014 71.4 H1 2015

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