Supply Chain Tech 2024 Report
Untapped potential in technologyto manage disruptions Contents Foreword3 About Us4 Executive Summary5 01: Supply Chain State of the World8 02: Innovating to Overcome Supply Chain Disruption12 03: Finding the Innovation Sweet Spot16 04: The European Supply Chain Startup Ecosystem22 05: Startups Overview and Startups to Watch36 Foreword Welcome to the European Supply Chain Tech Report 2024 (SCT24). Prequel Ventures andOliver Wyman are excited to present the results of our collaboration on this year’s report,which has yielded deep insights into the challenges faced by global supply chain executivesand the ways in which these challenges can be addressed through technological innovation. The year 2024 was (once again) challenging for both supply chain professionals and supplychain tech startups in Europe, marked by numerous macroeconomic difficulties andcontinued geopolitical crises. The pressure on companies to make their supply chains moreresilient and sustainable is greater than ever. In Sections 01 to 03 of the report, we analyze the current state of companies’ supply chains,key causes of disruption, and the challenges they are likely to face in the coming years. Wealso examine which technologies are currently being employed to enable more resilient andefficient supply chainmanagement. In Section 04, we explore the European supply chain startup ecosystem, providing concreteexamples of how technology startups are helping to solve today’s supply chain challenges. SCT24 also features a detailed directory of European startups serving the supply chainand logistics sector. In Section 05, these are categorized according to 16 major industrysegments. For each segment, you will find an overview of all the included startups, plusseveral one-page profiles of “Startups to Watch” with more detailed companyinformation. We hope that you find this year’s report thought-provoking and useful. Please don’t hesitateto reach out with comments or questions, or if you would like to chat about innovations insupply chain and logistics. About Us PREQUEL VENTURES Prequel Ventures is the leading venture capital fund for supply chain technology startups inEurope, investing in the most promising teams and technologies at pre-seed and seed. Asone of the earliest investors, we strive to provide unparalleled value and support to startupfounders. We empower entrepreneurs by offering access to our extensive network, guidingproduct launches, and fostering company growth. Our mission is to partner with innovatorswho are transforming global supply chains, making them more resilient, transparent, andsustainable. With Prequel Insights, we are continuously scouting and monitoring the startupecosystem, both as a foundation for our investment activities and to increase visibility forlogistics and supply chain startups in Europe. Mathias BosseFounding Partnermathias@prequelvc.com Markus BörnerFounding Partnermarkus@prequelvc.com OLIVER WYMAN Oliver Wyman, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a management consultingfirm combining deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise to help clients optimizetheir business, improve operations, and accelerate performance. Marsh McLennan is a globalleader in risk, strategy, and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses:Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of $23 billion andmore than 85,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive throughthe power of perspective. Ulrich SchmidPrincipalulrich.schmid@oliverwyman.com Cornelius HerzogPartnercornelius.herzog@oliverwyman.com Sebastian JanssenPartnersebastian.janssen@oliverywman.com Additional contributors: Marie-Theres Treek, Associate; Kai Hitz, Senior Research SpecialistManaging Editor: Rebekah E. BartlettDesigners: Ramona Pillai, Sangeetha V Supramaniam Executive Summary State of the Supply Chain: Disruption Disrupted supply chains have become the new normal for companies globally, leadingto fluctuating costs and more frequent disruptions to service levels and lead times. Suchunpredictability in supply chain performance is having a significant impact on businessesworldwide, with many companies reacting by building up inventory. We think smartersolutions are needed — as supply chain disruptions can be expected to continue for theforeseeable future due to a host of supply, demand, and ecosystem stressors. And it wouldbe wrong to assume that the “new normal” would come with morestability. Transportation, warehousing, and procurement are at the heart of today’s supply chaindisruptions. But supply chain leaders are looking ahead to what comes next — with evolvingbusiness models, regulation, and greater supply chain interconnectedness of most concernas future disruption drivers. Industry-leading supply chains are looking for an edge throughtechnology, and a wide range of European supply chain startups are set to deliver theinnovative solutions they requir
