Truck and Track Spring 2021

Truck and Track Spring 2021 www.truckandtrack.com 22 BREXIT - DESCARTES Brexit realities – early preparation remains crucial to supply chain success Months ahead of the end of the transition period, there was, understandably, significant uncertainty around Brexit. In the midst of the pandemic, two thirds of businesses admitted their Brexit preparation had been disrupted by Covid-19 and less than a quarter (23%) had high confidence in their ability to cope with the extra administrative burden of Brexit, with two thirds (67%) of large firms very or extremely concerned about longer delays in their supply chain impacting business post- Brexit. So, now that Brexit is officially in effect, how have businesses in reality been affected by not just Brexit, but also Covid-19? And how has the level of certainty around the future changed? What impact did businesses’ level of preparedness for Brexit have on these outcomes and how do businesses expect supply chains to perform in 2021? As Andrew Tavener, Head of Marketing at Descartes, argues, with the next phase of Brexit changes commencing July 2021, there are lessons to learn about the value of preparation. When it comes to successful international trade, planning is not just essential for compliance – it makes a tangible difference to successful business operations.