Building resilience:

Building resilience is one of the defining challenges facing supply chains today.

Whether it's geopolitical uncertainty or rising costs, businesses are operating in an environment where disruption is increasingly becoming the norm.

This very topic was at the heart of our recent webinar, ‘Appetite for Change’, which brought together senior leaders from the Provision Trade Federation, IGD, Sheffield Hallam University's Food Innovation Centre and Palletways to discuss the pressures facing food and drink supply chains – and the strategies businesses can use to insulate against them.

One of the recurring themes throughout the discussion was how businesses can regain greater control over their operations. And with fuel costs continuing to be one of the most significant sources of volatility, the conversation turned to the role fleet electrification can play.

For many, the conversation around electric equipment has traditionally centred on sustainability. Increasingly, however, it is becoming just as much about operational performance and resilience.

Consumers have already shown how behaviour can shift when running costs come under pressure. Around one in four new cars sold in the UK are now electric, driven at least in part by a desire to reduce exposure to rising fuel prices.

And businesses are increasingly asking a similar question: can electrification help make operations more resilient?

Reducing costs remains an important consideration, but the bigger opportunity is gaining greater control over how, when and where energy is used.

Unlike internal combustion equipment, electric fleets give operators greater visibility over energy consumption and more flexibility in how they manage it.

Smart charging systems allow businesses to schedule charging during lower-cost periods, while fleet management technology provides detailed insight into usage patterns and energy demand. Electric trucks also typically require less routine maintenance, helping to reduce downtime while improving predictability across the operation.

These factors allow businesses to take greater control of operating costs, particularly when viewed alongside wider investments in site infrastructure.

Organisations investing in renewable energy generation, such as rooftop solar, are also able to integrate this with electric fleet charging, helping reduce reliance on the grid while providing greater protection against fluctuations in energy costs.

None of this is to suggest there is no longer a place for internal combustion equipment. The key is understanding which options are best placed to deliver for the demands of a particular operation.

Where electric trucks were once seen as best suited to lighter-duty applications, modern electric counterbalance trucks are now capable of handling many of the demanding tasks traditionally associated with internal combustion equipment, while continuing to offer the operational benefits of electrification.

You only need to look as far as the latest Linde electric offering to see how far the technology has advanced. Compact class with electric drive | Linde Material Handling

Ultimately, resilience is not achieved through a single investment or technology. It comes from building operations that are flexible, efficient and better able to adapt as circumstances change. And for many businesses, fleet electrification is becoming an increasingly important part of that picture.

To watch the full Appetite for Change webinar, click here: https://www.linde-mh.co.uk/en_uk/About-Linde/Webinars/

To learn more about Linde's electric offering, get in touch today: https://www.linde-mh.co.uk/en_uk/Form-Pages/Global-Contact-Form/