Digitization Alone Is Not Enough – Companies Need a Data Strategy
At transportlogistic 2025 in Munich, Friedrich Meyer’s Sohn (FMS) and Trade Technologies invite you to a unique and relaxed exchange: an open conversation “at the bar” – because that’s where the best ideas are often born. At the heart of this discussion is a new EU regulation that is both disruptive and full of potential: the EU Data Act.
Together with Olaf Rathgeb (FMS), Alexander Paetzold (Trade Technologies), and moderator Dr. David Saive, LL.M.,, we’ll explore what the Data Act means for logistics – and why data has become the strategic resource connecting both the physical and financial supply chains.
The Data Act – A New Era for Data Use
The EU Data Act introduces a comprehensive legal framework for fairness and transparency in the data economy. At its core, the Act seeks to regulate access to and sharing of data, especially between manufacturers, service providers, and users of connected devices and digital services.
In practice, this means that data generated through the use of connected products and services – such as telematics systems in logistics or data processed in trade platforms – will no longer be controlled exclusively by the manufacturer or platform provider. Instead, the user of the product will gain the right to access the data and to share it with third parties, such as logistics providers, banks, or Fintechs like Trade Technologies.
This raises important questions:
- Who owns the data along the supply chain?
- What does the Data Act mean for freight forwarders, platform providers / Fintechs, or shippers?
- How can we share data securely, efficiently, and in compliance with the new regulation?
Physical & Financial Supply Chains – Two Sides of the Same Coin
Data not only moves goods – it also enables payments. Anyone discussing the digital transformation of logistics must take both the physical and the financial supply chains into account.
Example: Physical Supply Chain
The physical supply chain generates massive amounts of data – from sensor readings and geolocation to transport management system outputs. This data is key to operational efficiency: real-time access enables route optimization, predictive planning, and proactive disruption management. But what if this data is generated by your customer and you, as a logistics provider, need access to it? The Data Act provides legal clarity for such scenarios.
Example: Financial Supply Chain
Data also plays a crucial role in financial supply chains. Fintechs like TradeTechnologies help digitize and streamline trade data & documents, match them with preconditions defined in payment instruments / risk mitigation tools, and trigger transactions more efficiently – such as Letters of Credit or Guarantees. Having access to the right data at the right time is critical. The Data Act opens new pathways for data flows between corporates, logistics providers, banks, and Fintechs – provided that all stakeholders understand and assert their rights and obligations.
This Is About Strategy – Specifically, a Data Strategy
The core message of our “bar talk” is simple: companies investing in digitalization also need a data strategy. It’s no longer enough to digitize processes – the key question is: How do I manage my data – legally, technically, and strategically?
A sound data strategy should answer questions like:
- What data do I generate, and where?
- Who has access to this data – internally and externally and how can the data be accessed?
- How can I protect my data under the Data Act – or share it for mutual benefit?
- What value can I unlock through secure, intentional data collaboration?
This affects all companies – from mid-sized freight forwarders to global manufacturers. Those who ignore the issue today may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage tomorrow. The Data Act is not a “nice-to-have” – it is a “must-have” for everyone participating in data-driven supply chains.
A Conversation Worth Having – Open, Honest, and Practical
Our “bar talk” format is intentionally informal. There won’t be a huge slide deck – just open dialogue and real-world insights.
Dr. David Saive will moderate the discussion and explore the perspectives of FMS (Olaf Rathgeb) and Trade Technologies (Alexander Paetzold). The focus will be on practical use cases – and looking ahead: what can companies do today to be prepared for tomorrow?
You’re Invited
Location: Fr. Meyer’s Sohn booth at transport logistic 2025 in Munich | Hall B5 | booth nr. 115/216
Date: 04.06.2025 at 11:30 am
Format: Informal bar talk in german language and open exchange
We look forward to your visit, your questions, and your insights. Let’s discuss how the EU Data Act can become a catalyst for smarter logistics – and why now is the right time to treat data as a strategic asset.
