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The Act on the Protection of Human Rights in Global Supply Chains (Supply Chain Act), which will apply from 1 January 2023, pursues the goal of tracing production and working conditions that violate human rights as well as the protection of the environment in the value creation networks. To act when grievances are identi ed, information on production and working conditions must be available transparently across supply networks. However, this goal is only possible with a digital and e cient exchange of information. The question is therefore how and under what framework conditions this exchange of information can succeed.

A powerful cross-organizational collaboration within the global value chain will continue to be a major competitive advantage in the future. The way supply chains are managed today will no longer be sufficient tomorrow. Blockchain technology makes it possible to technologically map intermediary functions without manifesting the market power of just one central platform (intermediary). On the basis of Blockchain-technology, trusting (data-) networks are created across company boundaries. The technology will not solve all operational problems; however, it may help to secure processes and simplify communication.

Many companies have difficulties managing the recent situation of competition. Some companies achieve only small cost savings through the use of rationalization strategies. Network cooperations, however, offer many possibilities to successfully take advantage of efficiency increasing synergy effects. All participating companies can concentrate harder on their core business and achieve other features in cooperation with partner companies. This development concerns major enterprises as well as medium-sized businesses. While Outsourcing can be seen as a routine job for major enterprises, it poses problems for medium-sized businesses. These companies are lacking the necessary experience as well as tools to evaluate Outsourcing. This contribution points out the problems, that are related to Outsourcing in medium-sized businesses and demonstrates solutions.

The dynamic business environment is a logistical challenge for the automotive industry. Original Equipment Manufacturers, suppliers and logistics service providers are dealing within a complex network, which makes adjustments of a single company still essential, but stresses the necessity of optimised cooperation in the automotive industry for efficient reaction. The main questions for the members of ForLog are to which situations with an impact on the logistics system players in the automotive network have to adjust and how important these situations are for each single player.