Daniel Carrera, president of UPS Europe, Middle East and Africa, discusses the importance of new technologies, increased collaboration and network resilience in the face of ongoing geopolitical challenges
How are ongoing geopolitical issues and continued trade volatility challenges affecting logistics organizations?
Geopolitical disruption is adding complexity and cost to supply chain management. Trade routes can shift quickly, fuel costs can rise sharply and policy changes can have an immediate effect on volume patterns and transit times.
Recent disruption in the Middle East is one example of how quickly conditions can change. When air and ocean capacity comes under pressure, or when key transit corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz face disruption, customers act quickly to secure continuity of supply.
For logistics providers, the challenge is not only managing that volatility operationally but continuing to deliver reliable service for customers who expect speed, visibility and consistency regardless of external conditions.
How can these organizations increase their resilience and agility to ensure they remain operationally efficient?
Resilience starts with having options. That means flexible routing, strong customs readiness, end-to-end visibility and a network that can adapt quickly as conditions change.
Efficiency today is no longer about running a single fixed model. It is about being able to adjust operations quickly while maintaining control, consistency and service quality.
Operational efficiency and resilience are not competing priorities; they reinforce each other when the network is built in the right way. The goal is to absorb complexity inside the network so that the customer experience remains simple, predictable and dependable.
At UPS, we achieve this by combining physical infrastructure with digital visibility, brokerage expertise and a fully connected end-to-end network.
What role are AI, automation and data-driven planning playing in ensuring resilience and agility in cross-border operations?
AI, automation and data are increasingly important because cross-border logistics depends on the quality, accuracy and speed of information. Better forecasting, stronger visibility and early identification of issues support faster and more informed decisions.
In practical terms, these capabilities make networks more responsive and support consistent execution at scale.
At UPS, technology plays a critical role in improving both productivity and consistency. As networks become more complex, customers expect consistent, predictable outcomes. Better use of automation and data helps us simplify operations, reduce delays and deliver reliable and predictable service, particularly in international movements where the information attached to a shipment is just as important as the shipment itself.
How are evolving customs regulations affecting cross-border flows, and what changes/challenges should parcel logistics operators be aware of?
As customs requirements become more complex, success increasingly depends on how effectively operators use technology and data to manage that complexity. Customs processes must be integrated into the shipping journey from the start, especially as regulatory changes such as US tariff measures and upcoming de minimis adjustments have a direct impact on documentation requirements, shipment timing, landed costs and customer planning.
At UPS, we see the future of brokerage as digital, integrated and highly precise. Tools that improve documentation, classification and data quality before a shipment moves help improve predictability and support smooth cross-border flows for customers.
AI also plays a role, particularly in supporting more accurate Harmonized System classification and helping ensure shipment data is complete and correct earlier in the process.
For parcel operators, the priority is not only compliant clearance. It is enabling cross-border trade to be simpler, faster and more predictable for customers in a demanding regulatory environment.
How important is industry collaboration when facing these challenges, and can you give some examples of logistics players that are working together to strengthen their cross-border operations?
Industry collaboration is essential, including strong public-private cooperation. Customs is an area where meaningful progress depends on regulators, operators, trade associations and technical experts working in a coordinated way.
A good example is the Vilnius Manifesto, which brings together trade and logistics associations, customs authorities and academic institutions around a shared vision of a more unified, digital and cooperative European customs ecosystem.
This reflects a simple reality. The challenges facing customs today require coordinated action, and stronger alignment helps make cross-border trade more efficient and predictable for customers.
Have we seen an increase in near shoring and regionalization considering the ongoing international issues, and what are the pros and cons of these practices?
Yes, the trend is clear. More companies are moving parts of their supply chains closer to demand, not as a replacement for global trade, but to build greater flexibility, improve speed to market and reduce concentration risk.
QIMA’s Q1 2026 Supply Chain Barometer shows that nearshoring and reshoring reached a record 14% of EU sourcing in 2025, with Mediterranean sourcing up 25% year on year. This reflects how companies are diversifying sourcing strategies in response to a more uncertain and dynamic global environment.
The benefits include shorter lead times, increased flexibility and reduced exposure to long-haul disruption. The trade-off is that complexity does not disappear. It shifts. Companies still need to navigate customs and regulatory requirements, country-of-origin considerations, fulfillment design and partner selection. In other words, the supply chain may become shorter, but it still needs to be carefully designed and managed.
For UPS, this reinforces the importance of a fully integrated network that connects regional and global flows seamlessly. This enables customers to adapt their supply chains while maintaining control, visibility and reliability.
Anything else to add?
Trade is evolving. Supply chains are becoming more diversified, less concentrated and more dynamic to manage, and that is creating new opportunities for businesses that can adapt quickly, to serve customers more effectively and unlock growth across new markets and trade lanes.
The role of logistics providers is to enable that transformation by designing networks that are adaptable, controlled and responsive as conditions change.
For UPS, this means staying focused on execution and leveraging the strength of our integrated global network to deliver what customers value most. That includes dependable service, the flexibility to adapt as trade flows evolve and practical support in managing complexity across borders.
Daniel Carrera bio
With over two decades at UPS, Carrera has extensive experience across cross-border trade, logistics transformation and complex global supply chains spanning sectors including e-commerce, healthcare, automotive, aerospace and industrial manufacturing.