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Travel logistics.

Travelling is an exciting activity that allows you to explore new places, meet new people, and create unforgettable memories. However, planning and organizing your trip can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to travel logistics. In this article, we will discuss the essential elements of travel logistics and provide you with tips on how to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

What is Travel Logistics?

Travel logistics refer to the process of planning, organizing, and managing the various components of a trip. These components include transportation, accommodation, itinerary, budget, and travel documents. Proper travel logistics can make or break your trip, so it is important to pay attention to these details.

Transportation

Transportation is one of the most crucial elements of travel logistics. Whether you are travelling by plane, train, bus, or car, it is important to plan ahead and book your tickets in advance. This not only ensures that you get the best deals but also saves you time and stress. Make sure to check the transportation schedules and routes, and leave plenty of time to get to your destination.

Accommodation

Accommodation is another essential component of travel logistics. It is important to research and book your accommodation in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. Consider factors such as location, price, amenities, and reviews when choosing your accommodation. If you are travelling on a budget, consider alternative options such as hostels or vacation rentals.

An itinerary is a detailed plan of your trip, including the places you will visit, the activities you will do, and the time you will spend at each location. A well-planned itinerary can help you make the most of your trip and avoid wasting time. Research the attractions and activities in your destination and create a realistic itinerary that suits your interests and budget.

Setting a budget for your trip is essential to avoid overspending and financial stress. Consider all the costs associated with your trip, including transportation, accommodation, food, activities, and souvenirs. Try to allocate your budget wisely and avoid unnecessary expenses. Consider using a travel budgeting app or calculator to help you stay on track.

Travel Documents

Travel documents such as passports, visas, and travel insurance are essential components of travel logistics. Make sure to check the requirements for your destination and ensure that you have all the necessary documents before you travel. Keep your travel documents in a safe and accessible place, and consider making copies in case of loss or theft.

Packing is an important aspect of travel logistics that can impact your comfort and convenience during your trip. Make a packing list and consider the weather, activities, and culture of your destination. Pack light and avoid overpacking, but make sure to bring all the essential items you need. Consider using packing cubes or compression bags to save space and keep your luggage organized.

Tips for Smooth Travels

Here are some additional tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip:

• Arrive at the airport or station early to avoid rushing or missing your transportation
• Keep your valuables and travel documents in a secure and accessible place
• Learn some basic phrases in the local language to facilitate communication
• Be respectful of the local culture and customs
• Try new foods and experiences, and embrace the unexpected

Travel logistics may seem overwhelming, but with proper planning and organization, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. Remember to pay attention to transportation, accommodation, itinerary, budget, and travel documents, and pack wisely. By following our tips and recommendations, you can make the most of your trip and create unforgettable memories.

Here are some frequently asked questions about travel logistics:

What is the most important element of travel logistics?

Transportation is one of the most crucial elements of travel logistics. It is important to plan ahead and book your tickets in advance to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.

Why is it important to plan your itinerary?

An itinerary can help you make the most of your trip and avoid wasting time. It allows you to plan your activities and schedule your time effectively, ensuring that you don’t miss out on any must-see attractions.

How can I save money on my travels?

Setting a budget and sticking to it is essential to save money on your travels. Consider alternative accommodation options, such as hostels or vacation rentals, and avoid unnecessary expenses. Use a travel budgeting app or calculator to help you stay on track.

What should I pack for my trip?

When packing for your trip, consider the weather, activities, and culture of your destination. Pack light and avoid overpacking, but make sure to bring all the essential items you need. Consider using packing cubes or compression bags to save space and keep your luggage organized.

What can I do to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip?

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip, arrive at the airport or station early, keep your valuables and travel documents in a secure and accessible place, learn some basic phrases in the local language, be respectful of the local culture and customs, and try new foods and experiences.

Your Guide To Travel Planning Logistics

Get organized with our insights into travel logistics, including flight and hostel booking, travel insurance, luggage, and more.

by MADELYN DRIVER

December 16, 2022

If you’re like most people, you probably start planning for your trip months in advance, especially if you’re planning on being abroad for longer stints of time. But even if you’re the type of traveler who likes to take things as they come, there are some logistical aspects of vacation planning that you can’t ignore. This guide will help you get organized and ensure that your travel plans go as smoothly as possible. Keep reading for insight into flight and hostel booking, travel insurance, luggage, and more.

Where Should You Start?

If you’re not used to planning long trips, it can be tough to know where to start. The most important thing is to have a general idea of your destination(s) and the amount of time you want to spend in each place. For example, are you taking a quick week-long trip to Spain ? Or are you hoping to spend an entire year off the beaten path in Argentina? These trips are very different and will require different levels of planning.

Once you have a basic understanding of your trip’s parameters, you can start to focus on the details. The following sections will walk you through some of the key aspects of trip planning, from booking your travel to making sure you have everything you need before you go.

What You Need To Know About Booking Your Travel

Whether you’re booking a flight, a train ticket, or your accommodations, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure the process goes smoothly. First, try to be flexible with your travel dates. You may be able to find cheaper flights or accommodation if your travel plans are open-ended or flexible. It’s also a good idea to have several different payment options available, in case one method is not accepted. Finally, be sure to read the fine print before you finalize any bookings. This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road.

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Tips For Booking Flights

There are a few things to keep in mind when booking flights, whether you’re flying for business or pleasure. First, try to give yourself flexibility when it comes to travel dates. Flight search engines like Skyscanner allow you to leave your departure and return dates open, which can sometimes lead to cheaper flights. If you time it right, this can result in hundreds of dollars of savings depending on your flight destination.

Or perhaps you’re looking for flight hacks? Skiplagged is a flight search engine that specializes in finding hidden-city ticketing deals. This means you book a flight with a layover in your intended destination, but instead of continuing to the final leg of the journey, you get off at the layover city and don’t take the last flight. While this may sound complicated, it can often lead to cheaper flights.

The only catch? Because you’ll be ditching one or more of the flights, you won’t be able to check a bag and are limited to your carry-on luggage. Similarly, some travelers have reported that airlines that have noticed a repeated habit of using Skiplagged will cancel passengers’ tickets. To be extra careful, using Skiplagged shouldn’t be viewed as a long-term flight strategy, but it can be a great way to snag a cheap flight if you’re flexible and don’t mind playing it a bit fast and loose.

What’s The Best Day Of The Week To Book A Flight?

Statistically speaking, is there a best day to book a flight? In short, yes. According to CheapAir , the best day to book domestic flights is Tuesday, while the best time to book international flights is Sunday. That being said, these are just averages and you may be able to find cheaper flights on other days of the week as well.

How Far In Advance Should I Book A Flight?

This is a difficult question to answer as it can vary depending on your destination, the time of year you’re traveling, and even the current political climate. For example, if you’re planning a trip to Europe during the summer, you’ll want to book your flights several months in advance. On the other hand, if you’re planning a last-minute getaway to a beach destination during off-peak seasons, you may be able to find cheaper flights a few weeks (or even a few days) before your departure date.

A good rule of thumb is to start looking for flights about three months before your trip and in general, flights tend to be cheapest about six weeks before your departure date. This will give you a good idea of the average prices and will allow you to book your flight when you find a good deal. Sites like Kayak also allow you to track your flight’s prices, so you can be notified when the price drops.

Are There Student Flight Discounts?

Many people don’t realize that many airlines offer discounts to students. For example, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest are known for offering discounted flights for students.

To take advantage of these discounts, you’ll need to have a valid student ID as well as a few other documents. Student Universe is a great tool for finding cheap flights for students. All you need to do is create an account and verify your student status. Once you’re verified, you’ll be able to search for cheap flights, hotels, and even tours and activities.

Keep in mind that these discounts are usually only available to full-time students, so if you’re no longer enrolled in school or only go to school as a part-time student, you might not be eligible for the discount. Additionally, some airlines require that you book your flight a certain number of days in advance to take advantage of the student discount, so be sure to read the fine print before booking.

Tips For Booking Hostels And Hotels

The low down on hostels.

For travelers on a budget, hostels are often the best option for finding cheap accommodation. Hostelworld is one of the most popular websites for hostel booking, and it offers a wide range of options to choose from all around the world. You can search for hostels by city, read reviews, and even view photos to get a better idea of what the property is like.

Our best hostel tips? Although hostels tend to be cheaper than hotels, they generally don’t include things like towels or toiletries, so you’ll need to make sure you bring your own or allocate part of your budget to buying these items when you arrive. Additionally, if you’re not a fan of sharing a room with strangers, you can often pay a bit more to book a private room within the hostel.

The Low Down On Hotels

Perhaps you’d rather opt for a hotel instead? When booking a hotel, it’s often best to book directly through the hotel’s website rather than through a third-party site like Expedia or Priceline . This is because many hotels offer special deals and discounts that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. For example, you might be able to get a free night’s stay or a discount on your room rate if you book directly through the hotel’s website. Many hotels will also offer price-matching services, meaning that if you find a cheaper rate elsewhere, the hotel will match that rate so you can book directly with them.

Additionally, it’s always a good idea to read reviews before booking a hotel. TripAdvisor is a great resource for reading reviews and getting an idea of what other travelers thought of their stay. When reading reviews, pay attention to both the positive and negative comments to get a well-rounded idea of what the hotel is really like.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is similar to health insurance in that it can protect you in case of any medical emergencies, flight cancellations, or lost luggage. For many travelers, travel insurance is often overlooked. But if you’re planning a trip, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. After all, you never know when something might go wrong.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Travel insurance is often used as a blanket term to mean coverage for trip cancellations, medical emergencies, lost or stolen luggage, and flight delays. Sometimes this is the case. However, some travel insurance policies only offer medical emergency coverage. On the other hand, trip interruption insurance—or trip delay insurance—refers to the specific coverage surrounding flight delays.

Cancel for Any Reason travel insurance (CFAR) is a type of add-on policy that allows you to cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever—even if it’s not covered under the regular policy—and receive some type of reimbursement. For example, let’s say you’ve booked a non-refundable flight and hotel room, but then you find out your grandma is sick and you need to stay home to take care of her. With CFAR, you would be able to cancel your trip and get a partial refund for the non-refundable expenses.

Likewise, global medical insurance plans are unique in that they’re designed for long-term travelers. Although these policies are more expensive, this type of insurance offers comprehensive coverage for things like emergency evacuation, medical expenses, and trip cancellations. If you’re embarking on a gap year , for example, global medical insurance might be a good option for you.

What Does It Cost And Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

The price of travel insurance depends on a few factors, such as the length of your trip, where you’re going, and what type of coverage you need. In general, though, policies start at around $30 for domestic trips and $50 for international trips.

At the end of the day, whether or not travel insurance is worth it is entirely up to you. If you’re the type of person who likes to have a safeguard in place, then buying a policy might give you some peace of mind. Or, if you’re planning on applying for long-term or student visas in another country, some embassies require proof of travel insurance to process the paperwork.

However, if you’re comfortable taking risks and/or can afford to pay for a procedure in a foreign country out of pocket, then you might decide that travel insurance is not right for you.

What’s The Best Luggage For International Travel?

You’ve chosen your destination, booked your flights, and are now on the hunt for the best lightweight luggage. But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you.

When choosing luggage, consider what type of traveler you are. If you’re someone who likes to pack light or are taking a shorter trip, then a carry-on bag might be the best option for you. These bags are small enough to fit in the overhead bin on an airplane and can often be stowed under the seat in front of you.

If you’re planning on backpacking or spending long periods of time abroad (especially in countries that may not have the infrastructure for paved roads and sidewalks), consider purchasing a backpacking backpack. With these backpacks, you strap the bag onto your back, which leaves your hands free to carry other things.

A 50l backpack will be able to hold your necessities, a few outfits, and a pair or two of shoes. Or, if you’re looking for a backpack with more room, a 60l or 75l backpack will do the trick. Just keep in mind that the more space you have, the heavier your bag will be!

No matter what type of luggage you choose, make sure to read the reviews before making a purchase. This way, you can be sure that you’re getting a high-quality bag that will last you for years to come. And always remember to purchase a bag that has a good warranty. That way, if something happens to your luggage while you’re on your trip, you’ll be covered.

Best Credit Cards For Traveling Abroad

When you’re planning a trip abroad, one of the first things you need to do is figure out how you’re going to pay for things. After all, not all countries accept American dollars, and even if they do, using cash can be risky. That’s where credit cards come in.

There are a few things to consider when choosing a credit card for international travel. First, does the card have foreign transaction fees? This is important because you don’t want to be charged extra just for using your card abroad. Second, does the card have a good exchange rate? You’ll want to find a card that doesn’t charge exorbitant fees for converting currency. And finally, does the card offer any travel-specific perks, such as free checked bags or priority boarding?

When it comes to credit cards with no annual fees, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a fan favorite. This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers a great exchange rate. Plus, you’ll earn rewards points on every purchase, which can be redeemed for travel expenses like flights, hotels, and car rentals.

Another popular option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card . Although this card has a $95 annual fee, it comes with a slew of travel-specific perks, like free checked bags and priority boarding. Plus, you’ll earn rewards points on every purchase, which can be redeemed for travel expenses like flights, hotels, and car rentals.

Choosing the right credit card for your upcoming trip abroad is an important decision. Be sure to do your research and choose a card that will work best for you and your travel plans.

Although there are numerous ways to go about planning the logistics of your trip, the most important thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy yourself. Trip planning logistics may seem stressful and anxiety-inducing, but with a little bit of foresight and strategy, you can get the major details of your trip ironed out in no time. And, once you’re on your trip, all that planning will be worth it when you’re able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the experience. Safe travels!

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This trip involves a 4-day trek at high altitude (note that horses and porters carry the bulk of our gear) in often unpredictable weather, class II-IV whitewater rapids, hiking/mountain biking along dirt roads and paths, paddleboarding, and moderate physical labor.

This trip involves a 4-day trek (~34 total miles, hiking 4-7 hours per day with a backpack on) in Iceland’s highlands in often unpredictable weather, a day hike on a glacier, fresh water snorkeling, and moderate physical labor.

This trip involves a 12.7-mile out-and-back hike in volcanic terrain (approx. 5-6 hours of hiking), snorkeling and kayaking in sometimes choppy waters, and moderate physical labor.

This trip involves hiking and horseback riding at high altitude, class II-IV whitewater rapids, downhill mountain biking, and moderate physical labor.

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A Travel Manager’s Guide to Arranging Travel for Executives

In today’s global business landscape, the need for professionally-coordinated corporate travel is a crucial part of many organizations. More specifically, arranging travel for executives is a specialized field that cannot be underestimated. Since senior management is responsible for making high-stakes decisions that drive companies forward, executives require seamless arrangement and a flawless travel experience that optimizes their precious time, thus allowing them to focus on the crux of work. This is where an experienced travel manager and a reliable partner like Teplis Travel comes in.

Teplis Travel understands that an executive’s time is invaluable and travel plans should be nothing less than perfect. Therefore, we strive to offer VIP travel arrangements tailored to respect executive corporate policy and individual preferences.

But you might ask, what specifically does the role of a travel manager entail? And how does arranging for executive travel differ from regular employee travel?

In essence, a travel manager or an executive administrative assistant not only handles the logistics of travel arrangements but also, significantly, aligns it with corporate travel mandates. From coordinating with their corporate travel agency , managing complex calendars, and handling travel expenses to keeping tabs on the itinerary, they act as captains steering the ship of executive travel. 

While the objectives of employee travel and executive travel may be similar, the complexities and standards of execution differ widely. Much like how the roles within a company vary, the travel needs between different levels of the organizational hierarchy are massively distinct. An executive’s travel usually involves strategic planning around high-level meetings, and confidential information, and often caters to stringent preferences – the mission is much more than just booking a flight and hotel. 

With that said, the cornerstone of effective executive travel management lies in an understanding of tools and techniques to create an efficient travel strategy. The subsequent section will reveal the essential skills and tools that ensure seamless travel arrangements for executives.

Essential Skills and Tools For Effective Travel Arrangements

When it comes to arranging travel for executives, a strong set of skills and the right tools can make the process smooth and efficient. Let’s take a deeper dive into what these are.

A travel manager handling travel arrangements for an executive team must be armed with exceptional communication and organizational skills. These aren’t just buzzwords, but vital elements that ensure clear communication of travel plans, handling of administrative tasks, and management of unforeseen changes or last-minute requirements. 

Moreover, in our times, the executive assistant’s role is not confined to conventional duties. It has seeped into areas of project management and strategic planning of business trips. As such, skills in Microsoft Office can offer tremendous help in managing complex calendars and ensuring efficient time management. In particular, an aptitude for Excel can help keep all essential details in an organized format, fostering better tracking and management of travel plans.

In the fast-paced corporate world where last-minute changes are a norm, the ability to quickly adapt and re-strategize is paramount. This links back to the importance of having excellent project management skills which assist in foreseeing potential roadblocks and formulating Plan B’s—even C’s! 

Strategic Steps to Prepare for Executive Travel 

Armed with the right tools and equipped with essential skills, an executive assistant is well-positioned to tackle strategic planning for executive travel. However, the journey from planning to completing a successful business trip requires an established pattern of steps. So what are these steps?

An integral step in the preparation of executive travel is ensuring that you have all the relevant information on hand. Be thorough with the executive’s individual preferences, dietary restrictions, favorite hotels or airlines, and seating preferences on flights, among other details. These nuggets of information can make a world of difference in an executive’s travel experience. 

This brings us to the next crucial aspect – handling sensitive and confidential information. As an executive assistant catering to high-level executives, you are trusted with a great deal of sensitive information, including credit card details, passport copies, home addresses, and more. Maintaining utmost confidentiality and ensuring secure storage of this information is vital. 

Once armed with all relevant information, focus on creating a detailed travel plan. Use your knowledge of the executive’s time to your advantage. Consider flight times that do not hamper their work and recovery schedule. Minimize layovers, and if they’re unavoidable, ensure comfortable lounge access to make the waiting time productive. Plan detailed itineraries, including transport from and to the airport, meeting slots, downtime, and sleep time. Nothing should be left unplanned. 

A significant aspect to consider is that international travel, especially, can span multiple time zones. Scheduling meetings or flights without considering this factor can lead to mismanaged sleep schedules and jet lag, which can hamper the productivity of the executive team. Factor in the time zones when planning and allow enough time for the executive to acclimate to new timings.

And, of course, no plan is foolproof. So always have a backup! Whether it’s a backup flight in case of cancellations or delays, a different hotel, or alternative transportation, stay prepared for unpredicted changes. This will not only showcase your problem-solving skills but also tell your executives that they can rely on you, come rain or shine.

Having looked at the strategic steps to prepare for executive travel, we now delve into the specifics of arranging international travel for executives in the next section. Let’s continue our journey towards becoming a top-notch travel manager.

Arranging International Travel for Executives: What You Need to Know

International travel presents its own unique set of challenges and requirements, especially when arranging travel for executives. The most important aspect of organizing international travel is understanding the going to’s and coming from being involved in your executive’s complex business schedules at an international level.  Having a trusted corporate travel partner like Teplis Travel can make all the difference in the world when traveling internationally.  The expertise of Teplis Travel’s travel agents can help make booking the most complex international itinerary seem effortless and ensure your executive has a successful business trip. 

But, understanding travel expenses goes beyond just booking flights and hotels. It’s crucial to account for differing costs in a foreign country. Currency exchange rates, cost of local transport, meal expenses, and international mobile data are just a few of the myriad expenses that should be considered. An informed overview of these expenses ensures there are no unpleasant surprises and that the trip executed fits within your company’s budget.

Remember how we spoke about sensitive information in the previous section? This becomes all the more important when dealing with international travel. Ensure that your executive has a valid passport with at least six months’ validity before their planned return date. 

For high-level executives, acquiring a diplomatic passport can give them an added layer of convenience and security. These passports not only speed up the process in the foreign customs and immigration departments but also offer other perks like additional baggage allowances and access to diplomatic lounges.

Want an insider tip? When arranging travel outside of the United States, make use of trusted traveler programs like Global Entry and Registered Traveler. Enrolling your executive in these programs will expedite their passage through airport security and immigration, saving valuable time.

Health and safety considerations are particularly evident when traveling internationally. Always ensure that the executive has adequate travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, should it be necessary. Inform them about potential health risks in the destination country, and make sure they’re up-to-date on all required vaccinations. It might seem simple, but these small factors can significantly minimize any unexpected upheavals during the trip.

Having taken a close look at the specifics for arranging international executive travel, it’s time to conclude our guide and help consolidate your journey from an executive assistant to a strategic travel manager. Let’s move on to our final section.

Arranging travel for executives is an art form of its own. It involves digital proficiency, supreme organizational skills, a keen attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate and adapt to change. As a travel manager or executive assistant, your role significantly contributes to the success of your company’s operations. Done well, it not only ensures the smooth travel experience of your executives but can also potentially maximize the productive use of their time.

In this guide, we have delved into essential skills, strategic steps, considerations for international travel, and more. However, it is important to remember that each executive is unique and so are their travel requirements. Thus, always make room for flexibility and customization in your plans. 

As a final word, partnering with an expert travel management company like Teplis Travel can elevate your executive travel arrangements to a professional level. With an extensive repertoire of handling VIP travel arrangements and insider knowledge of corporate travel, we are well poised to assist in not just managing, but enhancing your executive’s travel experience.  While some travel agencies measure their agent knowledge in months, our agents have years and even decades of expertise booking complex and international travel.  

So, as you progress in this journey of arranging business travel for senior executives, remember that Teplis Travel is eager to help you sail smoothly. With the guidance from this post and our experience as your backing, you’re well on your way to becoming an indispensable part of your executive team.

This blog was reviewed for accuracy by

Ted Petty , CIO Teplis Travel

Ted is a seasoned expert in the corporate travel industry, currently serving as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Teplis Travel. With over two decades of experience, Ted has consistently demonstrated his prowess in optimizing travel solutions for businesses, leveraging innovative technologies to streamline operations and enhance the traveler experience. His dynamic leadership and commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends make him an invaluable asset in the world of corporate and executive travel.

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What is logistics? Meaning, Processes, Functions and Examples

So much of your customers’ experience with your business is impacted by your logistics. Here’s how to optimize your logistics strategy to ensure the right products get to the right customers at the right time – all whilst saving your business money.

What does logistics mean.

Logistics refers to the planning framework that enables businesses to store and transport their goods to their customers. It covers  procurement, inventory management, distribution, warehousing, transportation, packaging  and  risk management .

For SMBs – particularly those within the e-commerce sector – logistics should be considered essential to reducing costs, staying competitive and getting products to customers on time.  

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Logistics is:

• Moving products and/or materials from one place to another
• Getting raw materials from suppliers to your business
• Dependent on reliable transportation
• Reliant on warehousing and storage
• Part of the wider supply chain management process
• Worthy of serious investment

Logistics is not:

• An afterthought or something to be left to the last minute
• The supply chain. It’s a  part  of the supply chain
• A function your business needs to do itself – it can easily be outsourced

Logistics vs supply chain management

Sometimes logistics is confused with ‘supply chain’, which refers to the wider chain of goods and materials before they land with your business. 

Supply chain  = the bigger picture. The  entire  network of activities involved in the sourcing and procurement of raw materials, conversion of those materials into finished goods, and the distribution of those finished goods. The supply chain is often something your business has little or no control over.

Logistics =  this is the part of the supply chain that your business  does  have direct control over, and covers the packaging, transportation, inventory management and storage of your supplies and products.

Why is logistics important?

Industry research found that over 60% of US and European companies lost up to 20% in revenue in 2020 due to logistical disruptions 1 . Granted, the effects of Covid made it an unprecedented year, but it still highlights how important an optimized logistics strategy is to a business’s bottom line – especially SMBs and start-ups with tight profit margins.

Furthermore, the efficiency of your logistics operation is closely linked to your customers’ experience with your business. Take inventory management, for example: did you know that 37% of online consumers who encounter an out-of-stock message will shop with another brand? 2  There’s also the transportation of the goods, the packaging, the delivery….all aspects of logistics which, if you don’t get right, will impact your customers somewhere down the line. Time to take your logistics seriously!

What is logistics management?

Logistics management is the strategic side of logistics, involving the procurement, movement, and storage of materials, parts, and finished inventory (goods and services) from their point of origin to point of consumption. 

The ‘Seven Rs’ is a popular way to define the goal of logistics management:

• Get the  right   product
• At the  right   quantity
• At the  right   time
• In the  right   condition
• To the  right   place
• And to the  right   customer
• At the  right   cost

Get all of these, well, right, and your business will stay competitive.

How to optimize your logistics strategy

First, you need to establish your goals in order to find the best paths to reach them. They may be:

• To reduce costs
• To generate higher revenue
• To reduce overstocking
• To improve customer delivery times

…or most likely a combination of all! For SMBs and startups where profit margins are already very small, reducing costs is often a priority.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that artificial intelligence (AI) will play a big part in optimizing your logistics.  According to a study by McKinsey 3 , AI has helped businesses improve logistics costs by 15%, inventory levels by 35%, and service levels by 65%. Let’s take a look at how automated technology can be applied to some of your key logistics features.

Inventory Management

In a survey by Wakefield Research, 73% of retailers said they struggle with inventory demand forecasting, whilst 65% said they have difficulty tracking inventory through their supply chain 4 . 

Automating your inventory management is crucial to meeting your lead time and fulfilment KPIs. By integrating inventory management software, you can:

• Track, in real time, every item that arrives to or leaves your warehouse
• Monitor your inventory turnover rate to see where customer demand isn’t being met or where you’re overstocking
• Utilize sales data from multiple channels for more accurate demand forecasting
• Automate procurement management so reorders are automatically triggered when products are running low
• Better organize your warehouse according to stock availability
• Track rates across different suppliers to find the best deals
• Reduce human error by automating stock taking and generating reports

Warehousing

All products you offer must be stored, packed, and transported with consistency from your warehouse or distribution center so they’re delivered in the right condition to your customers. Here are some tips:

Look at your Picking Accuracy rate  – i.e., the percentage of correct orders from the total number of orders. Customers returning incorrect products will cost your business money – and most likely lose you their repeat custom! Knowing this will help you set KPIs to measure improvements against.

Review your warehouse layout.  It sounds obvious, but something as simple as placing your best-selling products close to the sorting, packing and shipping stations will reduce your staff’s walking time. Sales and marketing data, and looking ahead to peak sales periods, will help you strategically allocate space for in-demand inventory.

Welcome the robots.  DHL’s benchmark  Logistics Trend Radar  – now in its sixth edition – tips indoor mobile robots as an innovation set to transform the industry in the near future. These robots use real-time path planning to find the most efficient routes around warehouses to reduce costs in order fulfilment. Could they be right for  your  business?

Transportation

The transportation of your goods will be a significant part of your business’s logistics outgoings, so making even minor tweaks here can save you money. Look at your Average Delivery Time and your On-Time Delivery Rate – these metrics will help you identify where your weaknesses are.

For businesses delivering goods in their own vehicles, intelligent route planning software is essential. Companies like Stream 5  and OptimoRoute 6  work with clients to help them plan, optimize and schedule the most efficient delivery and collection routes based on all locations, total route times, real-time traffic, and vehicle capabilities. All of which means goods will always get from A to B in the most efficient way, significantly saving time and costs.   

Sending your products out to customers in excessive and unnecessary packaging will not only lose you  sustanability points , it will also cost your business money. Well-packaged products will take up less space in your warehouse and during transportation, so, remember, less is more!

Your Order Accuracy rate is the metric to pay attention to here. Failed delivery attempts will cost your business money, increase your transport emissions, and lead to unhappy customers. The solution is to offer your customers plenty of delivery options at checkout so that they can choose the one which is most convenient for them. Allowing them to select a two-hour delivery timeslot on their chosen day, the option to leave the package with a neighbor or in a safe space, or deliver to a  parcel locker , are all examples that will improve your first-time delivery success rate.

Your logistics partner

Though many large businesses will handle their logistics in-house – for example, owning transportation vehicles and warehouse facilities – smaller businesses often have to outsource their operations to meet customer demands.

The scale ranges from first-party logistics (1PL) – which involves just two parties, the goods and the customer, e.g., a flower shop delivering to its customers using its own vans – to 5PL, an innovative solution which has emerged in recent years to meet the increasing demands of the e-commerce sector.

Logistics leader DHL offers a range of solutions to meet the needs of SMBs and e-commerce businesses, including 360 fulfilment covering picking, packing and delivery. Those partnering with DHL also benefit from the company’s regional distribution networks which can help them meet same and next-day delivery promises at competitive rates.

To explore exactly what each of the PL models entail – and identify the right one for your business’s needs – check out our  dedicated guide.

Logistics FAQs

What are logistics nodes.

Logistics nodes are anywhere that goods are received, stored, or shipped. They are the physical locations that serve as hubs for the movement of goods and services, such as warehouses, distribution centers, transportation hubs and retail stores.

They can also be virtual nodes such as online ordering systems, software platforms, and data warehouses. Logistics nodes are integral to the efficient flow of goods and services throughout the entire supply chain.

What are the big trends in the logistics world?

Today, more than ever, businesses like yours are looking for more agile and flexible supply chains. Driven by customer demands, tighter timelines and more digital transactions, new technology like superfast 5G is rapidly digitalizing the world of logistics. Here are  5 ways 5G can help your logistics  and potentially supercharge your productivity.

Discover how DHL can help your business optimize its logistics by speaking to one of our experts. Begin your journey,  here.

1 -  Cision PR Newswire , March 2021

2 -  Shopify , December 2021

3 - McKinsey,  AI Multiple , January 2023

4 - Wakefield Research,  Supply Chain Dive , April 2023

5 -  Stream

6 -  OptimoRoute

Similar Stories

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☆ Travel Logistics

➭ passport & visas, – passport validity & embassies.

Check that your passport is valid and will be during the time of your trip up to 6 months after your return. Most countries mandate this.

Contact your own embassy to tell them about your whereabouts. If they offer an enrollment program that records where you are going, then do it.

Get the contact information of your embassy in the country that you are visiting. Take this information with you along with the other important documents that you will travel with.

⚠ Don’t just rely on electronic copies but print out documents. We were with one traveler who somehow lost her travel emails and had to ring back around to agencies for all her booking information again. A tall order when she was traveling for 3 months to a number of destinations.

– Volunteer Work Visa?

If you are heading out to volunteer, a lot of people ask whether you should get a tourist or a work visa. Your organization should provide you with information on which visa you will need. In most short-term volunteering cases you only need a tourist visa. The reason for this is that you won’t be paid a salary and therefore you will not be taking money out of the country.

An important side note: When you are researching ethical volunteer placements, do check whether the company is using paying volunteers rather than denying paid salaries to the locals. Check the organization’s impact on local communities.

– Passport & Visa Checklist

» Does your passport automatically provide you with visa entry?

» How long does your visa last for and will you need to apply for an extension either before you go or in the country at an embassy?

» Do you need to apply before you go or is it an easy process at the destination airport?

» How long in advance can you apply for your visa? ⚠ China, for instance, is within one month before travel otherwise the visa expires even if not used.

» How much does the visa cost if acquiring it at the airport and do they need you to pay in local currency?

» Are you connecting/transiting through countries that require visas and connection time? ⚠ Once when transiting through Boston, we had to apply for a further visa. Our wait time was 4 hours for the connecting flight. The same happened when returning home via New Zealand from Australia. So make sure you have spare funds in case this happens.

» Can you apply online or do you need to visit physically an embassy? How long will it take to have your passport returned?

» Have you allowed for contingency time for applications and returns of documents? Check the websites to understand what normal processing times are and whether there are any circumstances at the time which may delay it.

➭ Travel Insurance

A volunteering placement within wildlife reserves requires a coverage that insures you for unforeseen animal encounters or illnesses –i.e.,  zoonosis  (e.g., rabies, leprosy, influenza). So, understand where you are going, what activities are involved and read the small print to make sure you are covered appropriately. Otherwise, you may be paying through the nose for a product that is useless when you need it the most. Even the most comprehensive backpackers’ insurance may not cover you sufficiently.

Free time arranged? Off to do water sports or paragliding or what classes as ‘adventure’ or dangerous activities? Make sure your insurance covers you for this.

You don’t have to take up the insurance that the company you’ve booked with offers you so shop around. Start with good information or comparison sites such as the one below. It will give you a good base to start from and gives some advice on exclusions.

Once you’ve found a few services/sites to compare, do give them a call as they can offer specialist advice based on your activities and may recommend cheaper but still comprehensive cover.

Remember that a volunteer who does manual labor or who is in proximity to wildlife will need a more comprehensive cover than the average tourist/traveler. Even your backpacker’s travel insurance will not be sufficient for undertaking work abroad.

➭ Health Check

Never embark on a journey abroad without first checking that you are physically fit to do it. Prepare for what you will do over there, making sure you have the correct vaccines, medication, insurance if anything unexpected was to occur…

– Physical

Prepare fitness-wise , and go the extra mile to train according to the level of difficulty advertised by the organization you will spend time with.

If you are volunteering, note that some volunteer companies require proof that you are fit to undertake the work. A note from your general practitioner or a form that s/he will fill and sign often suffices.

– Vaccines 💉

Don’t leave it to chance. Get that vaccine, for your health and for the sake of the people around you.

Generally, your organization or health centers will advise you of what vaccinations you need depending on your destination and the proximity to wildlife. You MUST allow plenty of time to get the vaccinations. For example, Hepatitis B requires several injections spaced out over a period of time.

The UK and the US have walk-in travel centers for advice and treatments rather than needing to book doctor’s appointments. In the case of the US, check if your insurance covers for vaccines. If your insurance does not cover vaccines you’re in for a money ride (they cost an eye). On the other hand, you don’t have much choice: never take the risk to go without the proper vaccines for your sake and the sake of the people around you.

⚠ One of us at EwA once did plan Hep B injections a little too late. The last injection was required when she was traveling. Luckily she was in Zimbabwe and not fully remote. The host organizers were able to arrange a visit to the pharmacist and the clinic once she arrived. She had let them know in advance of arriving.

One note for those of us volunteering close to wildlife: Do not dismiss that rabies vaccine.

⚠ While volunteering abroad, once one of the locals had rescued a young pup abandoned at the side of a road. It looked like it had been abused. Within a few days of care, it started to show some unusual behavior. This was the day before this volunteer traveled to Samoa. Luckily the host organizers were able to arrange vaccinations which for rabies required 3 spaced out shots. The first injection was done in the country on the way to the airport. And the volunteer took the remaining 2 shots in a flask filled with ice in her backpack through Australia and Fiji and onto Samoa. Then she made her own arrangements with local hospitals and clinics for the nurses/ doctors to administer the next ones. You can get vaccinated in-country but why risk it. It would have been much simpler to get the preliminary vaccine in the first place. Lesson learned!

– Health Insurance

Simply check both with your health insurance and your travel insurance, and see what is covered and not. The easiest might be to call them. You might need an extra level of protection on a per travel basis depending on the risk involved with your trip.

– Health Preparation (& Mosquitoes)

– tips.

➢  Eat yogurt for two weeks before you leave. This builds up friendly bacteria in your system, which may help you tolerate unfamiliar/new foods and drinks. ➢  Do a little cure of supplements 2 weeks before leaving. Help build your immunity system. ➢  Note that overusing antibacterial gels may impact your body’s natural immune defenses.

– Recommendations

✓   Check your first aid kit and make sure you have at least your basics stocked: plasters; bite creams; antibacterials and antiseptics;anti-histamines; general painkillers, diarrhea medication. ✓   Are you on any regular medication ? Take a supply and then some extra and make sure your host company (if applicable) are aware. ✓   Water purification : Water is a huge issue and a disease, parasite spreading vector. Check with the in-country organization or agency if water is likely to be an issue. Most places in our experience account for this and provide filtered/purified water. Pack extra water purification pills (and use them if needed) in case you can’t boil water on site or have no guarantee that the water is safe to drink.

– Mosquitos!

Some top tips and recommendations –although no one has yet found the universal cure!:

➢  Take Vitamin B tablets daily and from a few weeks before you go. ➢  Put a few drops of citronella in your shampoos or on soaps and use this before you go. ➢  Bring some lavender essential oil. Yes, you may smell like a granny but it has natural anti-bacterial and insect repellant qualities. Plus a drop or two on any bites can relieve itchiness. ➢  Tea tree oil or thyme oil on bites also provide relief as natural antiseptics and antimicrobials (and actually can be used on scrapes and cuts to help avoid infections also). ➢  Take your antimalarials without fail. Some countries have over the counter malaria treatments if you think you have contracted malaria, but not all. So be prepared. ➢  Locals may have their own remedies and repellents e.g.tiger balm (however use with caution and with practitioner advice). ➢  Spray up! As eco-friendly as possible of course. But remember that mosquitoes can get used to the same type of repellants so take a range of different products. ➢  You can buy pre-treated hats which are good for up to 30 washes. Then you can treat them yourself. You will still need other forms of repellant though.

⚠ About that mosquito net… if you wish to donate it when you leave, fine. Realize 2 things: some mosquito nets might not end up being used as mosquito nets but as fish hauling nets in some locations. And if your net is treated with permethrin (and most are to protect from malaria-carrying insects) then it can (and will) have devastating poisoning effects on the streams and rivers in the few cases where they are used for fishing. Permethrin belongs to the family of synthetic chemicals called pyrethroids and functions as a neurotoxin, affecting neuron membranes by prolonging sodium channel activation. It is not known to rapidly harm most mammals or birds but is toxic to fish and cats. In cats, it may induce hyper-excitability, tremors, seizures, and death. In general, it has a low mammalian toxicity and is poorly absorbed by the skin. So now that you know: Do not donate them without having some guarantee that you won’t end up being responsible for a local ecological disaster. To be exact, it’s not necessarily a widespread problem but it has happened in Zambia and few other locations. So better safe than sorry – now you know and can evaluate the situation accordingly.

➭ Booking Flights & Transportation  ✈

The easy option is to research reputable travel agents and let them do the work for you in finding the cheapest or most efficient routes. However, you will still need to do some homework.

If you’re doing all the flights yourself then check the reputation of the airlines , and always allow yourself enough time to transit. There are many good airline rating sites, and we personally use airlineratings.com , as well as we look at their rating on various travel sites for the sake of cross-checking information.

If you’re traveling to remote places , make sure you know not just the spelling of airports or locations but the airport abbreviation to make sure you arrive at the right destination.

If you are joining a volunteer mission , make sure to ask the organization about best flight routes, and make sure you get that destination airport right.

Things that can go wrong:

✘   Not allowing enough time to transit, especially if it’s a large airport. ✘   Not allowing enough time for security. ✘ Not realizing that your onward flights are from a different airport –In some countries, you may need to travel from the international arrival point to a different local airport. ✘   Not realizing that you need to pick up your bags at transit point –Not all airlines will transfer your bags for you. Always ask at check-in so that you’re prepared. ✘   Not realizing you need a transit visa and having to quickly apply before the flight. ✘   Flight delays and cancellations meaning you can miss your onward flight. You can choose to book all your flights with the same airline which will cover this eventuality.

The same generally applies to booking trains.

As for transfer to hotels, to a project , or other locations in the hosting country: make sure you read about what to do and not, or to ask how to organize your land transportation with the tourist or volunteer organization that you are working with. No 2 cab companies are created equal: Be aware of possible taxi scams depending on your destination, and learn to recognize the ‘good’ ones from the ‘bad’ ones (usually travel guides or sites warn about such situations and give you tips on how to identify them).

➭ Transfer to Project Site

What happens when I get there? Will the airport be busy? Will I get picked up?

We’ve heard of lots of people panicking about the ‘what happens next’. It can be a daunting thing especially if you’re traveling alone and your destination is some small airport in a location not many people have heard of and where your language is not really spoken.

So relax, think about what you need to prepare (including your mindset) and then do your preparation:

» Has your agent told you if you’ll be picked up? If yes – make sure you have their contact details written down including local area code.

» If not, can they advise of safe options for transport? Better to pay out a little more for a registered car to meet you than a local bus if you feel unsure.

» Check the local language – will you be able to communicate easily in case of need. Write down a few phrases you might need or take a phrase book.

» Write down all your contact details on paper.

» Take your phone with you – or at least a cheap travel phone so you can buy a local sim card.

» Have some ready local cash on you in case you need to go to a public phone booth. Smaller airports normally have a booth manned in case of local contact needs and will hand over a mobile to use for one-off calls in exchange for a small fee.

» Don’t worry if the car is a little late. It’s usually ‘local time’ which means they don’t aim to be late but that things like traffic, road tolls, airport congestion can make it a problem. A number of times we’ve had to wander up and down the greeting crowd of taxi drivers and other people meeting arrivals peering at signs to see if our names were there it too numerous to mention. You just get used to it and it’s all part of the experience.

» On the topic of taxis – if you have been told you’ll be met then don’t be tempted to jump in a taxi if they are late. They will (a) charge you tourist rates (b) may not be registered and therefore not safe (c) will subject you to ‘stay at my friend’s hotel’ ‘go to this restaurant’ all the way!

⚠ A tip on your bags/ the weight if you are being collected by local staff: Consider how much and how bulky your luggage is. We went to Indonesia one time and were picked up by a staff on a scooter. We had a large backpack and a smaller one which worked out OK with the 2 of us on the scooter and with walking some of the ways due to road surfaces. Another girl later came with 4 or 5 cases (she came with equipment for the staff as she had worked with them before) however it took 3 of us to get her from the main road to the office.

➭ Booking Accommodations

Besides volunteering, you might want to do some exploration on your own and roam around. The easy option is to work with a reputable travel agent and let them find for you the type of accommodation that suits your needs at your destination. However, bear in mind that travel agencies have a set criteria for accommodations they arrange bookings with. There may be other cheaper options that you would be comfortable with.

But these days, many of us rely on the many travel websites to find little that little gem of an accommodation. We prefer the companies who provide online guide services so as to avoid wasting paper. At EwA we are of that kind: we ‘crawl’ the web and look for good customer ratings –e.g., Hotel.com , Booking.com , AirBnB (when available). We key our search with terms such as ecolodge, safety, nature, and cross-validate the results across different sites. Eventually, we interact directly (via email, phone call) with the manager(s) of the hostel/ecolodge/hotel to evaluate the reliability of the place –besides correspondence also creates a more personal connection that is valued in many countries.

Make sure to record and bring with you the accommodation registration number and/or confirmation email/letter.

➭ Money  💵

– cash & funds.

Even if your trip is all inclusive you will always need a bit of ready cash so check what will be available at the local destinations.

Your choices:

»   Bank cards with international symbols for withdrawals.

» Credit cards .

» Specific traveler currency cards such as Caxton. You can limit the amount of money on the card so if it gets lost or stolen you haven’t lost all your funds.

» Traveler’s cheques .

In all cases, ALWAYS allow yourself a range of options, as depending on where you travel, cards and ATMs might not be reliable. And make sure to not leave cash readily accessible (use money belts, etc.)

– Tipping Rules

Remember that in many countries, that tourist or eco-volunteer organizations staff don’t get a great salary. It may not be expected to give tips, and some places might even actively discourage it (as not being a tipping culture). If it is expected, be prepared to tip. Follow the rules strictly. Don’t try to give when it has been said to not tip, this can be seen as extremely rude (and is also a manifestation of a neocolonialist sentiment). If you want to contribute to a better welfare, there are many other ways such as a donation to a school or education of kids, micro-funding of women-led organizations, etc.

There are no hard and fast rules on this. Travel companies provide some guidance depending on your length of stay. And if you are volunteering with an organization, simply ask the organizers.

If tipping is de rigueur, then people to tip might include (amounts vary depending on the country):

➢  Your volunteer manager –anything up to $50 USD for a 2 week trip. ➢  Rangers you’ve spent more time with –$10 to $20 USD each. ➢  Cleaning staff if they have them –$10-$20 USD each. ➢  Local restaurants if you have this opportunity –10% of the bill. ➢  Family you’ve been housed with –anything up to $50 USD for a 2 week stay.

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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11 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Moscow, Russia

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Despite all the places I have visited during and after my time living in Moscow, everyone wants to know what is it like to live in Russia. When I accepted a teaching job at an international school in Moscow I knew very little about the country. Of course I did some research, but the United States presents a very skewed view of life in Russia today. Moving abroad is always an emotional experience, but anyone from the USA planning on living and working in Moscow might be surprised about what is and isn’t a challenge in Russia.

After a year living in the country I can say that I didn’t love living in Russia, but I did love the new cultural experience. I already wrote about what it is like to live in Russia in general. In this post I go into the logistics and details of moving to and living in Moscow, Russia.  If you are debating whether or not you should move to Moscow, Russia here are 11 things to know before you pack your bags.

1. The Visa Process is a Hassle

When I was living in Moscow I came across an article about the hardest visas for US citizens to obtain. Russia was one of the top five. Go figure, I decided to move to Russia!

The US embassy website says it best, “The Russian government maintains a restrictive and complicated visa regime for foreigners who visit, transit, or reside in the Russian Federation.” I may not agree with the US government on a lot of things, but they are correct on that!

A Russian-based sponsor is always required in order to obtain a visa. I’m not going to go into details on the process, that could be a whole different post. It’s unlikely that you could move to Russia without a work/school sponsorship, so your new employer/school should help you through the steps. Before accepting a position that is something to check into!

After receiving sponsorship and your invitation letter you will need to apply for the visa and get an HIV test done. Be aware it needs to be the formal blood drawn test that gets sent to a lab and not just a finger prick instant test. I found that out the hard way!

2. Registration is Required Every-time you Return to Russia

Within a specific period of time when returning back to Russia from another country you or your company needs to register you using the migration card you are given at customs. For most of my time in Moscow this was within 3 days, during the World Cup this needed to be done within 24 hours. One guy from my school did not give his migration card to HR within the required amount of time and had to leave the country and then immediately return in order to avoid issues. 

You will need your migration card in order to leave the country. Needless to say keep it in a safe spot!

3. Documentation Needs to Be Carried at All Times

When walking the streets of Russia you need to carry your papers at all times. This includes your passport, visa, and migration card. A police officer can ask you for these for no reason and you can be detained if you do not have them on you. According to the HR department at my school you can also have an officially stamped copy of your passport and visa instead of your originals.

4. The Cost of Living is Low

If you are coming from the USA or Western Europe you will most likely find the cost of living low. My phone bill was about $15 a month and my internet was about $20 a month. I had a monthly membership at one of the nicest two story gyms with various classes and a pool for $58 a month. Taxis cost only a few dollars for 10 – 20 minute rides. Overall if you compare costs to what you paid back ‘home’ you will be pleasantly surprised.

Retail shopping was the one thing I found more expensive than in other parts of Europe or the US. The prices of both familiar worldwide brands and unfamiliar Russian brands seemed pricier. Coming from NYC I didn’t think the restaurants were too expensive, but many of my colleagues thought they also had higher prices.

5. Bill Paying is an Odd Process

It took me awhile to figure out how to pay my phone and internet bills. In the US I always had a set monthly fee due on a specific date. I could easily set up bill pay. In Moscow the way I found out that my phone and internet bill was due was when they stopped working. For my internet I wouldn’t be able to use it on a random day and had to enter my credit card information to pay for the next month. Without having access to the internet to translate this page I had no chance of figuring out the form correctly. Not to mention, it was a guessing game of figuring out how much I owed. Initially I was confused about the conversion rates so I didn’t even know in the ballpark what monthly internet cost.

Oh my goodness did I struggle with my phone in Moscow! The data wouldn’t work. Sometimes it was because I had to ‘top up’ my payment. Similar to the internet, I didn’t know how much I owed or when. There was some other issue with my phone that took three visits to the phone store with Russian colleagues to resolve. I still don’t know what the issue was because according to my co-worker who translated I would have to pay for them to tell me what they had to fix on my phone. I didn’t have to pay for them to fix it, but I would have to pay if I wanted to know what they fixed??? Welcome to life in Moscow! 

I loved how cheap internet and phone service was, but sometimes I wished I could pay a little more just to simplify using them.

6. Many Online Sites are Blocked

Internet and WiFi in Moscow usually work really well. That is unless the site is blocked. Some sites you would never guess would be blocked like Target.com. I found many American online store websites blocked. Also many important financial sites are blocked. M y US bank’s entire website was blocked online, as well as my credit card company. TV shows direct from the networks are often blocked. No watching American Ninja Warrior on NBC or Amazing race on CBS. Hulu is also blocked. Your best bet is through youtube.com or VPN blockers. 

7. Transferring Money is Not Fun

My school set me up with Raiffeisen Bank. It worked well except for when I needed to transfer money. As I mentioned above my bank (Capital One) couldn’t be accessed online and wouldn’t except transfers from Russia. Before moving to Russia make sure you have a bank back home that you can transfer money to if you plan on doing that. It was very difficult to set up once out of the country. Luckily my parents set up a Chase account that was able to except money from Russia. They then transferred the money to my US bank account.

8. Hardly Anyone Speaks English

The hardest part of all the challenges I have listed above is that most people don’t speak English. It’s one thing being a tourist and trying to communicate at an attraction while traveling. It’s another thing to attempt banking, bill paying, grocery shopping and everything else that living and working in Moscow entails. 

Some Russians speak a little English in the city center, but don’t count on it. In other outlying neighborhoods, like mine, it was rare that someone spoke English. I had so many experiences when people would just speak more Russian to me when I didn’t understand. Unlike a lot of countries that attempt to put more things in English for tourists, Russia seemed to have the attitude of, it is your problem, figure it out. 

Have Yandex Translate or Google Translate at the ready if you don’t speak Russian. Also set your web browser to translate web pages into English.

9. Learning Russian is Hard

I knew that learning Russian would improve my life in Moscow a great deal. If you know me personally, you know I am a pretty persistent person. If I set my mind to something, I will do it…..except for learning Russian . My Russian teacher would say a word and I couldn’t remember it two seconds later to repeat it. To be fair I did learn the alphabet, how to count to ten and a few greetings and other nouns.

10. Getting Around Moscow is Easy

The Moscow Metro is very nice, cheap and easy to use. It follows the same basic system of metros around the world. If you are considering learning Russian start with the alphabet, it will help you use the metro. Not all the stops and stations are in English. Have a metro map downloaded on your phone in English. You can use it to help you figure out the stop names in Russian. The metro runs from about 5:30am to 1am.

I took the metro whenever I could, but on off hours, going to the airport or when traveling somewhere not on a metro line I used Yandex taxis . They are the Uber of Moscow and very cheap. Most drivers don’t speak English, so this is a good time to have a translator app handy.

11. Hot Water is Shut Off for 10 Days Every Year.

Between May and August almost all of the apartment buildings have an assigned 10 days when the hot water is shut off for maintenance. You can check online at Oaomoek to see when it will be shut off for your apartment building. If you have a new building you may not have to deal with this (most buildings are old though). 

As an American moving to Moscow, Russia I definitely had an adventure! If you have moved to Moscow let me know in the comments below what your experience has been like. Feel free to leave any questions about moving to Russia below as well. 

More About Russia

• Moscow Things to Do: The Must See Sights , Unique Things to Do ,  Spartak Stadium
• Moscow Markets:  Izmailovsky Market , Danilovsky Market
• Moscow Museums: Moscow City Museum , Victory Museum , Museum of the Patriotic War in 1812 , State Historical Museum ,
• Moscow Life: Malls , Christmas in Moscow , Metro , Learning Spanish , My Russian Apartment , What is Life Really Like in Russia , FiFa World Cup , Russian Winters , and more posts about life abroad in Russia .
• St Petersburg: City Guide , The Hermitage Museum , Kayaking the Rivers & Canals , Peterhof Palace

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33 comments.

The hot water thing happened to me while living (and teaching english too) in Prague! I had no idea that was a thing! Luckily it was for 3 days.

Interesting, I didn’t know it happened in other countries too!

Thank you for such a great article! Moving to a new country is always a stressful process no matter how prepared you are and knowing these little ins and outs of the process really helps. Having to get an HIV test before moving kind of surprised me and registering every time you return to Russia seems like a hassle! I have heard that Russian is a very difficult language to learn. I tried learning the basics when I was travelling through Eastern Europe and the Balkans and almost immediately gave up because I found it incredibly difficult to teach myself from free online resources. I’ve heard that Moscow has some of the most beautiful metro stations in the world and would love to see them one day!

You’re welcome, thanks for reading! I’m terrified of needles, so I really hated having to do an HIV test. Also we had to do them a couple times of year at the school I worked at. I found Russian really hard to learn when I had a private teacher. I can imagine it would be even more difficult to try to teach yourself. Yes, the metro stations are beautiful!

Tell me about it (the visa progress, internet, hot water shut off!), I lived for a while in Moscow many years ago and the paperwork was a nightmare and by the sounds of it, nothing has changed. I learnt Russian pretty fast (had no choice) but I did enjoy my time there. Would I go back? Maybe….

It’s great to hear from someone else who lived in Moscow! That’s awesome that you learned Russian really quick, I’m impressed!

I had heard about a lot of things about Russia and turns out most of them are true! They have this strictest Visa process and paperwork. One of my acquaintances arrived in Russia after visiting some other Central Asian countries. He was apparently deported with no proper reason. He was told if you want to visit Russia, come directly from your country and not through any other country! It was good to know a lot about Russia and Moscow in general from your blog. I hope you had a good and exciting time there.

Oh wow that’s quite the scary story! I traveled to other countries quite a bit when I lived there and luckily didn’t have any problems going back to Russia.

First off – kudos for having managed in this city. It does seem like a challenge to get here and more importantly stay here. The amount of documentation and forms. And to not be able to pay your bills in a jiffy. Oof! Russian only and no English can be hassle if you are staying there for long term. The last point totally put me in a bind – no hot water for 10 days in a cold country! Brrrr….

Hahaha the visa the visa the visa!!!! I was had planned for my trip in December 2019… The hardest part was figuring out how to get an invitation letter when staying at an Airbnb. That took me quite a while to figure out and was a bit costly about $65 but the Airbnb was affordable so the costs balanced out. On arrival don’t be in a hurry, it took about 3 hrs to be cleared at immigration as a first time tourist to Russia. But once that was done i really enjoyed my stay. I love how beautifully decorated it is in December and the fireworks on 31st. Being an African I was a tad cautious but boy are those people kind and friendly… I got so many hugs and numerous people eager to find out more about what I think of Russia and where I’m from. I’d definitely go back. Oh and I visited Voronzeh by bus… Small nice and really affordable town but not as much to do as Moscow though..

The Fearless Foreigner

The visa process and the invitation letter are quite the hassle. Glad you had a good experience in Russia overall though!

This really opened my eyes to some of the things we take for granted in the US, like consistent WiFi, phone service and hot water. And paying bills sounds as though it would be very frustrating. As someone who has a tendency to misplace things, I was relieved to hear an officially stamped passport and visa copy would be accepted. Imagine losing the originals? Ugh. All worth it, I’m sure, to have this incredible opportunity to experience Russia as a resident. These tips are very helpful and I do hope to visit in the near future. Thank you!

That’s so true, we do take a lot for granted in the US. Moving to Moscow was a challenging experience, but still rewarding!

Sheriannekay

I am hoping to visit Moscow in the fall. I know it won’t be my easiest trip and have put off research. This is a great starting point. The tips for apps are greatly appreciated. I didn’t realize language would be as huge a barrier as it sounds so I will do extra prep. Thanks for the heads up on carrying papers with me at all times, I don’t usually do that

As a tourist you will hopefully have an easier time with the language barrier and your hotel will send you the invitation letter to start the visa process. It still is a hassle and takes more planning than other countries though. I have several other Moscow posts, I hope you check them out and let me know if you have any questions!

Most of the “rough” things mentioned are truly in the eye of the beholder – and a matter of simple adjustment. WI-FI is a lot more consistent and readily available in Russia’s big cities than in cities of comparable size in the US. As to cell phones – the vast majority of plans is “prepaid” vs “pay-as-you-go”, which essentially means you can hypothetically run out of money. That said, internet banking is a lot more developed in Russia – so “topping up” your phone is a matter of a couple of clicks on your phone (or, alternatively, and “auto-payment” from your bank account as soon as you hit a certain limit). Back in 2018, I went for 7 days in Moscow and Spb without any cash or credit cards at all – paying for everything with my phone (Samsung Pay, Google pay, etc).

Hot water – yes, that’s something I had a hard time getting used to. Luckily, most rental apartments have a back up water boiler (or in-line water heater) to help you through those 10 days 🙂 If not – you can always get one (costs about $70, no electrical license or skills needed to install – it’s a simple plug and play. Plug and shower, rather 🙂

As to visa – well, yes, it’s a bit of a pain. To give you some perspective, though – the wait times for a (mandatory) visa interview at the US embassy in Moscow back in 2018 started at 1 year (yes, that’s 365 days), and Russians have to travel to the US embassy, regardless of where in the country they reside. If they happen to live, say, in Petropavlovsk, they need to fly into Moscow (a 9-hr flight across 9 time zones)

Linda (LD Holland)

Wow! A move to Moscow is certainly adventurous. I know that visiting requires a whole big process. So I am sure residency is a degree of magnitude harder. I am not surprised that internet is blocked. But the process for paying bills is just bizarre. And I am not sure how to deal with no hot water for 10 days. Some great tips for people wanting to do a longer stay in Russia.

Moving to Moscow was an adventure! Some people tough it out and take cold showers for 10 days. I heated up some water and took showers at my gym some days.

Bhushavali N

Oh wow! That’s quite an experience. Language barrier when you move to a country is indeed difficult, unlike being a tourist for a few days. I know that feeling, coz I’ve been through that! Interesting to know that the cost of living is cheaper than USA or EU! I wonder if the situation of money transfer is difficult only with banks of USA or with any other country! Just like China, I’m not surprised that many sites are blocked in Russia as well!

Most of my co-workers were from the UK or other countries around the world. I talked with them about the money transferring and none of them seemed to have any problem. So I guess it is more of an issue with US banks!

Victoria immigration expert

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is very valuable. I think it is the language barrier that causes many inconveniences. Good luck to you!

Yes, the language barrier was one of my biggest challenges! Thank you.

I loved reading this! I am SO curious about Russia right now. It’s somewhere I really really want to go but as you mentioned, the visa process is a bit tricky. It’s just such an unknown place to me, I don’t really know anyone who has been there. I think it’s very cool that you taught English there! I appreciated your honestly about how you didn’t technically love it nor hate it, it seems like there were many challenges but a great experience overall!

Russia is an interesting place! It is a hassle to get a visa, but if you are intrigued you should visit! It’s unique because it is Europe, but doesn’t feel like the other European countries, yet doesn’t feel like Asia either. Let me know if you have any questions about visiting!

Anton Vasilyev

Just read your article and having traveled to Russia multiple times I think you made it sound a bit too complicated. First, the visa issue – Google an online Russian visa support site and they will do it for you for a modest fee. You all seem to mention that 7- 10 day hot water maintenance. It does take place in the middle of the summer so it’s not that dramatic. When searching for an Airbnb make sure it comes with a water heater. That way you don’t depend on centrally supplied hot water. Most local apartments come with a tankless water heater installed to avoid this exact situation – just ask. And I’ll just ignore your other complaint that English is not widely spoken in Moscow. I actually enjoy that there are not that many English speaking tourists in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Living in a country and traveling in a country is very different.This post is geared to expats moving to Russia and people who like to know all the pros and cons of moving somewhere, even if they are minor inconveniences. For the most part our companies choose where we live and we have no control over the apartment (no AirBnBs). That’s great that you enjoy that many people do not speak English. As I said that is the point of this post, for people to determine if they would like to live in the country or not. Anything that does not pertain to your situation or needs you are free to ignore!

Hey Elizabeth! I came across your blog after participating in the collab about teaching abroad, with Monica from This Rare Earth! I resonated with what you said here — many of the same things happen in China where I work. It is definitely an adventure 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! That’s very cool that you are teaching in China! I’m sure there are a lot of similarities….teaching abroad is an adventure for sure 🙂

It was interesting to read, so let me give you Russian point of view. As for visa, I really can not understand what’s the purpose of such hassle – if I was responsible for Russian visa policy, I would make visa-free regime for the majority of countries. We had quite nice experience during the World Cup 3 years back, so I hope things will be changing. Even now, they introduced new e-visa policy, at least for various European countries. However, they always state that all visa policies should be reciprocal, though it doesn’t make sence for me at all. As for passports I strongly disagree with you – you don’t need to carry it all the time, at least in Moscow. It is not required by law and normally no one will ask it as well, at least if you’re not looking like people from Caucasian & Central Asian republics. Attitude towards foreigners from “rich countries” from police is mostly much better, than towards any Russian. As for internet, it amazes me that you found it problematic. Wi-Fi is all over Moscow, Apple Pay can be used almost everywhere, and the unlimited internet package I have on my tablet is less than 10$ per month – i never found anything like that in other countries, though I am travelling a lot. As for blocked sites – there are some, but target.com is blocked not by Russians, but by target.com itself, because it does not accept our cards and doesn’t provide any services to us. Absolutely same situation applies to Ukraine – you will not open it there either. However, absolutely nobody in Russia uses and even knows about that site, we use other websites for shopping, both local and international. In general, we use local sources – we have our analogues of Facebook, Netflix, Spotify etc, and in some cases they are really much more convenient. In general I am happy to read you report – visit us again!

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!

Thank you for sharing so many details living in Moscow ,and i am gald that i have read this article before i go to Moscow ,yes i will study in Moscow for few years and i don’t know what is the life will be there ,i am nervious and at mean time don’t know if it is right for me to live in Moscow ,because i know they have low salary too ,so maybe it’s hard for a student to find a good part time job,anyway ,i will start to my life in Moscow soon,hope everything will go smoothly,thank you for sharing this again!

You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy your time in Moscow.

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• What You Should Know Before...

What You Should Know Before Travelling to Moscow

Moscow is the city of golden domes, impressive architecture and some of the best museums in Europe. It’s a place which should make its way to every European travel bucket list. Due to years of closed-door policies, many may think it’s not the most visitor-friendly of places. Luckily, that’s not the case. While there are still things to improve on, it is a fun (and safe!) place to see. Here is all the information you need to be well-equipped for your adventurous journey to Moscow.

Brace yourself for a fair bit of commuting.

It might sound like a cliche, but Moscow is very big – and we mean it. An hour-long daily commute is nothing unusual for the locals. As a tourist, you will most likely be much closer to the city centre than an average Muscovite, but since many of the tourist attractions are dispersed across the city, commuting will nonetheless take up a large portion of your day. Luckily, Moscow’s public transport is excellent: Just about any point in the city centre is accessible by metro , and if you prefer on-land transport, there definitely is a tram or bus route to suit your needs. Public transport is the most effective and reliable way to travel around the city, but planning is the key.

Forget Google and download these useful apps

Yandex Transport is yet another of Moscow’s logistics essentials. It not only contains a detailed plan of the city, it also has information on all of the bus routes and gives you the real-life location of all the buses currently en route.

Remember to have your passport with you

Russians love paperwork. An official document can go a long way in Russia. This also means that you need your passport to do anything even remotely official: Exchange money, buy a train ticket, sometimes even get into a museum. The police officers in the metro stations also have a habit of asking random passengers to show their IDs, so it’s better to always have it on you. If you’re uncomfortable carrying your passport around, you can make a photocopy of the photo page ahead of time, it should be enough in most cases.

If you want to see Lenin’s corpse, plan ahead

One of Moscow’s curiosities is Lenin’s Mausoleum. It is currently run mostly by volunteers and a visit there is free, but the mausoleum is only open on some days of the week at very specific times. Make sure to double-check the opening times here before going, and make sure to be there early – on some days, the queue is very long.

Make Kremlin a day-trip

The Kremlin is Moscow’s ultimate must-see, and rightly so: It is an incredible historical monument full of treasures you can only find there. When it comes to visiting the Kremlin, there are a few different options available. Make sure to read about all the different ticket combinations ahead of time and to show up early – the queues can get rather long and certain places in the Kremlin only let visitors in at specific hours. Do visit the Kremlin though; it is most certainly worth seeing.

There’s Wi-Fi everywhere

Free Wi-Fi is omnipresent in Moscow. Any bar, cafe or restaurant will almost certainly have it. Free Wi-Fi is also available in the metro. You don’t need to worry about the cell data (which can get really pricey in Russia if you’re using a foreign phone number). As long as your battery is charged, you can find your way or contact your family from almost anywhere.

Moscow is just the beginning!

Moscow is big and beautiful and very much worth seeing; it is also far from everything to see in this part of Russia. Moscow is surrounded by beautiful, very old towns which have witnessed the entire history of the country. They are collectively called ‘the golden circle’. There are tours available to some of the towns individually or to all of them at once. Depending on the route, the tours can take any time between a day and a week. If you have any time to spare, such a trip is a great step toward a fuller understanding of Russia.

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Logistics officer (travel & fleet)- rwanda national.

• Church World Service

Position Title: Logistics Officer (Travel & Fleet)

Reports to : Administration Supervisor

Supervises : Driver

Division : Church World Service – Africa

Department: Administration

Team: Rwanda

Job Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Grade Level: Job Grade 5, National

Introduction:

Church World Service (CWS) is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. CWS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability or veteran status in employment or in the provision of services.

Primary Purpose :

Logistics Officer (Travel & Fleet) will be primarily responsible for the coordination and follow-up of logistics for all CWS travel, as well as preparing travel itineraries of official CWS staff travel in accordance with the CWS standard operating procedures within Sub Sahara Africa and Internationally.

Key Relationships

Internal to CWS

• Finance and Administration Manager
• Administrative Supervisor
• Other team members in the Finance & Administration and Program departments.
• Any other Partners in relation to his/her capabilities

Working Environment

• Office work environment.
• Periodic travel to the field as may be required.

Core Job Responsibilities :

Administration (35%)

• Request for domestic and international flight schedules, itineraries, bookings, and tickets from local travel agents for efficient and cost-effective travel.
• Work with Programs Management and other travelers to plan and execute all confirmed travel.
• Work with relevant embassies to obtain visas for staff travel, makes hotel reservations when required, coordinates ground transportation and other travel arrangements for CWS staff and visitors.
• Work directly with Logistics officers in other country offices on required logistics work.
• Conduct site assessments in processing locations when required.
• Work closely with Procurement and Finance to ensure vendor payments are processed as per policy.
• Participate in annual travel budget costing and preparation.
• Monitor travel budget in the assigned locations and reports any additional costs.
• Monitor time and attendance records for the staff under their supervision.
• Ensure direct reports are accessing and using their benefits appropriately including leave.

Representation (25%)

• Use ERP system to raise requisitions, review payments and reconcile vendors.
• Conduct vendor reconciliations on a quarterly basis.
• Regularly review travel expenses while renegotiating with vendors for competitive rates.
• Regularly review all issues raised in the issue logs after travel is complete, makes follow up with the vendors and updates the log with feedback.

Data Management (20%)

• Prepare travel authorizations for all travelling staff.
• Maintain updated shared logistics resources.
• Manage the RSC Africa motor pool and advises on motor vehicle needs such as disposal or new purchases.
• Periodic reporting on Fleet Management activities using established fleet management system.
• Coordinate fleet management functions and ensuring compliance with the relevant SOPs.
• Review CWS trip reports and communicates follow-up items to the Administration Supervisor.
• Review monthly invoices for local taxi service providers, ensures correct rates are being charged and also identifies local versus regional travel expenses.
• Maintain a tracking system for all vendor invoices across the sub offices to ensures they are captured and processed in a timely manner.
• Maintain supply chain inventory and records.
• Maintain updated travel costs for all regions.

Compliance (15%)

• Develop and implement safety guidelines in all aspects for supply chain and logistics.
• Ensure supply chain and logistical processes meet legal requirement and standards.

Additional Responsibilities (5%)

• Any other duties as may be assigned.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned to ensure the logistical support of operations related to official travel and other program objectives.

Qualifications:

Experience:

• A minimum of four (4) years of paid relevant work experience is required.
• Supervisory experience is preferred.
• Administrative experience is preferred.
• Knowledge in Amadeus booking tool is preferred.
• Fleet management and vehicle maintenance experience preferred.
• Experience working with INGOs is preferred.
• Demonstrated written and verbal English skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills, especially Microsoft Excel.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal relations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage heavy workload.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Business Administration or Public Administration.
• Maintain the integrity of confidential financial and personnel information; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Follow instructions from the Supervisor with a positive and receptive attitude.
• Deal effectively and courteously with a large number of associates, outside agencies, applicants and members of the general public.
• Conduct oneself in a professional and courteous manner to represent the best interests of RSC Africa and CWS.
• Maintain a high performance standard with attention to detail.
• Carry out all of the duties of the position efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision; take initiative.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with RSC Africa administrative and operational information; manage a large and diverse workload under pressure with competing priorities.
• Work well as a team in a multi-cultural environment while maintaining a high level of motivation; effectively manage RSC Africa’s resources.
• Actively participate in the implementation of the U.S. Government Operational Refugee Processing Program in Africa.

Important Requirements:

• Strong English communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support CWS’ Platform on Racial Justice as a CWS employee required

Special Requirements:

• COVID Vaccination is required for all successful candidates.
• The candidate should be of good health, willing and able to travel extensively in often difficult conditions, and have a high degree of flexibility. Must have proof of Yellow Fever vaccination before traveling for RSC Africa
• This position is based in Kigali, Rwanda
• This position requires the use of laptops at all time, competence in Microsoft office packages is required.
• This position may require travel in sub-Saharan Africa on short notice and under sometimes difficult conditions to meet the demands of a dynamic operational program.
• Background check which includes references, and an educational and criminal check is required before the start of employment.
• A valid passport and the ability to maintain a valid passport throughout the entire appointment is required, which includes having enough passport pages for travel.
• Environmental: Incumbents in this position will be exposed to excessive noise, marked changes in temperature and/or humidity, dust and infectious diseases, harsh weather climates, long work hours, bumpy roads, extended travel, excessive sun exposure, and non-ventilated spaces.
• All employees should be prepared to work from the CWS office within their location of hire. Remote work arrangements may vary depending on location and the governing rulings regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please Note – CWS recruitment is free of charge.

Church World Service (CWS) does not charge fees of any kind during the recruitment process (Submission of application, interviews, assessments, trainings, etc.). Any solicitation of funds should be reported to [email protected].

How to apply

Log onto CWS Careers site: https://local-careers-cwsglobal.icims.com/

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How Sin-Kung leveraged air cargo for its success

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Saturday, 20 Apr 2024

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USAID Project Management Assistant (DG) - 72052224R10015

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The USAID Project Management Assistant (PMA) position is in the Democracy and Governance (DG) Office and directly reports to the Project Management Specialist, Operations Team Leader. The jobholder serves as the DG Office Program and Logistics Assistant throughout democracy and governance activities with emphasis on tasks related to personnel vetting responsibilities, travel and logistics support, and improved office efficiencies and information management, and support AOR/CORs in activity management especially locally implemented.

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Building smart transport in Moscow

Smart transport is foundational to any smart city; it is a system that wields a vast array of information and communication technologies to improve efficiency, convenience, and safety across a variety of vehicles and infrastructure assets. But it is a daunting undertaking for cities looking to digitize, with hundreds and thousands of citizens taking daily rides that must run smoothly, cleanly, and on time. In this Q&A, Moscow Deputy Mayor for Transport Maksim Liksutov discusses the city’s efforts to develop a smart transport system that Muscovites enjoy using and that anticipates their ever-changing needs.

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McKinsey: Describe Moscow’s transportation challenge and how the city has been addressing it.

Maksim Liksutov: Until 2010, the traffic situation in Moscow was close to critical: the road network had reached maximum capacity, and Moscow had one of the worst road traffic situations in the world. Thus, in 2011 the Government of Moscow and leading Russian and international experts developed the State Program of Moscow Transport Development to 2020. The plan centers on an analysis of large amounts of commuting data to reduce the load on the roads through a strategic approach to upgrades and new construction, as well as the launch of an intelligent transport system (ITS).

The ITS, which controls more than 2,000 video surveillance cameras, 3,700 road detectors, and 6,000 traffic lights, allows us to provide real-time response to traffic situations throughout the city rather than waiting for Muscovites to call emergency responders, law enforcement, or others to resolve issues. The mayor of Moscow was personally involved in developing and implementing the traffic-improvement measures that resulted in a significant reduction in congestion. Despite that, the number of registered private cars in Moscow increased by more than one million since 2010. In fact, according to the TomTom ranking, 1 1. “TomTom traffic index: Moscow,” TomTom, accessed December 4, 2017, www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/city/moscow. Moscow was the most congested out of nearly 400 cities in 2010; by 2016, we had moved down to 13th. The traffic speed in Moscow increased by more than 13 percent—from 45 km/h in 2010 to 51 km/h in 2016. Such congestion reduction is among the best in the world.

We still experience congestion during peak traffic hours, but the improvement has been substantial thanks to the ITS, major changes in parking policies, and significant investments in public transportation, such as metro and buses. In 2017, Moscow won the TomTom award for parking, ranking first globally in quality of parking planning.

McKinsey: What steps is Moscow taking to increase use of the public transport system?

Maksim Liksutov: It is difficult for public transport to compete with the comfort of the car, so we set out to ensure public transport is safe, modern, reliable, accessible, and accommodates the needs of each passenger.

First of all, we have been upgrading our vehicle fleet. Since 2010, we have purchased more than 8,000 new ground transportation vehicles and 1,600 new metro train cars, all manufactured domestically. By the end of 2017, the share of new train cars being used on the metro will reach 37 percent, and ground transportation vehicles will be at 90 percent. Today, the average age of urban buses is less than five years, and 98 percent of our ground transportation vehicles are accessible to disabled passengers. The Moscow metro offers a special assistance service, and there are also “social taxis” to help the elderly and the disabled navigate the city.

Second, we have implemented several modern services found in the best transportation systems in the world, including electronic ticketing systems, a city bicycle system, bus lanes, and a regulated taxi industry. Today, more than 85 percent of trips on public transport are paid for with Troika transport cards, which were introduced in 2013 and enable seamless transfers between all types of surface transport. In 2017, Muscovites made 2.3 million city bicycle trips, twice as many as in 2015. Bus lanes ensure that public transport vehicles are given priority in traffic, which has improved the regularity of bus service in central Moscow; annual full-fare trips on surface transit increased from 586 million in 2010 to one billion in 2017. And thanks to high competition and legalization of the market, Moscow’s 47,000 legal taxis have seen a 16-fold increase in ridership since 2010.

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Third, we have been focused on using data to improve the passenger experience and inform our public transport investments. In addition to helping streamline private car usage and traffic conditions, we use the ITS to collect an extensive data set on bus passenger boarding and alighting, frequency and speed, and load on roads and hubs. Mobile data and tracking systems give us an accurate picture of each bus’s movement. This informed our launch of a new bus route network called Magistral, which has given the more than 900,000 people working downtown access to an efficient alternative to metro travel that would require line changes.

Fourth, we sought to improve connectivity between city districts and relieve the load on metro and train stations by building the Moscow Central Ring, which encircles the city center and connects all of our metro rail lines. Within one year of operation, passenger traffic on this circular railway reached 400,000 trips per day.

Finally, we recently introduced a smart closed-circuit television (CCTV) system to ensure passenger safety. The CCTV automatically records and detects potentially dangerous situations, from unusual crowds to lost or abandoned items, and can even recognize faces. We anticipate that the new security system will provide a tenfold improvement in emergency response times for Moscow metro employees.

As a result of these efforts, Muscovites are making the public system their main mode of transport; the number of full-fare trips taken annually increased from 1.9 billion in 2010 to 2.8 billion in 2017. And today, intervals between trains during peak hours on the busiest lines are at 90 seconds, which keeps the system running smoothly. This indicator is a record among the world’s major underground systems. 2 2. Alexey Timofeychev, “18 little known facts about the Moscow Metro,” Russia Beyond the Headlines, January 19, 2016, rbth.com. Indeed, according to a 2016 study by Community of Metros (CoMET), an independent international association, Moscow has one of the world’s top three metro systems for passenger satisfaction with real-time information.

McKinsey: How do you collect passengers’ feedback on their experiences of using transport, and how do you use this feedback to help make decisions?

Maksim Liksutov: No initiative is implemented without considering the views of Muscovites. Moscow has two service centers that receive questions, suggestions, requests, and appeals from more than 5,000 people every week through telephone, internet, or personal contact. We also process all inquiries and suggestions submitted through social media networks.

Our latest tools for interaction with citizens are city transportation network mobile applications, which Muscovites have downloaded 3.5 million times. The apps can be used to plan a trip using public transportation, pay for parking, and find the nearest bike rental station. The “Moscow Assistant” app even allows residents to register parking violations. About 200,000 residents use the app, and more than 230,000 fines were created in 2017.

At the same time, we are constantly improving our data handling with the goal of anticipating the wishes of Muscovites. We use the same advanced analytics and data processing methods as mobile operators and leading internet services. But unlike these groups, we work with a large volume of diverse data that come from metro and bus trips, photo and video recordings of violations, vehicle tracking, tracking of mobile applications, and Wi-Fi use. With this data in hand, we process feedback from passengers and provide relevant and up-to-date information on city events. We can also change the route network, for example, if we see there is a new hub of activity in the city that needs public transport service. We have just started to develop the mechanism, and much remains to be done in this regard.

McKinsey: What are the main problems that arise in the process of smart-city management and use of big data?

Maksim Liksutov: Data protection is a primary concern in the management of any smart city. The introduction of smart technologies involves many risks, and we want to provide the most reliable protection available. This month, the Moscow Center for Traffic Management set up a new protective barrier for the virtual infrastructure of the ITS, including a set of advanced software protection measures that ensure full security. Now our ITS is defended by modern, cyber software and endpoint protection. The solution minimizes the risk of malicious software penetrating the city’s databases and protects against leaks of confidential information and personal data.

McKinsey: What is your vision of Moscow in 2025? How does it fit into the global landscape of smart transport technology?

Maksim Liksutov: To start, we are committed to continuing to increase the convenience of ticketing and payment methods for public transport, exploring methods such as wearable ticketing technology.

In the realm of personalized travel, we recently began testing a new method of pushing information to metro passengers. Given the data obtained from Troika cards, we can recommend to each individual passenger the most convenient ways to use the city’s public transport system (custom-made transport). We hope that in future, personalized information provision will become a convenient tool for managing passenger traffic, and the opportunities of big data will contribute to comfort and safety of Muscovites.

We understand that public transport plays an important role in reducing air pollution and creating a healthy city. As such, in the coming years Moscow intends to become the world leader in the development of electric public transport. With the city’s buses carrying millions of people a day, procurement of an ecofriendly and comfortable fleet is a top priority. We will phase in electric buses over the next few years, and in 2021, Moscow will stop purchasing diesel buses, opting instead for an entirely electric fleet.

And of course, we will continue to create a more convenient route network that stays ahead of Muscovites’ needs by providing buses and adding routes and stops based on what users say and technologies reveal are most needed.

McKinsey: What advice do you have for other city leaders?

Maksim Liksutov: I am not in a position to give it; every city, especially a megacity, is unique. Since we started reforming our transport system later than most world capitals, Moscow has had the opportunity to learn from and apply the experience of cities such as Beijing, London, Singapore, and Tokyo. We are working to implement the best solutions available across the world—and I know other city leaders are working to learn from one another and do the same for their home town.

Photo courtesy of the City of Moscow

Maksim Liksutov is the deputy mayor for transport in Moscow.

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