Over the past decades the world economy has reached an unprecedented level of global integration. As markets are being liberalised and trade barriers continuously being removed, companies are in an ongoing process of internationalisation. For the internationalisation of business activities, Global Logistics Systems play a significant role. The motivation of this survey is to review companies' internationalisation procedures from a logistics perspective. This is one of the first comprehensive surveys on global logistics. The poll which forms the basis of the analysis was carried out simultaneously in China and Germany.

"Over the past decades the world economy has reached an unprecedented level of global integration. As markets are being liberalised and trade barriers continuously being removed, companies are in an ongoing process of internationalisation. For the internationalisation of business activities, Global Logistics Systems play a significant role. The motivation of this survey is to review companies' internationalisation procedures from a logistics perspective. What are the challenges of setting up international logistics networks? What are the problems logistics managers must face when entering specific markets? How do managers cope with these challenges to ensure that internationalisation projects will be successful? The research has been undertaken in China and Germany, surveying each country's companies when going global. TOC:Background and Executive Summary.- Research Objectives and Methodology.- Introduction - Internationalisation of Business Activities.- Strategic Objectives of Internationalisation.- Link Between Internationalisation and Logistics.- Challenges and Difficulties in International Logistics.- Logistics Strategies for Entering New Markets.- Conclusion."

- Internationalisation of Business Activities.- Strategic Objectives of Internationalisation.- Link Between Internationalisation and Logistics.- Challenges and Difficulties in International Logistics.- Logistics Strategies for Entering New Markets.- Conclusion.