To secure its critical operations, a major German logistics and wholesale company engaged Axians Business Resilience to design a robust business continuity plan aligned with its core business priorities.
From warehouse management and distribution to customer order processing, logistics specialists rely on centralised ERP* and WMS** systems to keep deliveries moving. In a highly interconnected value chain, even brief interruptions can have significant operational and commercial consequences.
It was precisely to strengthen its business continuity plan — and ensure the continuity of critical processes — that a major German logistics provider and wholesaler with 5,000 employees called on the expertise of Axians Business Resilience.
Preparing before the unexpected happens
As Robert Osten, Business Unit Manager at Axians Business Resilience, explains: “In our experience, organisations typically approach us after an incident, or during a major transformation programme, when operational processes become even more dependent on IT services.”
This strong dependence on central systems represents a major risk. If key applications are unavailable for more than two days, existing manual procedures are no longer sufficient to bridge the gap. “Hidden or underestimated dependencies and insufficient process documentation are two recurring challenges,” says Robert Osten.
Mapping and prioritising critical operations
For its logistics customer, Axians Business Resilience conducted a business impact analysis, or BIA, and a structured risk assessment to identify critical processes, key resources and maximum tolerable downtimes.
“We always begin with a structured scoping phase involving the management team and key stakeholders,” says Robert Osten. Collaborative workshops made it possible to “build a shared understanding of critical operations and dependencies” and then to “jointly validate priorities and recovery targets”. This approach reflects a fundamental principle: the IT recovery strategy must be aligned with business priorities.
IT systems are no longer merely support functions. They have become a strategic lever for operational resilience.
The analysis showed that, in the event of prolonged downtime, an alternative operating model would be required. Axians Business Resilience and its customer therefore designed a solution based on predefined assortments. Initially conceived as a selection of the “300 best products”, the model was later refined by product category. The objective was to ensure logistical feasibility, compatible billing processes and compliance with customer agreements.
This solution enables customers to continue placing orders from a validated set of assortments, maintaining control and continuity even when operations are running in degraded mode.
A comprehensive and sustainable approach
For Robert Osten, however, resilience is about more than documentation. “Operational resilience is ultimately demonstrated through exercises and real-life situations,” he explains. Tests, simulations and continuous-improvement loops are therefore built into the process.
The Axians solution covers “the entire operational resilience spectrum”, including business continuity management, IT service continuity management, crisis management and communications. “A solid foundation can be established within a few weeks or months,” says Robert Osten. Long-term continuity, however, depends on “a continuous cycle of reassessment, training and exercises”.
For the logistics provider supported by Axians Business Resilience, IT systems are no longer seen merely as support functions. They have become a strategic lever for resilience. Through structured analysis, close collaboration and constant alignment between technology and business priorities, the company now has a robust business continuity plan designed to ensure that deliveries can continue even in the most critical situations.
*ERP, or enterprise resource planning, is integrated management software that centralises a company’s key business functions within a single system.
** WMS, or warehouse management system, refers to specialised software used to manage inventory and warehouse operations.
09/10/2026
