The companies that thrive in transportation and logistics will be those that harness new digital technologies to lower costs and increase connectivity, positioning themselves to deliver seamless service to cargo owners, explains BCG’s Ulrik Sanders.

Ulrik Sanders leads the firm’s global work in shipping and is the founder of the Center for Digital in Transportation.

Since joining the firm in 2005, Ulrik has focused his client work on the transportation and logistics industry.

He began his career in the shipping industry and now leads BCG's global shipping team. Ulrik also leads BCG's Shipping Benchmark Initiative and has pioneered new ventures aimed at improving the shipping ecosystem such as the xChange, a container exchange platform.

Before joining BCG, Ulrik was a vice president at A.T. Kearney, Andersen Consulting, and Maersk Line.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

EDUCATION

  • MSc, business law and economics, Copenhagen Business School

Publications and Videos

Global Shipping’s Net-Zero Transformation Challenge

Global Shipping’s Net-Zero Transformation Challenge

As you craft a decarbonization strategy—for today and tomorrow—here are seven crucial areas to consider.
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Sharing the Costs of IMO 2020 Across the Ecosystem

Everyone knows the new restrictions are coming, but are they ready for the joint responsibility—and expense—of developing environmentally friendly supply chains?
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Will Middle Eastern Ports Continue to Succeed?

Overcapacity, transshipment, and lagging port productivity threaten to slow or even reverse the upward trajectory of the region’s ports.
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The Digital Imperative in Container Shipping

Carriers that approach a digital transformation with the right ambition, resources, and scale can achieve a step change in their digital capabilities within 18 months.
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Bringing the Sharing Economy to Shipping

Container repositioning is the bane of every carrier. But it doesn’t have to be. Online marketplaces can help carriers find container interchange opportunities and radically reduce repositioning costs.
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The New Normal in Global Trade and Container Shipping

The global container-shipping industry faces stiffening headwinds. To survive, carriers must continue to drive change aimed at boosting performance. Six moves can help.
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Think Outside Your Boxes: Solving the Global Container-Repositioning Puzzle

By sharing empty containers, the top 100 container carriers could save up to $4.5 billion annually. BCG has developed a global marketplace for making this happen.
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Battling Overcapacity in Container Shipping

Drawing on analysis from proprietary tools, BCG assesses challenges facing container shippers, including overcapacity and low returns, and offers recommendations for restoring carriers’ profitability.
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The Transformation Imperative in Container Shipping

The eagerly anticipated uplift has not yet materialized, as companies continue to grapple with challenges stemming from overcapacity and a highly fragmented industry structure.
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Forecasting the Future of Marine Fuel

To build a competitive edge for the future, shipping companies need to understand the business case for switching to environmentally friendlier options for marine fuel.
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Nordic Agenda: Transforming for the Next Wave of Success

The much-admired Nordic model is showing cracks. The Nordics must act now and act fast to transform the model in order to continue to create wealth and well-being in the years to come.
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Fueling a Competitive Advantage: An End-to-End Approach to Cutting Bunker Costs

Maritime shipping organizations must cut bunker costs to gain a competitive advantage. Companies that apply BCG’s end-to-end optimization framework may achieve cost reductions of up to 10 percent.
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