The topic was: How is e-mobility changing logistics in the automotive industry? What logistical challenges will vehicle manufacturers face as a result of the switch from combustion engines to electric drives? The 4flow challenge was organized by 4flow, an award-winning employer and provider of logistics consulting, logistics software and 4PL services.

The 4flow challenge is a case study competition in which international students develop solutions for current logistics challenges. "The participants gain realistic insights into the logistics industry and the agile working methods of 4flow consultants. All participants also receive individual feedback on their concept and approach. This year, great solutions were once again developed and presented, and the students approached the issues with a great deal of motivation and fresh ideas," says Dr. Stefan Wolff, CEO of 4flow.

Top-class international participants

Teams of three to four Master's students, ideally with a focus on logistics, were invited to apply. Numerous teams from Germany and Europe responded to this call, five of which qualified for the final after two preliminary rounds. For the first time, students from China were also able to take part in the competition. In a separate preliminary round, the 4flow challenge China, 4flow selected a team to travel to Europe and represent the Chinese universities at the final. "We saw a lot of smart concepts at the preliminary round in our Shanghai branch. We are delighted that the competition got off to a successful start and are convinced that many more logistics talents will take part in the 4flow challenge China in the coming years," says Shubin Wu, Project Manager 4flow challenge China.

4flow invited the six final teams to its headquarters in Berlin. In the two-day final, they competed in a logistics rally and solved various tasks in workshops. The teams presented their results to an expert jury of 4flow consultants, who assessed the technical content as well as the presentation and communication skills of the participants.

In a high-class competition, the FAUture.solutions team from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg came out on top and can look forward to 4,000 euros in prize money. "The 4flow challenge was a tough competition against strong rivals. We are all the more pleased that we won. We had great fun and learned a lot about current topics and, above all, about the work of management consultants. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to put their theoretical university knowledge into practice," says Benedikt Kern from the winning team. The teams tub.log from the Technical University of Berlin and Next Jenaration from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena followed in second and third place, with prizes of 2,000 and 1,000 euros respectively. The chairs that supported the winners with the concept also receive prize money.