Trade compliance is set to become even more challenging in 2025. The focus for many organisations will shift to adapting strategies that address geopolitical tensions, sustainability and ensuring compliance systems and tools are fit for purpose. With that in mind, Thomas Lobert, Solutions Consultant at Descartes, outlines the top five trade compliance trends of 2025, along with the upcoming changes that will affect businesses in international trade. 

With it being reported that every man, woman, and child in the UK receives, on average, 140 parcels a year, it will come as no surprise that there is a worrying increase in package thefts to coincide. In fact, according to the mailing equipment company Quadient, the total value of parcels stolen across the UK at the end of 2024 rose to £376m - up from £204m in 2023. Further, it is often the case that peak trading periods, like Black Friday and the run up to Christmas, suffer the highest amounts of packaging theft. 

Milence appointed VEV to manage the development of its first UK electric HGV charging hub at Immingham, Able Humber Port, serving UK and Europe...

The outlook for 2025 is challenging for any business involved in the retail fulfilment process – from online retailers to logistics providers. The changes to National Insurance and the National Living Wage made in the November 2024 budget has had serious financial ramifications for companies already operating on wafer-thin margins. Furthermore, consumer demand has also stalled, with the UK braced for weak consumer spending throughout the next 12 months as public confidence falls.

Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, introduced in October 2024, outlines significant changes to employment law that will affect how businesses engage with self-employed subcontractors. These changes aim to create a fairer balance between employers and workers while addressing gaps in the current system.

Bath Bus Company, a subsidiary of RATP Dev operating Tootbus sightseeing services in Bath and the Air Decker route to Bristol Airport, needed to optimise processes and sought a robust solution to enhance performance and streamline operations.

'FPSʼ collaborative approach has delivered a solution that ensures electricity capacity isnʼt breached when we plug in transport refrigeration units in depots. Their Operate platform monitors site usage and remotely controls electricity to their retrofitted ‘smart plugʼ. This load balancing really comes into its own in the summer months when the units require more energy and ensures we donʼt risk a breach.

Partnering with Flexible Power Systems has transformed how we manage and optimize our EV charging infrastructure. Their Operate platform has made it effortless to share our charging facilities with other fleets while keeping our own operations seamless. The automated transaction tracking not only simplifies billing but also ensures accuracy and transparency. This collaboration has been key to maximizing the return on investment from our high-power charging infrastructure and advancing our sustainability goals.

GXO’s CILT-accredited Female Development Programme supports women into management and leadership roles, with 20% of participants to date securing promotion following the course. The programme has proved invaluable for retaining and developing talent within the UK & Ireland business