International marketing and foreign trade expert Onur Kurtay has put the logistics strategies of global manufacturing giants under the microscope. Comprehensive analyses conducted across 26 countries prove that while companies claim to "control costs," they are actually collapsing under a massive burden of hidden expenses.

International marketing and foreign trade expert Onur Kurtay has put the logistics strategies of global manufacturing giants under the microscope. Comprehensive analyses conducted across 26 countries prove that while companies claim to "control costs," they are actually collapsing under a massive burden of hidden expenses.

A Strategic Collapse, Not an Operational One

Many manufacturing companies still fall into the trap of viewing logistics solely as an "operational matter" consisting of freight negotiations and shipment tracking. Figures presented as "success" in management meetings often do not align with the realities on the ground. According to Kurtay’s analysis, while operational reports paint a rosy picture, strategic inefficiencies in the background are eroding profitability.

The Big Secret: Costs Hidden Within the "Unit Price"

Field studies conducted at production facilities in 26 countries have brought to light a paradigm-shifting truth: the vast majority of the logistics expenses that companies try to control are not found in shipping invoices but are hidden within the unit price of the products.

Factors such as lack of planning in the supply chain, incorrect packaging, and inefficient inventory management reflect directly on the product cost. The most critical point is that almost none of these companies possess a system capable of accurately measuring these "hidden costs."

"A Change in Mindset is Essential"

Stating that seeing logistics only as a shipping invoice creates a major "blind spot" in the modern business world, Kurtay issues the following call to boards of directors:

"Logistics costs are not an operational expense item; they are a strategic component of the unit price. Real profitability does not start with negotiating freight; it begins by diagnosing and measuring the inefficiencies hidden within the unit price."

About Onur Kurtay

Born in Bursa in 1985, Onur Kurtay studied Russian Language and Literature at Kyiv European University. During his time in Ukraine, he played active roles in diplomatic receptions and cultural development projects. Throughout his career, he has gained deep expertise in market research, international marketing, and branding. Having built a strong bridge between civil society and the business world through his roles as President of the Gemlik City Council Youth Assembly and collaborative projects with TUİD and UİB, Kurtay continues his professional work on international commercial partnerships.