There are many reasons for the worldwide introduction of standardized processes – one factor that is of key significance in all sectors is the desire to cut costs and reduce complexity. Eighty-five per cent of the surveyed industrial companies and 81 per cent of their trading counterparts name cost reduction as the primary driver of global standards. In addition to reducing costs, 78 to 83 per cent of companies believe that standardized logistics processes can also help to reduce complexity. Across all sectors, the focus of the surveyed companies is on the simplification or standardization of existing structures. In addition to reducing complexity and simplifying interfaces, 84 per cent of industrial companies and 77 per cent of trading companies name supply chain control as a further motive for the standardization of logistics processes (see Figure 3.3).