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W
elcome to the pilot edition of FORWARDER magazine UAE.
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CONTENTS
FORWARDER DIGEST
6
The freight industry's month in review from the Editor
INDUSTRY NEWS
8
News and press releases from the world of freight
COVER FEATURE
30
Move it Like... Idriss Al-Rifai, CEO of Fetchr
FORWARDER FOCUS
38
The evolution of the international and local courier
ASK THE EXPERTS
42
No address? No problem.
REGIONAL FOCUS Delivering in MENA: key challenges and solutions | Survive and thrive in China FORWARD TECH
46 50
e-Commerce: electrifying an industry
M&A FOCUS
60
Freight companies for sale and sought
RECRUITMENT FOCUS
66
Jobs and candidates in the freight industry
MARKETING FOCUS
78
Web design: clicking with your customers FORWARDER magazine
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FORWARDER magazine
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WELCOME TO FORWARDER... A WORD FROM
THE EDITORS
MEET THE TEAM
W
CRAIG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
elcome to FORWARDER UAE. This is the pilot
craig@freight-media.com
issue of our sister publication to FORWARDER
SARAH SENIOR EDITOR
magazine: market intelligence for the freight
sarah@forwardermagazine.com +44 (0)1454 628 788
forwarding industry. Demonstrating what you can expect from FORWARDER UAE each quarter, our launch issue will bring
RACHEL EDITOR
you examples of the insight, knowledge and industry news we will showcase in each new edition.
rachel@forwardermagazine.com +44 (0)1454 628 771
The mag is divided into sections which have been curated by our
SIMON AREA SALES MANAGER simon@forwarder.ae +971 04 246 2836
editorial team, meaning that you can quickly find the content which is
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relevant to you, or take a leisurely flick through what’s happening in
ife@freight-media.com +44 (0)1454 275 931
other parts of the supply chain. From a regional focus, to a topical focus, to breaking industry news and spotlight features providing a deep-dive
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into the sector, there’s something for everyone. We choose topics
kevin@freight-media.com +44 (0)7736 791 180
that are at the core of the industry, meaning FORWARDER UAE
will not only be informative, but also a retainable resource for future
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reference. Want to see your name in print? Have something to say?
dom@freight-media.com +44 (0)1454 628 794
Get in touch with us at: simon@forwarder.ae
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Sarah O'Connell, Senior Editor, FORWARDER magazine
H
robert@freight-media.com +44 (0)1454 628 784
TIM GRAPHIC DESIGNER
ello, readers of UAE! Welcome to FORWARDER
tim@forwardermagazine.com
magazine. FORWARDER magazine is where you will find the latest and well-researched content about the
freight forwarding industry. Originally a UK publication, last year
Read the magazine online:
we launched FORWARDER USA, and this year, we have bigger
FORWARDERmagazine.com/read-forwarder
plans for the magazine with the likes of this very first issue of
FORWARDER UAE. We are always interested in hearing from our
twitter.com/ForwarderMag
instagram.com/forwardermag
fellow readers and freight forwarders, so if you are in the logistics
facebook.com/forwardermagazine
industry, we want to hear from you. Got some news? Want to have
linkedin.com/company/forwarder-magazine
your say? Contact the FORWARDER team today. We hope you enjoy our pilot issue of FORWARDER UAE! Rachel Jefferies, Editor, FORWARDER magazine
FORWARDERmagazine.com Unit 8 Apex Court, Woodlands, Bristol BS32 4JT FORWARDER magazine
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FORWARDER DIGEST
I
n a region which is traditionally wealthy, consumer
Just one of the areas in which the UAE is world-leading is in its
expectations are high. Logistics are paramount across
approach to innovation, which spans across all industries. Dubai has
the UAE to ensure that the local population are satisfied,
aims for 25% of vehicles to be fully automated by 2030, with the
and that this international hub of innovation is kept
Dubai Future Foundation – a government hub for innovation and
running smoothly. The UAE logistics sector represents
future-proofing the country – funding the ‘Dubai World Autonomous
around 13% of the UAE’s GDP, with an estimated 5000
Transportation Challenge’ to encourage advances in R&D.
companies working in the sector across the region:
The strategy claims that transportation costs could be cut by up to
everything from smaller freight forwarding companies
44% – the equivalent of AED 900 million each year, as well as reducing
to multinational logistics providers with global reach.
which will house a new Smart City, set for completion by Q1 2019.
The United Arab Emirates are one of the most exciting places in the world to be involved in the freight and logistics industry. Market trends are heading skyward in the region, with air freight volumes expanding by 1.7% in November 2018* compared to the same month a year earlier. The market has been trending steadily upwards for some time in the UAE, whereas global freight growth has remained at a plateau, with the slowest rate of growth since early 2016. Recent developments include the new Sharjah Port of Trade (SPOT) services offered by Gulftainer, one of the world’s largest independently owned port and logistics operators. SPOT’s strategic location offers the quickest transit times and lowest service costs in the region, providing enhanced sea cargo clearance services.
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pollution significantly. There’s also Dubai’s infamous ‘Silicon Oasis’
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One Swedish start up, Einride, is in the development stages of
Issues also remain with storage and warehousing in the region, in line with
creating self-driving trucks and is looking at the Dubai market to
many areas of the globe. As demand for storage space increases and more
begin operations. They’re not the only ones, with ‘Future Now’
international powerhouses look to move into the UAE, customisable and
– an innovation programme run by Etisalat Digital – signing
flexible warehousing is a challenge which is seeing some attention.
agreements with four startups to develop Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain programmes, with aims to develop the technologies to
There is little resistance to change where it is needed, which remains
ease congestion and accidents on the roads. All of these initiatives
a core reason that the UAE maintains such an impressive reputation.
have been to support the UAE 2021 vision for the region, which
The e-commerce boom is seeing business owners quickly adapt their
holds improved safety as one of its core aims.
strategies in response, transforming models of working to cement quick delivery times. Technologies are readily adopted where they can be to
There are still some – at first view – simple challenges which require
enhance efficiencies, and real-time tracking ensures that valuable or
some work. Physical addresses for parcel drops, for example, are still
precious cargo is tracked. Couple this positive attitude with the region’s
an issue, and it is not uncommon for a parcel to feature solely a name
geographical proximities to major economies in the Middle East and Asia,
and mobile number, where it then becomes the delivery company’s responsibility to hunt down the intended recipient. There will be work on this as the region looks towards Expo 2020, which will see an influx of millions of visitors over the six-month period of the event.
Sarah O'Connell, Senior Editor, FORWARDER magazine * Statistics from International Air Transport Association, Jan 2019
FORWARDER magazine
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INDUSTRY NEWS
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at www.allseasglobal.com
JUNE 2017
NEW JV COMPANY ALLSEAS PROJECT SOLUTIONS TO
SERVE BOOMING INDIAN MARKET I ndia is on the fast track in terms of growth, consumer demand
Allseas Project Solutions has the experience and expertise to
and cargo flows – the Indian government is taking every possible
provide tailor-made solutions to customers and offer single window
step to simplify business processes, and the focus is on the
services – whether it be port to port, port to door or door to door,
manufacturing sector under the ‘Make in India’ programme. As a
there is a need to combine knowledge of the domestic market with
result, there are significant new opportunities in logistics, including
global expertise to offer efficient solutions.
that of project related movements. However, for those not familiar
with the processes, shipping goods to and from this booming market
The Seamless team has more than three decades of experience in the
isn’t always straightforward.
freight forwarding business and is very well recognised and respected in the local market, with strong contacts with reliable service providers.
In response to the growing demand for expert support and logistics services, UK-based Allseas Global Logistics and Mumbai-based Seamless Projects have created a new joint venture company, Allseas
Moreover, the senior management is highly active and visible on various forums in freight forwarding and the shipping industry.
Project Solutions. Indian customers will benefit from the experience, expertise This unique partnership is based in Mumbai and is poised to expand,
and global network of partners and contacts that Allseas brings
with plans for offices at gateway ports such as Mundra, Chennai and
to the new company, says Upadhyaya.
other strategic locations.
total logistics solutions – and exporters from the UK and other
Together, we will offer
parts of the world, who are supplying to Indian importers, can now Pradip Upadhyaya, who is heading up Allseas Project Solutions, has
be assured of a dedicated professional service in India and a local
more than 35 years’ experience in the shipping and logistics industry
expertise in terms of documentation, Customs clearance and last-
and is in no doubt as to the advantages that the new company will
mile services. And similarly, Indian exporters will benefit.
offer shippers to and from India. In the changing global economic scenario, India is a country to focus on, he says.
Both partners in the new company are strong in their own right, he points out. Allseas Project Solutions will handle the full range of cargoes, including containers, general cargo and heavy lift/project cargoes.
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GLOBAL GLOBAL BUSINESS BUSINESS OPERATIONS SPECIALIST OPERATIONS SPECIALIST COMPETITIVE SALARY
COMPETITIVE SALARY WORLDWIDE – WITH EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WORLDWIDE – WITH EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
You will be responsible for ensuring global operational procedures are implemented and maintained globally by and continually improving operational processes documentation. Youstandardising will be responsible for ensuring global the operational procedures areand implemented and maintained globally by continually improving the operational processes andsecure documentation. G4Sstandardising Internationaland Logistics (G4Si) are innovators in global and domestic transport solutions and we strive on unpredictable challenges faced on a daily basis to meet our client’s needs. Specialising in door G4S International Logistics (G4Si) are innovators in global and domestic secure transport solutions andtowedoor secureon transportation, inventory/storage services andSpecialising risk mitigation we to aredoor well strive unpredictableinsurance, challengesthird facedparty on alogistics, daily basis to meet our client’s needs. in door known in the industry for our integrity and consultative approach. secure transportation, insurance, third party logistics, inventory/storage services and risk mitigation we are well known in the industry forexperience our integrity and logistics consultative approach. To succeed you will have in the or freight industry, as well as experience in a continuous improvement environment with responsibility for creating S.O.Ps. Experience desirable and To succeed you will have experience in the logistics or freight industry, as wellofasCargowise experienceisinhighly a continuous additional languages such aswith Spanish and Mandarin would be an advantage. Theofability to travel globally is essential. improvement environment responsibility for creating S.O.Ps. Experience Cargowise is highly desirable and additional languages such to as apply Spanishplease and Mandarin would advantage. The ability to travel globally is essential. To find out more and send your CVbetoanhr@g4si.com To find out more and to apply2017. please send your CV to hr@g4si.com Closing date: 1st September Closing date: 1st September 2017.
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Opportunities are plenty. Specialised logistics services are now in great demand in India. Similarly, bilateral trade with various partner countries
Allseas Project Solutions, India has just completed its first
is on the rise. Infrastructure, power, heavy engineering and the medical
major project, the transportation of two sets of 30-metre
sector will be major contributors to the growth of our economy.
wind turbine blades from India to the UK. These were crated and loaded onboard eight flat racks for shipment on
India is a massive market and is following the same route as China in
a container vessel out of Mundra.
terms of growth as a mass manufacturer of consumables. This similarity is also extended to an enormous consumer market. Allseas Global Logistics
India is producing a large number of wind turbine blades, says
has experience of exporting to India and, through its sister company
Pradip Upadhyaya.
DKT Allseas, represents the National Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).
of this type. The ‘Smart Cities’ initiative by the Government
Setting up our new company is the logical next step in a market that we are
of India simultaneously in different parts of the country also
already serving and important for us. We have worked through partners
provides new opportunities for the services we offer.
We look forward to more assignments
in India before, but now we will have own freight forwarding offices locally to handle both the destination and origin side of shipments. We want to be closer locally to suppliers in order to handle export consignments to the UK and Europe. Operationally, Allseas Project Solutions will give our customers an end-to-end service, all by ourselves. Bryn Atherton, UK Sales Manager, Allseas Global Logistics FORWARDER magazine
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INDUSTRY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2017
CARGOLUX MOVES
DUBAI HANDLING TO EMIRATES A ll Cargolux flights to and from Dubai World Central
The handling cooperation at both hubs facilitates seamless
(DWC) are handled by Emirates SkyCargo since early
movement of cargo between the two operators. In addition,
September 2017. This move follows the cooperation
interline agreements between both airlines further strengthen
agreement that the Luxembourg-based carrier signed with Emirates
the cooperation and give customers a wider range of services and
SkyCargo in May 2017. Emirates’ cargo flights to Luxembourg are
destinations. The hub connectivity between Dubai and Luxembourg
already handled by Cargolux’s partner Luxair Cargo.
also contributes to boost the position of both locations as major logistics hubs and distribution centres in their respective regions.
Customers benefit from Cargolux’s move in Dubai and can now enjoy state-of-the-art facilities with the most modern and up-topharma traffic in the region. As a GDP-certified company, Cargolux
ABOUT CARGOLUX AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL
insists on delivering the best possible service for its customers; an
Cargolux, based in Luxembourg, is Europe’s leading all-
important reason for the cooperation with Emirates SkyCargo at
cargo airline with a modern and efficient fleet composed of
its new Dubai facility. In Luxembourg, Luxair Cargo operates one
14 Boeing 747-8 freighters and 12 Boeing 747-400 freighters.
of the most modern healthcare centers in Europe, which is also
The Cargolux worldwide network covers 90 destinations,
GDP-certified.
some 70 of which are served on scheduled all-cargo flights.
date tools and equipment, especially in view of Cargolux’s increasing
The company has more than 85 offices in over 50 countries, Emirates’ ultra-modern facility, Emirates SkyCentral, situated within
and operates an extensive global trucking network to
the Dubai World Central complex, has dedicated temperature
more than 250 destinations as well as full and part-charter
controlled areas, cold storage rooms, cool cells and pharmaceutical
services. Cargolux also offers third-party maintenance at its
storage rooms. It enables Cargolux to offer its customers fast and
modern two-bay maintenance hangar in Luxembourg. The
efficient services with high connectivity. Emirates SkyCargo’s specially
company is specialized in B747 line and hangar maintenance
commissioned fleet of trucks connect DWC to all other UAE airports,
up to and including C-Checks. It offers a range of specialized
including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
maintenance services and holds line maintenance approval for 777 aircraft. The Cargolux Group employs close to 1,900 staff worldwide.
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FETCHR DELIVERY COMPANY, SPECIALIZING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, MAKES IT SIMPLE TO SHIP TO THIS LUCRATIVE FAST GROWING MARKET!
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INDUSTRY NEWS 15 FEBRUARY 2017
EMIRATES SKYCARGO TRANSPORTS
FIRST SPACE SATELLITE MANUFACTURED IN THE U.A.E. E mirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, has
It has been a journey of nearly five years from the time the Mohammed
transported KhalifaSat- the first satellite developed and built
Bin Rashid Space Centre commenced the manufacture of KhalifaSat to
by Emirati engineers in the UAE at the Mohammed Bin Rashid
now where we’re getting ready for the final launch. We needed a partner
Space Centre (MBRSC). As the first step in its journey to space,
who had the capability and expertise to transport KhalifaSat from Dubai
KhalifaSat was flown from Dubai to Incheon International Airport in
without compromising its sensitive instrumentation and components.
South Korea on an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft
Emirates SkyCargo worked with us over a three month period to make
that was specially chartered for the occasion. Emirates SkyCargo also
sure that the entire transportation process went smoothly,
unveiled a special branded truck to mark the event.
Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical
said
Affairs, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. The KhalifaSat project was launched in 2013 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and
Given the extremely sensitive nature of the shipment, teams from
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the aim of
Emirates SkyCargo and MBRSC worked together from November
manufacturing the first space satellite on UAE soil. Following its
2017 to prepare and plan all the steps in the movement of the satellite
launch in 2018, the remote sensing satellite will provide images of
from Dubai to Incheon airport. The satellite was first moved from
earth for practical application in a variety of industries.
MBRSC’s manufacturing facility in Dubai to the Emirates SkyCentral DWC freighter cargo terminal at Dubai World Central airport on a
Over the years Emirates SkyCargo has transported a wide variety of
dedicated remotely monitored Emirates SkyCargo truck travelling
unusual cargo but being able to transport the first satellite manufactured
on a geo-fenced route with a police escort for maximum security. A
in the UAE is a unique honour. We are delighted to bring our expertise in
number of trial loading exercises were also conducted by Emirates
air transportation to the table on this historic and momentous occasion.
SkyCargo and MBRSC to ensure that operations went smoothly
Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President – Cargo, Emirates
during the actual transportation of the satellite.
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The satellite was then loaded through the wide main deck doors on
About Emirates
the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft. The air cargo
Emirates airline operates 133 non-stop flights per week from the
carrier’s team of cross-functional specialists including specialised
UK to Dubai – six services a day from Heathrow, three daily from
loadmasters drew up an optimal loading plan on the aircraft for the
London Gatwick and Manchester, two daily from Birmingham and
safe transportation of the satellite.
Glasgow, and a daily service from Newcastle. An extra daily service will launch from London Stansted airport in June 2018. In Dubai,
In addition to loading and transportation, detailed planning was
passengers can connect to flights on Emirates’ global network which
involved from Emirates Skycargo to ensure aircraft and crew
spans 154 passenger destinations across six continents.
availability as well as obtaining all relevant permissions for operating a chartered freighter flight to Incheon International airport.
About Emirates SkyCargo Emirates SkyCargo is the largest international airline cargo operator
Emirates SkyCargo’s charter operations
in the world. With an unrivalled route network, we connect cargo
Between January and December 2017, Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet
customers to over 150 cities in 83 countries on six continents and
of 14 freighter aircraft have carried out over 370 charter flights
operate in many of the world’s fastest developing markets. Our
to 140 destinations. This is over and above Emirates SkyCargo’s
cargo hold capacity comprises Emirates’ fleet of over 255 aircraft,
scheduled freighter operations to over 40 global destinations
including 14 freighters – 13 Boeing 777-Fs and one B747-400ERFs.
every week. A wide variety of cargo- from equipment for music concerts to outsized machinery and components for construction
Emirates SkyCargo operates state-of-the-art cargo facilities at
and manufacturing industries; from aircraft engines to yachts were
its dual hub locations in Dubai International Airport (DXB) and
transported by charter flights through Emirates SkyCargo.
Dubai World Central (DWC) with cargo being moved 24/7 by truck between the two airports via a bonded virtual corridor.
Emirates SkyCargo is at the forefront of the global air cargo industry offering cargo capacity on its fleet of over 260 aircraft. The air cargo
Emirates SkyCargo offers specialised cool chain solutions
carrier combines a modern fleet, state of the art infrastructure and
for perishables and temperature sensitive product such as
experienced staff to achieve the highest standards of service delivery
pharmaceuticals. The carrier operates the first and the largest GDP
and customer satisfaction.
certified multi-airport hub in the world with 8600 square metres of dedicated space for pharmaceuticals across its hub. FORWARDER magazine
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INDUSTRY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2017
HANSA HEAVY LIFT TRANSPORTS
TWO MINEHUNTING NAVAL SHIPS BETWEEN FRANCE AND UAE
H
ANSA HEAVY LIFT has successfully completed a
Accommodation modules were rented and connected for additional
round-trip voyage involving the transportation of two
technicians from the charterer, who also travelled on-board.
minehunting naval ships, each weighing 670 metric tonnes,
between France and the Persian Gulf.
Creating the lifting arrangement, stowage, and securing plan was actually the easiest part; then came the task of ensuring all parties
The two French Navy-owned ships, which also measured 51.50 x
involved were synchronised, that each stage took place sequentially,
8.90 x 3.80 metres, were loaded onto the HHL Fremantle in Brest
and dealing with the unexpected.
and transported to the Persian Gulf, before being brought back
Svilen Ivanov, Project Engineer, HANSA HEAVY LIFT
again on a second voyage, with both locations being military bases. “Positioning the cradles under water when the wind was picking up Crews had to be especially vigilant when handling these two military
was challenging, particularly when we needed to be precise to the
ships due to the sensitivity of the cargo. We were also faced with extreme
centimetre and at the same time keep the hard edges away from
weather issues, with high winds in France restricting our movements,
the sensitive hull.
as well as intense heat in the Persian Gulf at 46C, which compelled us to install air conditioning on-board. Furthermore, as this operation
“In order to avoid calling at any ports with such sensitive materials
took place on military bases, we had to comply with restricted access,
on-board, we carried out a full bunker’s replenishment on both
coordination between varying authorities, and re-flagging requirements.
occasions before loading.”
Adjustments had to be made to the loadspreading at the keel and cradle belting to avoid overloading the fibreglass hull.
Another challenge included the tight outreach of the cranes, which
Walter Prosetti, Director of Global Sales, HANSA HEAVY LIFT
meant crews had to rearrange the keel blocks whilst the cargo was hanging on the hooks.
Both minehunters needed electrical connection for the duration of the journeys, meaning extra transformers had to be purchased to
The contract was awarded by the French Navy to Compagnie
supply the correct power.
Maritime Nantaise – MN, which in turn worked with HANSA HEAVY LIFT on the project.
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HANSA HEAVY LIFT was an excellent partner to work with,
HANSA HEAVY LIFT specialises in the super heavy lift 900+ metric
impressing us from the beginning when they made sure the right ship
tonnes industry, delivering best-in-class engineering solutions to
for this very sensitive military project was available on the exact day
customers, particularly in the subsea, oil and gas, as well as the
we had requested.
offshore wind farm sectors.
Mathias Audrain, Chartering Manager, Compagnie Maritime Nantaise – MN
For more information on HANSA HEAVY LIFT, visit hansaheavylift.com
We are very pleased in the way the ships were looked after from start to end of this project, with HANSA HEAVY LIFT ensuring we were updated for every stage of each voyage. The outcome of this operation could not have been better. This innovative mode of action allows the French Navy to operate far from our metropolitan bases optimising the material and human potential on the transit, in order to concentrate on our operational mission in the area. Commander Guillaume Collin, Head of Logistics Branch for French Navy operations FORWARDER magazine
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INDUSTRY NEWS
S
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at www.sekologistics.com
EKO Logistics has delivered two 92-ton transformers to
The delivery of two such heavyweight pieces of cargo represented
the DEWA 260Megawatt Solar PV project, the world’s
another significant milestone for SEKO Logistics’ renewable energy
largest solar project.
services in the Middle East region. TSK had confidence in our ability to deliver the best logistics solution, which was a critical part of the
SEKO was awarded the contract to move the heavyweight cargo
whole project
because of its growing reputation in the UAE and Middle East region
Chaminda Gunasekera, Director Network Development
as a leading logistics service provider to the renewable energy
– Middle East, Africa and Indian Sub-Continent, SEKO Logistics
industry. This is in addition to its significant solar business in the United States for both commercial customers and consumers, which
SEKO is planning to expand its services in the UAE and the
most recently was one of the key reasons for SEKO’s decision to
neighbouring region by offering customers more technology and
triple the size of its warehouse operations in California.
visibility solutions for their renewable energy projects.
The transformers were shipped to Dubai to support the latest
Chaminda and the SEKO Logistics team were able to deliver the
phase of construction at The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
right solution to TSK. We experienced a very professional service by
Solar Park, which will generate 260 megawatts (MW) of electricity
SEKO Logistics and their partners in the UAE and the transformers
by April 2017 using 2.2 million photovoltaic solar panels. The UAE
were delivered on-time and in perfect condition,
government has declared that Dubai will build the capability to
Shahid, Country Logistics Manager, TSK, who is responsible for the
generate 5,000 megawatts of solar power to provide energy to one
supply chain for the 200 Mw project in Dubai.
of the most iconic cities in the world. TSK Group of Spain, one of the leading Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies, commissioned SEKO to provide the best logistics solution during the early stages of their planning. SEKO managed the project working closely with its local partner in the UAE, International Maritime and Aviation (IMA). Together, the team of experts involved in the transportation and delivery-to-site in Dubai completed a full risk assessment for the project to ensure the integrity of the 92-ton transformers and their safe delivery to the UAE.
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said Mr Raza
SEKO LOGISTICS DELIVERS 92-TONNE TRANSFORMERS TO DUBAI
APRIL 2017
FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOLAR PROJECT FORWARDER magazine
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INDUSTRY NEWS
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at www.skycargo.com
OCTOBER 2017
EMIRATES SKYCARGO
OVERALL CARRIER OF THE YEAR FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
E
mirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, continues
2016 Emirates SkyCargo launched a new freighter route
to strengthen its position as a leader in the international
from Hong Kong to Delhi onwards to Dubai strengthening
air cargo industry by winning the industry choice award for
its footprint in East Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
‘Overall Carrier of the Year’ at the Payload Asia Awards Ceremony held on 29 September 2016 in Hong Kong. Emirates SkyCargo has
With a strong focus on customer service, Emirates SkyCargo
won this prestigious award for the fourth year running.
leads the air cargo industry with its state of the art infrastructure and innovative product and service offerings.
The award was accepted by Ravishankar Mirle, Emirates Vice President of Far East and Australasia, Cargo, at a gala dinner at
Some of the innovative protection products in Emirates
the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel. Organised annually in
SkyCargo’s portfolio for temperature-sensitive cargo include
conjunction with the Payload Asia Conference, Payload Asia awards
White Cover Advanced, a specialised cover that acts as a barrier
recognise excellence in the global air cargo industry. The industry
against varying external temperatures and direct sunlight; White
choice award for the Overall Carrier of the Year was determined
Container, a temperature-controlled container with thermal
by a senior level industry panel of 17 judges drawn from across
insulators to counteract high external temperatures; and the
the global air cargo industry who assessed nominees on a number
Emirates SkyCargo Cool Dolly, a special piece of equipment
of criteria including operational performance, customer service,
that transports cargo from the aircraft to cool storage areas,
product innovations and network coverage.
while maintaining temperatures of as a low as -20°C.
Emirates SkyCargo is the largest international airline cargo operator
The latest industry recognition for Emirates SkyCargo comes
with a fleet of over 245 wide-bodied aircraft, including 15 dedicated
on the back of other awards won by the carrier in 2016 including
freighters: 13 Boeing 777-Fs and two B747-400ERFs. The carrier
the ‘Diamond Award’ at the Air Cargo Excellence Awards
connects cargo customers in 154 destinations across 82 countries
2016 in Berlin, the ‘Best Cargo Airline Middle East 2016’ at the
in six continents through its hub in Dubai. In addition to offering
World Air Cargo Awards in London and the ‘Best Air Cargo
cargo capacity on board its passenger flights, Emirates SkyCargo
Carrier- Middle East’ at the 2016 Asian Freight, Logistics and
operates freighter services to over 50 global destinations. In June
Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards held in Shanghai.
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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at www.kerrylogistics.com
K
erry Logistics Network Limited has announced the launch
route for cargoes from industrial freight, down to smaller e-commerce
of its weekly scheduled Less Than Container Load (LCL)
commodities. Acting as the consolidator ourselves allows us to offer
rail freight service between Duisburg, Germany and
shorter lead times, moving each shipment faster than if we had to wait
Shanghai via the Yiwu terminal in the Yangtze River Delta, China,
for a full container from each customer, who can monitor their cargo
using its own consolidation containers.
along the route via online track and trace. We can be more reactive to our customers’ rapidly evolving needs,
This additional service option for east- and westbound shipments
Thomas Blank, Managing Director Europe, Kerry Logistics
enhances Kerry Logistics’ existing Full Container Load (FCL) and LCL services, offering a transit time of 16 days for westbound cargo,
The announcement of the new service comes just two weeks after
and 21 days eastbound.
the investment in Globalink Logistics DWC LLC, a freight forwarding group headquartered in Dubai, UAE, with operations spanning
Shipments have already been successfully moved using the new
across the Commonwealth of Independent States. The partnership
service, which offers weekly departures on Friday eastbound and
significantly increases Kerry Logistics’ presence and capabilities across
Wednesday westbound.
Central Asia on its overland network connecting Europe and China.
The rail freight solution is part of Kerry Logistics’ end-to-end freight
In April, Kerry Logistics made London the 15th European city to
management service, which provides an unrivalled range of upstream
be added to its China–Europe rail network under China’s Belt and
services, including storage, quality control, assembly, and reworking
Road Initiative, and inaugurated the first eastbound rail freight from
in addition to the pre-carriage and delivery to final destination.
London to Yiwu in Eastern China. The Company became the market pioneer with the first ever westbound rail freight being sent off in
Our proven track record and unparalleled service network in Asia,
August 2016, from Yiwu to Madrid, Spain.
together with our local expertise throughout Europe, promise that we can now offer our customers a flexible, cost-effective solution on this JUNE 2017
KERRY LOGISTICS LAUNCHES
NEW LCL RAIL FREIGHT SERVICE
TO STRENGTHEN OVERLAND CONNECTION BETWEEN EUROPE & CHINA FORWARDER magazine
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INDUSTRY NEWS
E
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at www.flydubai.com
mirates and flydubai today unveiled an extensive partnership
Emirates today has a wide-body fleet of 259 aircraft, flying
which will see the two Dubai-based airlines join forces to
to 157 destinations (including 16 cargo-only points). flydubai
offer customers unmatched travel options. Both airlines
operates 58 New-Generation Boeing 737 aircraft to 95
will continue to be managed independently, but will leverage each
destinations. The current combined network comprises 216
other’s network to scale up their operations and accelerate growth.
unique destination points.
The innovative partnership goes beyond code-sharing and includes
The partnership is working to optimise the networks
integrated network collaboration with coordinated scheduling.
and schedules of both airlines, to open up new city-pair
The new model will give flydubai customers seamless connectivity
connections offering consumers greater choice. Additionally,
to Emirates’ worldwide destinations spanning six continents. For
this will help both airlines feed more traffic into each other’s
Emirates’ customers, it opens up flydubai’s robust regional network.
complementary networks. By 2022, the combined network of Emirates and flydubai is expected to reach 240 destinations,
The two airlines will also further develop their hub at Dubai
served by a combined fleet of 380 aircraft.
International, aligning their systems and operations to ensure a seamless travel experience through the ultra-modern airport;
The Emirates and flydubai teams are working together
currently the world’s busiest for international passengers.
on a number of initiatives spanning commercial, network planning, airport operations, customer journey, and
This is an exciting and significant development for Emirates,
frequent flyer programmes alignment.
flydubai, and Dubai aviation. Both airlines have grown independently and successfully over the years, and this new partnership will
The partnership will be rolled out over the coming months,
unlock the immense value that the complementary models of both
with the first enhanced code-sharing arrangements starting in
companies can bring to consumers, each airline, and to Dubai.
the last quarter of 2017. Further details will be communicated
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and
as they become available.
Chief Executive of Emirates Group and Chairman of flydubai
EMIRATES & FLYDUBAI
Fully owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD),
JULY 2017
both Emirates and flydubai are operated independently and under separate management teams.
JOIN FORCES, ANNOUNCE EXTENSIVE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT 20
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INDUSTRY NEWS
TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT DECEMBER 2018
FOR GAC CHAIRMAN’S AWARDS FOR HSSE EXCELLENCE 2018
R
oad safety took the front seat in GAC’s Chairman’s Awards
Strong message
for HSSE Excellence 2018. For the first time in the six-year
The founder of the awards, Group Executive Chairman Björn
history of the Awards, the top prize was shared by two
Engblom, says:
The importance of road safety cannot be overstated
companies, both of whom have taken concrete steps to reduce the
– especially for an organisation of GAC’s standing. By introducing
risk of traffic accidents.
these new measures, the winning companies send a strong message to the drivers of our trucks, vans, lorries and other vehicles, as well
Of the 28 entries received, the initiatives introduced by GAC Dubai
as the wider community, about how seriously we view such matters.
and GAC Saudi Arabia to reduce vehicle accidents stood out, earning
That message is backed up by real, tangible measures which we are
them the joint top spot. Both companies received a trophy and USD
confident will boost our Group’s already impressive safety record.
7,500 that will be donated to a charity of their choice. Special mentions GAC Dubai installed a Vehicle Monitoring System (VMS) in 74
The awards also made special commendations to:
of its vehicles. In Saudi Arabia, the GAC fleet was completely
•• GAC Thoresen Logistics Limited, Thailand, for installing a
renewed and VMS installed, driver training given and monitoring
distilled water generator for forklift batteries to control distilled
and measurements introduced.
water quality for less and reduce hazards associated with manual handling.
The third prize, in the form of a medal and USD 2,500 charity donation, went to GAC Bahrain for its programme to select and vet sub-contracted drivers through specially tailored HSSE training.
•• GAC Services (UK) Ltd for removing of single use plastic cups and using reusable water bottles throughout its operations in a bid to reduce plastic consumption. •• PT. GAC Samudera Logistics, Indonesia, for its key management system to eliminate the risk of sudden vehicle movements of trucks while parked in the loading bay. •• GAC Shipping (USA) Inc. for conducting gangway and portable stairway safety training for boarding agents to remind them how to address the risks when boarding a vessel.
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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at www.aacargo.com
A
merican Airlines Cargo has chosen Heavyweight Air
As with other local markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Express (HAE) as its General Sales Agent (GSA)
where American operates offline, the majority of traffic will initially
in the United Arab Emirates. HAE replaces long-
route over London Heathrow (LHR), where the strength of the
standing GSA, Airline Cargo Resources (ACR) which has
airline's international network means that it can look to creatively
recently chosen to downsize its commitments in the region.
access both its U.S. operation and onward destinations such as Central and South America on its widebody aircraft.
This is the second area of the world in which HAE was chosen as American's GSA following its appointment to
We will be deploying our local market experts who know where
cover sales across a number of countries in central, east and
business opportunities are in this region for American. We have
north Africa, as well as South Africa in mid-2016.
an active customer base across the region and aim to support the expanding American network with freight generated in the thriving
Following a thorough search, we are very pleased to have chosen HAE based on their extensive knowledge
economies of the UAE through our offices here. Peter Kerins, HAE Group
of the Middle East market, their innovative approach, comprehensive network and – more crucially – their very
American's established customer base in the Middle East already
strong relationship with some key partners of American
handles a variety of cargo traffic such as electronics and e-commerce
Airlines in Dubai.
goods out of the region.
Richard Hartmann, Regional Manager, Cargo Sales – South Asia, Middle East and Africa American Airlines Cargo
AMERICAN AIRLINES CARGO GROWS MIDDLE EAST PRESENCE SEPTEMBER 2017
WITH NEW GENERAL SALES AGENT FORWARDER magazine
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eSHOTCAMPAIGNS
With organically grown data built up over the last 10 years and over 25 consultants updating records of freight forwarders, shippers, supply chain and logistics departments worldwide, our data is unrivalled. We can run campaigns by geographical region or by vertical market.
NEWSLETTERS
Internal and external communications. Newsletter production as well as content writing as required. Newsletters are an excellent way to increase client awareness of new services and keep employees fully engaged.
POSTALMAILSHOTS
Our Postal Mailshot data is the cleanest in the industry. We can produce postal mailshots in exactly the same format as our eShot campaigns. As with our digital marketing we are able to target geographical regions or verticals according to your requirements.
PAFFINDER
PAF Finder is a new section being added to FORWARDER magazine where you can talk about your Partners, Agents and Franchise (PAF) agreements. It will include promotional editorial and a section where you can advertise for a new partner, agent or franchise.
FORWARDERDIRECTORY
The FORWARDER Directory is a listing of freight forwarding companies, shipping lines, airlines, etc. The Directory has recently been redesigned to include all of the countries in each issue and to be a persistent, ever-evolving resource.
FORWARDERONLINE
FORWARDERmagazine.com is the magazine, advertising space and Directory online. We offer a daily posting service straight to the site that gets shared across the whole of the Freight Media social platform including Freightabase, LinkedIn Facebook and Twitter.
CONTACT US: DOM@FREIGHT-MEDIA.COM +44 (0)1454 628 794 FORWARDER magazine PILOTISSUE 24
FREIGHTMEDIA PROVIDES AN OUTSOURCED MARKETING SOLUTION FOR THE FREIGHT INDUSTRY
COVERFEATURE...
Significant front-cover exposure and 6-page feature in FORWARDER magazine about you, your company or a product. Designed for the forwarder that wants to stand out from the crowd and for use when presenting your services to clients. Includes a separate PDF booklet.
SITESTATISTICS
A two- or four-page spread in FORWARDER magazine ideal for anyone aiming to promote a new facility. As with ‘Move it Like…’ we can produce a handout that your sales team can use for client meetings and marketing campaigns.
PROMOTIONALEDITORIAL
An excellent way of promoting new services, new recruits or any exciting projects that you may have coming up. Over the next 12 months we will be covering various topics around UK regions, international trade lanes and vertical markets.
SOCIALMEDIA
Our team of social media experts will post regular articles to increase brand awareness and exposure. Most of our clients are too busy moving freight to get caught up in perfecting their social media presence. We will take it off your hands.
WEBSITEDESIGN
Your website is your shop front and you only get one chance to make a first impression. We are here to ensure it’s an excellent one. Our digital marketing and design team will work with start-ups, SMEs or top-25 forwarders to forge their online presence.
FORWARDINGJOBS.COM
Forwardingjobs.com is the leading job board for the Freight Forwarding Industry. If you are recruiting on a regular basis we can offer a range of services depending on your requirements and vacancies are included in the recruitment section of FORWARDER.
WWW.FREIGHT-MEDIA.COM 25 FORWARDER magazine
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE? TO FORWARDER?
W
e want as many people as possible to read this magazine and to get something from it. Pass it round
If you would like your own subscription to FORWARDER,
please complete the form, take a picture or cut out the
the office (and forward the digital verision to your
page and send it to subscriptions@forwardermagazine.
contacts). Just remember to get it back again, because it's intended
com or Freight Media Ltd, 8 Apex Court, Woodlands,
to be a retained resource for you to refer to again and again. Hence
Bristol BS32 4JT, UK. We'll be straight back in touch with a
the monthly topic and regional focus.
subscription cost based on your location in the world.
First name
Surname
Job title
Address
City
Postcode
Telephone
Country Email
Company name Freight forwarder Ocean
Airline
Road
FCL
Haulier LCL
Verticals:
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NVOCC FTL
LTL
Courier Air cargo
Shipping line Air courier
Air Rail
www.forwardermagazine.com
INDUSTRY NEWS MOVE IT LIKE... REGIONAL FOCUS FORWARD LAW READ FORWARDER ASK THE EXPERTS
FORWARDER magazine
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FORWARDER Directory POWERED BY
The FORWARDER Directory is a catalogue of freight forwarding companies, shipping lines, airlines, etc. that specialise in shipping to or from major countries throughout the world. You can place any size advert from a free single-line entry to a double-page spread to promote your strongest services. Our team can advise you on how best to use the space. If you wish to advertise, please contact Dom...
dom@freight-media.com or +44 (0)1454 628 794
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NEW... UK DIRECTORY NEW
DIREUK CTOR UK li Y stings
b then by sp y region, eciali sm
INTRODUCING OUR NEW SECTION... UK specialisms, divided into the 12 UK regions we judge to be most familiar to the freight industry professional at work. From 'abnormal loads' to 'warehousing & storage', if you need it done, it's in here.
www. FORWARDER Directory .com FORWARDER magazine
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MOVE IT LIKE...
YEAR FOUNDED
2012
EMPLOYEES
1,600
SPECIALISM
Last-mile deliveries in MENA region, international cross-border shipping from China, USA and UK to the MENA region GROWTH
Our growth will focus on reaching all emerging markets, with a drive on improving our existing products (mobile app, web app and client products) and adding new features SITES
UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt and Jordan MODES
Air, road
MAIN TRADE ROUTES
MENA, UK, USA and China AWARDS
Frost and Sullivan Award for Innovation in Shipment and Delivery; Best Business Solutions Provider (Finance ME); featured on CNN as the 'Next desert unicorn'; Forbes' most promising startup in the Middle East (2017); 8 local awards for 'best startup/SME of the year'
IDRISS AL-RIFAI
MILESTONES
We are the first tech start up in the MENA region that raised a 'Series A' round of funding of 11m USD backed by a top-tier Silicon Valley VC, New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and now more recently a 'Series B' round of 41m USD backed by NEA. We are the only start up to raise 52m USD to date from Silicon Valley.
CEO OF FETCHR 30
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IDRISS SAYS... It has been quite a roller coaster ride with all that we have accomplished till date.
Tell us how you got in to the last-mile industry...
P
rior to starting Fetchr, I was heading operations at Marka VIP, a leading e-commerce company in MENA back in the day. The company faced several issues with customer complaints about delayed packages or sometimes packages not getting delivered at all due to drivers facing issues finding addresses in the region, leading to high
return rates. The industry did not care about the customer, did not take them seriously. I built an in-house logistics department to expedite deliveries. While working on this, I realized the potential impact a customer-centric, technology backed delivery solution could have for e-commerce and all deliveries across the region. In 2012 I decided to start Fetchr with Hassan Al Sayegh, Omar Yaghmour and teamed up with Joy Ajlouny, Co-Founder and Creative Director.
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MOVE IT LIKE...
Q A
What has been your biggest focus area for fetchr recently? Recently, we have been focused on growing our crossborder movement from UK, USA and China into the MENA region. E-commerce has been a big focus area as more and more customers are shopping online. We want to facilitate this into the region and open up the market for international players who are looking for a reliable shipping company in MENA. E-commerce is under developed in the Middle East while the key enablers are there. I am very
Q A
bullish on the growth of e-commerce and believe there
Tell us more about your journey It has been quite a roller coaster ride with all that we have accomplished till date. From starting o in 2012 and being the youngest logistics company in the region, to present where we are considered a top name across the MENA region. I believe getting to the stage where we are today has been
Q A
A
What makes fetchr unique? What sets it apart from your competitors? Our unique edge is our technology that sets us apart from our competitors in the region. The MENA region, unlike the more developed parts of the world, does not have a clear
a combination of persistence and a relentless attitude to
address system and therefore on-time deliveries can be a
keep going. The most important thing in a start up is to be
challenge. With our fetchr app, we capture customers' GPS
relentless and keep pushing.
location and deliver the package to customers wherever they are. Moreover, we provide flexibility with scheduling,
Who/what are your main influences?
including multiple time slots everyday, allowing our customers to tailor their shipping experience. In short, we make the
My parents are a great part of what made me who I am right now. They always have been present by my side and helped me dramatically when things were extremely difficult and when we had no money to keep the company afloat. I will always be thankful for that. On the business side, I am a big fan of what Ronaldo Mouchawar did with Souq.com. After more than 15 years of hard work he managed to sell his company to Amazon a few months back. I can’t imagine what he has been through while growing the company in a nascent ecosystem.
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Q
are lots to be done now.
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need of an address completely obsolete.
Q A
Can you define your company culture?
IDRISS SAYS...
Our culture at fetchr is driven by a strong sense of team-
Our unique edge is our
work, trust and ownership. We have instilled a culture where we focus on delivering products and services that address
technology that sets us
customer needs. Moreover, I believe we have a very open
apart from our competitors
culture where we encourage our people to drive projects and
in the region.
at the same time leverage their teams as and when required.
Q A
What are fetchr’s specific requirements and priorities when it comes to transporting goods? Our key priorities for our last mile delivery services include maintaining all our vehicles in good condition, ensuring that
Q A
What are your expectations for your shippers? I think one of the key requirements and expectations that our clients have is providing a consistent delivery experience with short lead times. With our technology
our temperature-controlled vehicles are operating at
and best-in-class Operating Management System, we
optimal temperatures and ensuring the safety of our drivers.
are able to meet this key requirement. Additionally,
We follow best practices in our warehouses as well to ensure
our clients also value the customizations that we oer
all products are stored safely and in the optimal temperatures
them with our fleet and technology (time slots, white
to ensure the quality of products at the time of dispatch.
label solutions etc.).
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33
MOVE IT LIKE... Q A
What's the most important thing you're working on right now, and how are you making it happen? The most important thing we are working on right now is growing our international deliveries from UK, USA and China
My ultimate goal is to make 'address' obsolete...
Q A
What do you attribute the success of the business to? I think the biggest driver of our success is our strong pool of talented people. I believe we have been fortunate to have a very driven and customer-focused team that has helped
into the MENA region. This is driven purely by customers
us grow quickly in a short period of time. I also believe that
who want to shop online from international markets and by
working with like-minded people like Joy and Omar at the
e-commerce companies looking for a reliable partner to launch
top is critical.
their deliveries into the region. We are setting up partnerships with parcel aggregators and large e-commerce companies who value better customer experience and, ultimately, lower 'undelivery' rates thanks to our technology.
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IDRISS SAYS...
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Q A
What has been your biggest learning/ challenge to date? I think one of my biggest challenges from first starting off the company has been raising and to attracting VC funding locally as a lot of people were still risk-averse here. I started Fetchr in 2012, and only after sheer determination and a belief in my vision, were
Q A
we able to secure 'Series A' funding from a top-tier Silicon Valley VC
Do you plan to tackle cross border shipments from markets like UK, USA etc? Definitely! Like I mentioned, this will be a strong focus area for us at present and moving forward. Customers in MENA are hungry for products coming from these regions and the potential is huge!
firm, New Enterprise Associates (NEA). With NEA’s backing, we were then able to attract a lot of VC investment from the region.
Q A
What has been your biggest achievement? The growth and buzz that fetchr has created in the market today, in such a short span of time is my biggest achievement. From the time we first started, as a small logistics company, operating in one country, to where we are today, it has been a huge feat for us. I am
Q A
What’s next for fetchr? What’s your five-year goal? I think the biggest focus for us is to grow our presence across MENA and other emerging markets. My ultimate goal is to make 'address' obsolete and empower customers
also very proud to be the first company from the Middle East to
to receive anything, anywhere, on the go, even at a coffee
attract money from a top venture capital fund from the Valley. We
shop! People are mobile now and don’t want to be stuck
know the opportunities they have around the corner and the fact that
at home for six hours to receive a package they bought
they backed a company located a 16-hour flight away is a great feeling.
yesterday. I think that the mere concept of 'address' will
That being said, I owe our success to our strong, talented team that
become redundant in a world that is now defined by
has relentlessly worked hard to get us where we are today.
mobility and the prevalence of mobile tech.
FORWARDER magazine
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35
MOVE IT LIKE...YOU
I was delighted to appear in the FORWARDER magazine ‘Move it Like’ showcase earlier this
year. The opportunity to speak candidly about the success of our company, my influence on that, and
the ingredients that contribute to our continued success was appreciated. NNR is a global ‘premium brand’ that, although established for over a 100 years in Asia, is not particularly well known in the UK. The feature in Forwarder Magazine offered the stage for us to future promote our business. The moniker ‘secret assassin’ and ‘largest company you’ve never heard of’ no longer suits the brand and size of our global group, therefore features like ‘Move it Like’ in a classy glossy such as FORWARDER are the perfect vehicle to help change that perception. Now I’ve recovered from the marginal discomfort
of a little more attention than normal (!), I can reflect that it provided a strong and personal message that many of our key partners and customers read and responded favourably too. Lee Griffiths, NNR
FEATURE ON THE COVER OF FORWARDER
WHETHER IT'S A 'MOVE IT LIKE', A NEW SERVICE, A FEATURED ROUTE, A TECH PRODUCT...
FORWARDER magazine PILOTISSUE 36 LEVEL THE PLAYING
FIELD. CALL US ON +44(0)1454 628 784
DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT... In 2017 I was proud to be included in the popular FORWARDER feature 'Move It Like'. As a leading publication within the logistics
industry, FORWARDER's unique feature presented an ideal opportunity to discuss my journey as a global air freight expert and
highlight how Ligentia continues to meet our customers' requirements through customised solutions. I found the process rewarding and my relationship with FORWARDER has continued to develop as my career has progressed to a global role. I would highly recommend
being part of a future 'Move it Like' feature to anyone seeking successful exposure within the logistics industry. Lee Alderman-Davis, Ligentia
FORWARDER magazine PILOTISSUE 37 ...OR EMAIL ROBERT@FREIGHT-MEDIA.COM
FORWARDER FOCUS
O
ur ever-more connected world has opened the door
For millennia, we have been shipping our goods around the
to a new age of international courier services and
globe and through each generation we have been coming up
freight forwarding. Regardless of supply method,
with new and exciting ways to do this. Over the past decade the
the advantages of being able to ship precious cargo in a cost-
world has seen, perhaps, what could be described as the most
effective and reliable way has left consumers overjoyed. Most
convenient and exciting way in which we have been able to ship
life-altering changes have humble beginnings, and international
goods. Automation and the technology involved has come a long
courier services are no different.
way from physically having to run many miles and using homing pigeons to deliver important documents. The rise of the internet during the early 90s has led to the incredibly versatile ways in which we send and receive goods. Expert freight forwarders have created networks spanning the globe and with the evolution of transport this has meant that parcels can now be sent around the world in as little as one day. A win for businesses and consumers, and inevitable growth throughout the industry each year. The introduction of courier resellers in the market place has made courier services much more affordable for both small businesses and individuals. Demand for products in more remote corners of the world from these small businesses
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has led to an incredible rise in online orders and a more diverse range of options when it comes to courier services. Resellers have made it possible for customers to quickly get a quote and have complex paperwork automatically generated for them, and the whole thing involves a far more cost-effective process of distribution. It has become so cost effective, in fact, that most smaller courier services can be seen as a cheaper alternative to some of the staples in the international courier game such as Royal Mail. Most would say that patience is a virtue. This isn’t always the case,
and business life. Within 30 minutes of your order being placed,
and with the consumers demanding more, freight forwarders
your goods could be sat on your lawn or driveway, and with no
around the world have continuously sought innovation to meet
end to technology's growth within the freight forwarding and
the request for cargo in a time-effective way. New methods
international courier sector I can’t imagine there is going to be
and technologies are still being invented and practised today,
an end to the innovations behind all this astounding progress.
trying to meet the ever-growing standards that consumers and businesses around the world have now come to expect.
The international courier sector really has come a long way, in a relatively short space of time, so anybody who isn’t excited about
Visions of the future and how far our international courier grasp
where this is going...well, they really should be.
has come can be glimpsed at Amazon. Their ideas behind drone logistics and same-day delivery has revolutionised both consumer
Matt Dailly, Editor, FORWARDER magazine
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FORWARDER FOCUS
O
ver the last decade, or so, we have seen some
from its current state of 242,457 employees in the UK alone,
inventions and technologies that convenience a
and for every £1 spent on depreciable assets, an estimated £9.03
generation like no other. Smartphones, cloud-
is spent on labour. This indicates a low level of capital intensity,
based services and many more ways of connecting the world
which is a great thing for freight forwarding companies looking
have gifted this peer group with almost a dearth of patience
to expand their enterprise.
– which, in some ways, isn’t so bad... But how are freight forwarding companies meant to compete with The lack of desire to wait around and the hunger for quicker
what now seems like a market saturated with new courier services
results have meant that the freight forwarding industry has had
delivering far and wide? The ability to quickly adopt new technology and
to stay one step ahead of the ever-changing landscape of the
use it to innovate your services is a huge factor in this. Development
Internet-trawling youth. Innovation has never been more at the
of new products, along with feedback, is key to keeping up with the
front of big companies' minds.
youth, who will push courier services to their limits. Accessibility to consumers and working with new businesses to increase your shipping
What does all this mean for freight forwarders? Realistically, it can
itinerary is a must, and with the growing trends in the market, there
only mean more revenue and growth for everyone in the industry.
are plenty out there for you to start working with.
Logistics has always been a complicated matter and, with the demand for speedy courier services, this has raised the demand
Some companies are investing heavily in tech in a bid to keep up
for specialist courier and forwarding services across the globe.
with customer expectations – and to create some extra value that they can charge retailers for, which is to be expected in a world
Revenue is expected to rise by 1.1 per cent in the current year
where forwarders must keep up with the demand. In reality we
to reach £20.1 billion, which seemed like a distant dream after a
have all been through the dreaded ‘calling card’ scenario. You
hard-hitting recession left disposable income scarce. Take into
order a parcel, happen to nip to the shop on delivery day and upon
account that employment in the courier sector is on the rise
your return home there is a card telling you to go to your local
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post office at an inconvenient time, in a place you can’t easily get to, to retrieve your urgent package. DPD is a great example of my previous points and overcoming these annoyances. Their drivers arrange their charges in the order they will be delivered, and scan them. Customers receive an automatic text message alerting them to the onehour window in which they can expect the parcel to arrive, or pick it up from a local shop. Soon shoppers will be given the chance to pick their own slot. This cuts out the dreaded 'we just missed you' by a significant amount. The next step for courier services has to be automated delivery. Amazon is at the forefront of this but before freight forwarders get excited at this thought there are still significant limitations that drone delivery and other techniques hold.
Economically speaking,
whilst you don't have to pay a drone for its labour, and admittedly the cost of building them is sure to come down in the future, they can't carry remotely as much as a Transit van. Yes, your iPhone can be delivered pretty quickly, but your sofa? We are a long way off that. Add in all the complications with other air traffic and the fact that, at the end of the day, sometimes people (or their neighbours) simply may not be in and you can see that this is an emergent practice that has some way to go. Perhaps using a tracking service, much like DPD, and some standard drop-off points and this will be the courier service of the future... Matt Dailly, Editor, FORWARDER magazine
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ASK THE EXPERTS
WANT MORE? You can find more information at www.LogisticsTI.com
NO ADDRESS? NO PROBLEM
E
-commerce is skyrocketing. According to market research
But...
firm eMarketer, e-commerce sales are estimated to reach
Infrastructure still remains an issue for many emerging countries.
$3.5 trillion within five years and nowhere is that growth
Besides adequate roads and warehousing, broadband and electricity
expected to leap faster than in emerging markets.
are also issues in certain emerging countries and added to all of this is the delivery address. Often overlooked in publications, the
According to consulting firm McKinsey & Co’s report, Going for
correct address is vital for successful delivery. However, according
Gold in Emerging Markets,
to What3words' CEO, 75% of the world has inadequate, poor or no addressing systems.
By 2025, annual consumption in emerging markets will reach $30 trillion—the biggest growth opportunity in the history of capitalism.
Of course, one can imagine that inadequate, poor or no address system can result in higher costs for retailers in the form of returns,
Indeed, an expanding middle class and the fast adoption of mobile
inefficient business practices and poor customer experience. In
devices have such regions as Africa, Middle East and Latin America
addition, even in more developed countries such as the US, delivery
primed for a boom in consumer spending, including e-commerce.
companies such as UPS and FedEx will apply an additional surcharge for inadequate addresses, which further adds to retailers’ costs. A couple of start-up companies, What3words and Fetchr, are aiming to change the address issue in unique ways.
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WHAT3WORDS What3words is a unique combination of just three words and various algorithms to identify a 3x3m square, anywhere on the planet. According to the company, it works by dividing up the world’s surface into grids measuring 3x3m and assigning a three-word marker to each one. The idea is that it’s more specific than postcodes (which were invented when posting letters was the main form of communication) and simpler than GPS co-ordinates, which are too complex for the average person to remember. For example, the mailing address for Logistics Trends & Insight is 8920 Eves Road, Roswell GA 30076, USA. Using What3words’ method the address is scanty.turf.hazed. The service has been utilised by the UN, which has used it to specify locations that have been hit by natural disasters. In addition, Esri uses it for its ArcGIS mapping platform, allowing its three-word location labels to be used as a locator within Esri’s platform and software. Other paying customers include Navmii and the Norwegian National Mapping site, Norgeskart.
FETCHR
Based in Dubai, Fetchr has developed an app to utilise customers’ GPS co-ordinates as a delivery location. It allows users to take an image of their package for drivers to identify it, schedule pickup and delivery, track the package, make payment and collect the items. The app offers B2C and C2C deliveries. In addition, the company recently introduced Sellr, which allows customers to sell on social media. According to Fetchr, The way people sell on social media is a pain. People use WhatsApp, exchange numbers, go back and forth, then work out the payment and the collection, and it can take a lot of
Conclusion
time and effort.
The spread of e-commerce has put the spotlight on the final mile delivery point. While there has been a particular emphasis on
Fetchr is focusing efforts on emerging markets such as Asia,
faster delivery in certain parts of the world, the struggle to locate
Southeast Asia and Africa where there are no addresses but rapid
the consumer is real in other parts of the world whether it’s for a
growth of e-commerce.
package or for humanitarian efforts. The address which most of us
But you cannot solve the boom in
e-commerce unless you solve shipping. E-commerce and shipping
take for granted is key to growth for others.
are one and the same. You cannot boom in e-commerce unless you master last-mile logistics,
noted Fetchr's CEO.
Cathy Morrow Roberson, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC FORWARDER magazine
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T
WANT MORE? Russell Treadwell Int'l Business Manager russell.t@fetchr.us +971 5474 66782
he Middle East region has always been infamous
The changing market landscape in the Middle East
for its lack of clear addresses and street names,
With a young and growing population that relies on smartphones
where residents and companies alike use landmarks
to shop online, the Middle East’s market is ripe with opportunity
to describe their locations. Looking at this from a business
for e-commerce businesses, both locally and internationally. In
perspective, this poses a big challenge for companies, especially
the GCC region, there are 50%+ customers who are shopping
e-commerce businesses that rely on the last-mile leg to get
online via smartphones and almost 80% customers in the UAE
packages delivered to their customers on-time to guarantee a
use their smartphones to access online shopping channels.
high-quality customer experience.
Recently, Net-a-Porter also reported that the average basket size of a shopper for the Middle East is typically twice that of
Traditional logistics companies operate
a shopper from the rest of the globe, confirming the huge shift
with their own set of challenges
and purchasing power of online shoppers in the Middle East.
The traditional logistics players in the Middle East region are not
Moreover, with the e-commerce market expected to reach to
equipped to address the challenges of on-time deliveries and an
10B USD by 2018, there is a huge opportunity for e-commerce
unparalleled customer experience as their business models rely
companies from across the globe to capture a market that is
on legacy systems that are difficult to restructure. Handling the
ripe with opportunity.
changing business requirements, especially those of companies that are now moving online, is quite difficult for these players.
The impediment to growth of e-commerce The biggest impediment to the growth of e-commerce in a region, which is now turning toward online channels to shop is to get the delivery to the customer on time and at the right location. The delivery experience is the last leg of the order life cycle, and challenges at this stage is typically what leads to unhappy customers who face a terrible delivery experience with longer lead time and multiple phone calls from the couriers to get the delivery address right. Moreover, with a market that relies heavily on Cash on Delivery options, late deliveries mean that customers can change their mind about their purchases, leading to higher returns for the business. A set of unique challenges make the market difficult to tap into, despite its huge potential.
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How Fetchr can help your business
Working with retailers across these markets and enabling COD
Fetchr tackles the 'no address problem' in emerging markets,
payment options for customers in the Middle East, a market
typically encountered by companies, including e-commerce
where more than 80% of the customers prefer cash on delivery,
businesses, delivering packages to customers. In a region where
fetchr has helped them successfully reach their target customers
more than 80% of users have smartphones, Fetchr is tackling
by offering a seamless delivery experience and cash on delivery
delivery challenges via its app by going directly to the customers’
payment options.
phone and capturing the geo-location for package deliveries. With technology at the centre of their business model, fetchr’s vision is
Fetchr’s technology is focused on addressing three key areas
to address the shipping challenges across all emerging markets and
that are typically a challenge for traditional logistics companies:
make delivery as easy as shopping online. •• Capturing an accurate delivery geo-location With the growing demand of e-commerce from international
(enabled via our app)
markets, fetchr has now expanded its reach to bridge the gap
•• Enabling 3-hour time slots for customer deliveries
and overcome the challenges for e-commerce players from UK,
•• Enabling COD payment options for customers
USA and China by facilitating a seamless delivery experience for e-commerce players and the end customer in the MENA region.
Reema Thawrani, Strategic Project Manager, Fetchr
A CLOSER LOOK AT DELIVERING IN MENA
KEY CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS FORWARDER magazine
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Y
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at wisetechglobal.com
ou’ve decided you want to expand your business into
Accessing this opaque market however is easier said than
China. The growth opportunity seems too good to
done. Customs and compliance rules differ between ports
pass up, but the list of challenges can be daunting. You
and nationwide systems may be supplemented or completely
may encounter a language barrier, cultural differences, a range of
replaced in certain localities.
compliance issues, difficulties in building a network and the time difference, just to name a few.
Connections are everything Navigating this complex web of regional variations requires local
However, accessing this market could be a game changer for
knowledge and local networks. Guanxi, sometimes translated as
your business. Having helped grow WiseTech Global’s business
connections or relationships, is a central part of doing business
in China to nearly 100 staff members in five offices around the
in China. Simply, put, building a network is essential.
country, I have plenty of insights for other companies that are interested in exploring business opportunities in this region.
This makes finding a partner in China, or a strong network of partners, very important for newly establishing businesses. You
Growing market, growing pains
need to do your homework, look for international connections,
China is the world’s largest exporter and is second only to the
and confirm reviews and recommendations independently. If you are
United States in terms of imports . Its rapidly growing middle
interested, our team may be able to help you make a connection and
class is larger than the United States, numbering over 100
foster a relationship based on shared practices and values.
1
million by global standards in 2015 according to Credit Suisse 2 . This trend, combined with a desire for foreign products by
These personal and business ties often require a significant
Chinese consumers and a market that is rapidly moving from
investment of time and energy to produce any tangible results,
manufacturing to a service-based economy, indicates benefits for
but our China-based team have English and Mandarin language
companies looking to establish themselves in the region.
capabilities to help simplify the process.
THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU NEED TO
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International companies opening businesses in China may begin by setting up a Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE). However, taking this leap without the benefit of local knowledge can present a risk. Having the right systems The above only reinforces the need to work closely and stay connected with your network in China, no matter what stage of business cycle you are in. Having an integrated, internationally recognised system such as CargoWise One can be an effective first step in managing your relationships and ensuring you can collaborate anywhere in China and around the world. Our system allows you to view Chinese electronic accounting data in International Accounting Standards formats and supports Golden Tax Machine integration, which may help minimize errors or discrepancies in your financial information. CargoWise One, including our training material, is also available in English and Chinese. Overall, patience and investment in networks should drive your efforts to establish your business into China. Building a network and doing your research will help you manage the risks and seize the opportunities that the country can offer. Every business is different and the challenges you face will be unique to you, so if you want to discuss anything you have read here or the potential of establishing or expanding your business in this region, please get in touch.
1
https://www.cia.gov/library/Publications/the-world-factbook/
rankorder/2087rank.html Henry Ye, General Manager for Greater China & Head of Corporate Development – Asia, WiseTech Global
2
https://www.credit-suisse.com/us/en/about-us/research/
research-institute/news-and-videos/articles/news-andexpertise/2015/10/en/global-wealth-in-2015-underlying-trendsremain-positive.html
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REGIONAL FOCUS
EDITOR'S NOTE...
The Middle East has too many constituent countries with too many different rules to effectively cover in our usual format. We have narrowed it down to the UAE as it is the UK's largest civil export market in the Middle East. The fact that we have an office in Dubai is neither here nor there and we won't hear any talk of nepotism here, thank you...
T
he United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the UK’s largest civil export market in the Middle East and 12th biggest globally. UK-UAE bilateral trade in goods and services reached £12.4
billion for 2013. The UAE has diversified its economy away from oil. Non-oil sectors now contribute about 70% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It’s the second largest Arab economy after Saudi Arabia and 30th largest globally with the 18th highest GDP per capita (USD 44,200) rate. There are over 5,000 British companies operating in the UAE, including BP, Shell, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Mott McDonald, SERCO, Standard Chartered, HSBC and Fortnum and Mason. 779 commercial agencies
Challenges doing business in UAE
and 4,762 British brands have invested in the UAE.
The UAE can be a demanding and frustrating market to do business. However it doesn’t present major challenges to UK companies
Incentives for UK businesses exporting to UAE
wanting to develop trade. Competition for business is fierce from
•• Diverse economy continually growing and expanding
the high growth Asian economies as well as the more traditional
•• Proximity to other Gulf markets - acts as an entry route to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
competitors in Europe and north America.
•• Important market for re-export into other countries
Each Emirate retains control of regulatory powers. This covers
•• No taxation on personal income and capital gains
commercial activities such as issuing of trade licences and the
•• Ranked 31st overall in World Bank’s ease of doing business report, but first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
regulated under federal legislation. The interaction of federal laws,
EXPORT TO U.A.E. •• English is widely spoken and accepted as the language of business
incorporation of corporate entities, where the activity is not already individual emirate laws and free zone laws can be complex and confusing. Other unique challenges include: •• restrictions on company ownership by non-GCC nationals (a national sponsor must retain 51% ownership) •• Arabic will often be the first language and documentation will be in Arabic, although English is recognised as the language of business
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UK & UAE TRADE
CUSTOMS
Over 5,000 UK companies are doing business in the UAE.
The UAE generally levies customs duties on imported goods
The UAE is an important entry port for a £150 billion regional
at the rate of 5%. Higher rates of duty apply to alcohol and
market with a significant percentage of UK exports to the
tobacco. Some categories of goods are exempt, e.g. certain
UAE being re-exported, particularly to Iran and Saudi Arabia.
agricultural products, printed material and pharmaceuticals.
In 2014, UK exported goods totalling £6.4 billion to the UAE.
Exemptions may also be granted for goods imported for industrial or manufacturing purposes.
Top UK exports to UAE (2013) •• Power generating machinery and equipment
Where goods are imported into a UAE free zone, customs
•• Road vehicles
duties are not payable. Goods can only be imported into
•• Miscellaneous manufactures
the UAE by a company that is registered in the UAE and the
•• Telecomms and sound recording and reproducing equipt
goods must be relevant to the licensed business activity of
•• Professional and scientific instruments and apparatus •• General industrial material •• Electrical machinery and appliances
the business. There are no duties or tariffs on exports. Goods manufactured in Israel cannot be imported into the UAE. Pornographic material, ivory/rhino horns, cannabis,
•• Medicines and pharmaceuticals
alcoholic beverages, firearms, fireworks, narcotics and opium
•• Non-metallic mineral manufactures
are also strictly prohibited. All printed matter, films and tapes
•• Essential oils and perfume materials
must be cleared by the Ministry of Information. Documentation
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
The documents needed for import and export are:
You need to comply with the federal laws governing business:
•• Certificate of Origin
•• Commercial Companies Law (CCL)
•• Bills of Lading /Airway Bill
•• invoices – initiated by supplier
•• Commercial Register Law •• Commercial Agencies Law •• Civil and Commercial Codes Standards and technical regulations
UAE FREE ZONES
The UAE does prohibit and restrict the importation of
The free zones offer a wide variety of benefits to businesses
specified products. Dubai Trade provides examples of UAE
and a degree of flexibility including:
prohibited items. Each member state administers its own list
•• 100% foreign ownership through branches, single or multiple shareholder companies - known as Free Zone Enterprises (FZEs), Free Zone Companies (FZCOs) or Free Zone Limited Liability Companies (FZ-LLC)
of prohibited, restricted and exempted products. Exporters who want to re-export within the other GCC markets should take note of the individual member states lists as the lists are not harmonised, but independently administered.
•• No national agent required for branch offices of foreign companies
A Certificate of Origin is needed for all exports to clear
•• No customs duties on imports and re-exports (except re-exports into onshore UAE)
customs. Certificates of Origin must be provided by the original exporter and recognised by an authorised
•• Special assistance in getting work permits for staff
representative in UK.
•• Guaranteed exemptions from corporate taxes
www.gov.uk/government/publications/exporting-to-the-unitedarab-emirates/exporting-to-the-united-arab-emirates
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0. PILOTISSUE FORWARDER magazine
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FORWARD TECH
I
t’s hard to get away from the impact e-commerce has had on freight forwarding. The volume of cargo since the explosion of Web 2.0 has increased dramatically. This has seen the rise of numerous new freight forwarding platforms, independent forwarders competing against multinationals and a more globally connected commerce. But what impact has this had on the whole industry
more than a decade after the explosion of Web 2.0? Let FORWARDER explain just how, and why, e-commerce will continue to shape the industry.
EXPANDING REACH
UNDERSTANDING DEMOGRAPHICS
The internet is unquestionably an incredible way to expand
E-commerce platforms for distribution across the web
your reach around the globe, and let potential or existing
allows you to understand your audience demographics,
customers use your services or buy your products at their
which will tell you exactly who you need to be targeting
own convenience. An e-commerce website will give you the
your products or services to. The plethora of analytical tools
opportunity to reach out and offer your products and services
which help you understand the target audience will enable
to customers around the world, regardless of the distance
for a better understanding of your sector, allowing you to
and time zone. Utilising this method of communication could
obtain a niche. This can help cost efficiency, as you won’t
see you grasp markets and clients you never even considered.
waste any of your marketing budget on people who have no
The world on the web is a more connected place, and to not
intention of purchasing from you. Furthermore, you will be
have an e-commerce platform to reach audiences far and wide
able to measure whether a price and/or service is worth its
could prove to be detrimental to your business.
value in comparison to competitors.
E-COMMERCE ...ELECTRIFYING AN INDUSTRY
INCREASING TURNOVER E-commerce is a new way to not only save money, but to increase your businesses overall revenue. Spending time and resources on acquiring new customers but keep your loyal customers happy is vital. Concise item descriptions and allowing users to register after purchasing them could mean that an e-commerce approach to your products could revitalise your business. The perceived professionalism of many companies on the web is something you should consider, maintaining a concise brand. Additionally, making your e-commerce platform user-friendly is a must. Nobody likes a complicated website. It's confusing and time-consuming. Including professional imagery / videography, a tidy design and regularly checking your site's speed are three key elements to consider.
COST EFFICIENCY In the light of cost efficiency, deciding to adopt an e-commerce platform for your products will give you significantly fewer overheads than with any other form of distribution / advertising service. Planning your site around a strategy before you start development is important when thinking about cost efficiency. It will save you both time and money. Ultimately, you should consider to have a plan going into the project. An e-commerce site can turn out to be a headache if it has not been properly planned out. Whilst planning may cost you a little bit more upfront, you'll benefit with both money and time in the long run. Matt Dailly, Contributing Editor, FORWARDER magazine
WELCOME TO FREIGHTABASE
F
reightabase is an online digital platform for sourcing specialist
At Freightabase we understand that consumers’ needs are changing,
carriers to or from any part of the globe. You can source
and with constant time constraints freight buyers need to make
all carrier types, ranging from airlines, shipping lines, freight
educated decisions quickly. The idea of a shipping manager being able
forwarders and parcel carriers.
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FORWARDER magazine
to source information to make a well-informed decision is exciting. PILOTISSUE
QUICK QUOTE
The ‘Quick Quote’ is designed to assist busy cargo owners who may not have the time to do an advanced search. Simply complete a very simple form and our customer services team will do the rest for you. The service is available on desktop and mobile and the app is being released soon.
DIRECTORY
The ‘Directory’ is recommended if you are looking for a carrier by name or in a specific location. You can also select carriers by key words, e.g. ‘perishables’ or ‘project cargo’. The Directory also lists service suppliers to the industry, e.g. marine insurance or mergers & aquisitions.
LOADING LIST
The ‘Loading List’ is a more advanced search where users can find carriers that specialise in a specific trade lane or shipping route. You can select mode of transport, collection and delivery point. This will then produce a list of specialist carriers to consider for your shipment.
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WELCOME TO FREIGHTABASE
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Our HQ is situated in Rayleigh, Essex and also operates
Transocean NI Ltd opened its doors for business in 1990
throughout the East Midlands. We are a family run
and is based in Belfast Port. It quickly established itself
company who take pride in the safe delivery of freight
as a leading Freight Forwarding Agent in Northern
worldwide, and offering unique shipping solutions to all
Ireland and proudly retains that position today. We
of our happy customers.
remain privately owned and our Customer base now extends well beyond the shores of Northern Ireland.
With a wealth of industry experience, a team of dedicated
We pride ourselves on being able to offer a professional
professionals and couriers behind us, Absail are able to offer
yet personal service to our domestic and international
highly specialised air cargo, international shipping and road
customers. We have an experienced, focused staff and
haulage to suit a wide range of transportation needs. From
all are fully aware of the importance of delivering good
an unmatched door-to-door cargo shipping service to a
customer service, and a reliable, cost effective logistics
state-of-the-art global tracking system, Absail make freight
solution every time.
forwarding simple, cost-effective and stress-free. Our Shipping Department has a very professional team that Find out more at
are fully conversant with Letters of Credit, Bills of Lading
freightabase.com
etc., ensuring that aside from the physical movement of your product, the all-important paperwork is processed in an expedient and efficient manner.
SERVICES INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING ROAD HAULAGE AIR FREIGHT
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Find out more at freightabase.com
SERVICES FREIGHT FORWARDING CUSTOMS CLEARANCE CONTAINERISATION SHIPPING WASTE
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Welcome to Raptor Logistics Ltd we provide a 'Secure,
Phoenix Cargo Services is an International freight
bespoke Service' to all Customers and are located in
forwarder & Logistics provider with headquarters in
the North West of England in the City of Salford.
Bristol and warehouse facilities at the Avonmouth Freight Centre.
We specialise in the Transportation of UN Class 1 (Explosive) stores, items under Section 5 of the Fire Arms Act and
The owner-managed independent business has a team of
Sensitive and Valuable commodities also providing when
dedicated professionals with over 120 years' experience
required Vehicle Escort duties, single or doubled manned.
and expertise between them. Gained from both a customer perspective and every type of freight forwarding service,
Find out more at
directors and managers are hands-on and work closely with
freightabase.com
colleagues to deliver the highest possible standards. Offering a full range of freight forwarding, logistics and
SERVICES ROAD HAULAGE SEA FREIGHT AIR FREIGHT FREIGHT FORWARDING LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT
dedicated account management services, we aim to deliver competitive pricing and 100% customer satisfaction at all times. As a member of the Elite Global Logistics Network, we partner with like-minded independent companies globally to offer our customers a 'best in class' customer service experience. Find out more at freightabase.com
SERVICES AIR FREIGHT SEA FREIGHT ROAD FREIGHT COURIER FORWARDER magazine
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FORWARDER DIRECTORY:UK/MIDDLE EAST COMPANIES WHICH SHIP...
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RSA Logistics is a multi-award-winning third-party logistics provider based in Dubai, with global alliances that help extend its reach to every corner of the world. The company offers storage and 360-degree supply chain solutions, including distribution, transportation, and international freight. RSA’s clients hail from a diverse portfolio of industries that include automotive, power generation, petrochemicals & chemicals and food & beverage. RSA further deploys its expertise by offering onsite logistics to companies that operate their own warehouses – bringing sophisticated and tailormade people, process and technology solutions to the client’s doorstep.
Tudor International Freight has been operating a fully multimodal service between the UK and the Middle East for the last three decades. Our extensive coverage includes air, ocean and door to door import and export services within Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and UAE. We also provide customs brokerage, warehousing, documentation, packing and project logistics services to our client base that operate in a wide range of industries. For more information on the services Tudor International can offer your business please visit www.tudorfreight.co.uk .
John Good Shipping offers weekly, direct FCL and LCL services and also daily Airfreight services to/from the Middle East. Founded in 1833, we are one of the UK’s largest independent freight forwarders and shipping agents, providing first-class, bespoke services and supply chain solutions to customers around the globe. Not only do our customers benefit from over 180 years of seafreight experience, we also have a dedicated airfreight division, John Good Air, with its own IATA licence and customs clearance badges at London Heathrow, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds-Bradford airports.
Our company's brand is well known throughout the Middle East for quality and reliability of service. Our approach to provide a 7 day coverage for our Middle Eastern customers ensures we are always well ahead of our competitors. It is the company's ethos on dedication to customer satisfaction which has established Staples as a market leading specialist in this region. Moreover, with long term relationships with the major shipping lines and airlines serving the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, we are able to secure competitive rates and space allocation for our customers both here in the UK and the Middle East.
TQ Express, established in 1993, is an independent Manchester Airport-based airfreight forwarder to the world. Being DfT Regulated (security approved) they specialise in the movement of dangerous goods, high value, sensitive and time critical products with neutrality, confidentiality and precision. With a dedicated team of highly experienced professionals, its own fleet of trucks and own office warehouse facilities in the Cargo Centre. This forwarder has a substantial reputation and is perfectly positioned to handle the most demanding customer needs by air, road and sea, worldwide. Contact: +44 (0)161 437PILOTISSUE 0248 FORWARDER magazine
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Freight Mergers are specialists in selling owner-managed freight forwarding businesses. For most company owners, selling their freight forwarding business is the most important financial transaction of their life. To meet the challenge of getting a fair price for a business, we have developed a proactive approach to selling a business that connects buyers with sellers with the best synergy. We have over ten years of experience in the freight forwarding sector and, due to our niche-specialist approach, can put you in touch with the best sellers for your business.
+44 (0)20 3872 6906 • enquiries@freightmergers.com 11 Gower Street, London
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F R E I G H T
Are you planning to buy or sell a freight forwarding company?
M&A for the global freight & logistics industry FORWARDER magazine
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M&A FOCUS
F R E I G H T
WITH
COMPANIES
FOR SALE FRENCH FREIGHT FORWARDER
GERMAN FREIGHT FORWARDER
Ref. 898FM | France
Ref. 763FM | Germany
Key business features
Key business features
•• Established in 2004
•• International air & ocean freight forwarder
•• Privately owned
•• Privately owned – one shareholder
•• International air & ocean: 70%
•• 3 offices across Germany
•• Logistics & road freight: 30%
•• 19 staff
•• 46 staff (2 locations)
•• 50% air freight, 50% sea freight | 70% export, 30% import
•• Clearly defined 2nd-tier management structure
•• Sectors: events logistics and general cargo
•• Export: 66% (China, India, S.E Asia) | Import: 33%
•• Export to China, South America, North America
•• Sectors: aerospace, events, AOG, general cargo
•• Import from China
•• Turnover €16m
•• Turnover €7.0m
•• EBITDA €1.0m
•• PBT €1.0m
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT... FORWARDER magazine PILOTISSUE
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SELLING OR BUYING A FREIGHT COMPANY? GET IN TOUCH
+44 (0)20 3872 6906
enquiries@freightmergers.com
GERMAN FREIGHT FORWARDER
SOUTHERN & SOUTH AMERICAN N.V.O.C.C. & FORWARDER
Ref. 290FM | Germany
Ref. 448FM | South East USA & South America
Key business features
Key business features
•• Established in 1980
A licensed, national customs broker, freight forwarder and NVOCC
•• Privately owned
•• Established 20 years ago
•• 2 offices across Europe, 44 staff combined
•• Privately owned – looking to continue under new ownership
•• 90% sea freight – Asia, EU, Far East | 10% air freight
•• 20 staff across 3 locations
•• Imports: FAK Cargo, consumer, textiles, industrial
•• Sector: focus on moving large mining, construction and oil/gas machinery, also moving general freight
•• Exports: Automotive, chemicals, industrials
•• 60% ocean | 30% road | 8% air | 2% rail
•• Owner would look at retaining a minority stake in the business
•• Turnover $10m
•• Turnover €20m | PBT €200k •• No debt
david@freightmergers.com
DAVID ROBERTS, M&A CONSULTANT, FREIGHT MERGERS FORWARDER +44 magazine (0)20 3872 PILOTISSUE 6906
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F R E I G H T
COMPANY SUMMARY:
WITH
MULTIMODAL FREIGHT FORWARDER
Ref. 2232FM | London Heathrow (LHR) Key business features
AIR
Import 17% Export 48% OCEAN
•• Company trading 10+ years •• Six full-time members of staff including two Directors •• IATA and BIFA accredited •• Diverse spread of clients, top 15 represent 78% of T/O •• Global network of partners offering multimodal solutions •• Moved 683,218 kg of air freight in 2017 ••157 LCL and 175 FCL shipments in 2017
Financials
Import 18% Export 8% ROAD
Import 3% Export 1% UK DOMESTIC
4%
FINANCIALS
T/O: £1.3m Adj. PBT: £200k
2018 ••Turnover: £1.30m
GET IN TOUCH
+44 (0)20 3872 6906
•• Gross profit: £410k •• Adj. Profit Before Tax: £200k 2017 ••Turnover: £1.43m •• Gross profit: £454k
SELLER OF THE MONTH •• Adj. Profit Before Tax: £220k
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Ref. 4356FM | UK, US & Germany Overview •• My client offers global freight forwarding, customs brokerage and supply chain management providing air, ocean & road services alongside value-added services •• Having grown organically over a period of 45 years, they are now generating annual consolidated revenue of €300+ million •• Originally established in Europe, they now have a worldwide presence with 20 offices and 1,000+ employees whilst still remaining privately owned ••The primary markets for my client are China, U.K, Australia, South Africa, the Middle East and the U.S. •• With consistent profits and a capital fund, my client is in a strong position with the ability and capacity to acquire privately owned companies
Investment remit •• Focus on international freight (air and ocean), with limited trucking or domestic operations •• Companies located in UK, U.S and Germany ••Turnover of the business to be a minimum of €5.0m, preferably €10m - €50m •• Privately owned companies •• 5+ staff •• Gross operating margin: Expected to be in region of 15 to 30% •• Company must control business rather than large amounts of agent-routed cargo
BUYER OF THE MONTH FORWARDER magazine
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RECRUITMENT FOCUS POWERED BY
GOING STRONG IN DUBAI
HEADFORD CONSULTANCY FZE REPORTS BACK
H
eadford Consultancy in the UAE was set up back in 2013.
The roles they are able to compete for range from Sales Executives
Initially set up in the UK, they determined after a period
to CEOs. From one Sales Executive for a small company to multiple
of successful placements that it was viable to physically set
hirings for complete office start ups.
up their first overseas branch in Dubai. Not 'one size fits all'
Based at Silicon Oasis – ideally located between Dubai Airport and
Because Headford UAE is not restricted to a ridged corporate process
Dubai South (DWC) – enables Headford UAE to meet both clients
– like large, generalist recruitment companies in the UAE – they are
and candidates.
able to offer a boutique service, tailored to suit the client on a case-bycase basis. As their clients are both SME and MNCs they appreciate
The initial year of operations for Headford UAE was geared up to
the unique challenges that each scale of company can face and thus
first establish a sound client base and to promote the brand.
deliver a service that matches the specific requirements of the client.
What they do:
Part of their USP is that they focus on identifying successful
Specialising in sales and senior business critical roles within the GCC
commercial professionals. That they engage with many freight and
and surrounding area they have rapidly built up a reputation for
logistics sales professionals and only work with the top 3%.
delivering strong sales and freight/logistics professionals, who are adding significant value and financial growth to companies. Repeat
When representing a candidate to a client, Headford UAE go through
client business emphasises the success Headford UAE are having.
an in-depth information-gathering process, whereby they have the candidate produce various business plans and return-on-investment
They have, this year already, set up complete freight forwarding
forecasts, based on their business and the client's services.
divisions within companies that are aiming to diversify their financial revenue streams from their core business, e.g. manufacturing companies that are able to benefit from the low rates that they receive from carriers.
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WANT TO KNOW MORE? Further information can be found at www.headford.ae
The consultants
We have been fortunate enough to employ at the start of this
Headford Consultancy FZE is headed up by Simon Neale. One of the
year Sean Borhani, an experienced recruiter in the Middle East
original recruitment consultants who has worked his way up through
in freight and logistics. He is a young, extremely motivated
the company from trainee to General Manager.
individual, with an excellent grasp of freight sales. He conducts a very thorough interview of all the candidates he head hunts
Simon Neale, Recipient of the Headford
and has a natural disposition on understanding exactly what
Group's Most Valuable Player 2015
the client wants – not only in a performing sales person, but also the cultural fit of both client and candidate.
There have been countless challenges in getting the company in UAE to be viable and self-sufficient – much like many of the international client we speak to on a day-to-day basis encounter. The biggest has been matching the cash flow forecast against the unpredictable timescale of the placement starting. Typically in the UK or USA – it is possible to have someone interviewed and starting within a week. On average in both respective countries takes 6 weeks. In the UAE, due to visa cancellations issues, decision making being very cautious – the average interview to placement can take up to three months in some cases. Another challenge that will resonate with our clients is to actually identify and employ good staff. This is the same for recruitment companies – especially niche consultancies like Headford. FORWARDER magazine
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RECRUITMENT FOCUS POWERED BY
Keep on moving forwards... We are now starting to assist companies in the e-commerce
Other services we are able to offer at Headford Consultancy are
sector. This, in the UAE, represents a huge opportunity for 3PL
access to the group's other core business services, such as M&A
companies to develop their services in final mile delivery solutions.
and Freight Media marketing, to help increase a company's brand
Statistically figures abound between 2% and 5% of all goods are
awareness and develop their strategic growth.
purchased online in UAE. This offers a fantastic opportunity for companies to start developing their e-commerce service and tap into this potentially huge market.
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WAREHOUSE GENERAL CONTRACT LOGISTICS MANAGER
SENIOR FREIGHT CONTRACT LOGISTICS MANAGER
Location: KSA – Jeddah and Riyadh
Type: Permanent | Candidate ref: SNHAE201 Location: Dubai
Leading International 3PL Company In this role you will hold shared responsibility for the P&L of the CL product in KSA. You will be overseeing both operational and commercial aspects relating to the business. Due to the cultural set up of the company, would ideally suit someone who has experience in working in Western Europe for a Large MNC company. Fluent English essential. This role with have solid line reporting to the Managing Director KSA with dotted line reporting to the Chief Operating Officer MENA & South Asia. The position will be based in our client's HQ in Jeddah and cover all warehouses in Kingdom
Candidate description: •• Extensive business development and SCM in 3PL, retail, FMCG, automotive and life science verticals in UAE. •• Successfully set up contract logistics from green field sites to semi-automated logistics facilities in JAFZA and Jabel Ali UAE. •• Has developed significant fashion and retail clients and contacts in the region •• Year to date has generated over 9 million Dirhams in profit compared to last year. •• Senior management experience in commercial, operational and facilities
from day 1 so there will be some travel to Riyadh included. Duties and Responsibilities: •• Responsible for multiple contract logistics locations in Riyadh, both multi-user and dedicated customers across various industry verticals •• Direct leadership responsibility for contract logistics (CL) and operations team in Riyadh •• Support Contract Logistics business development by supporting with preparation of proposals for warehousing solutions with appropriate costing / quotations in conjunction with the sales team •• Support sales relating to supply chain and freight enquiries •• Drive continuous improvement programmes across all warehouse operations. •• Drive quality improvement across all warehouse ops •• Focus on training, health and safety issues, and continuous development of staff for higher performance •• Support local and global CL strategies to achieve 4% EBIT result by 2020 •• Develop strong relationships with major customers and implement customer retention techniques •• Support and lead strategic projects related to CL business •• Actively develop and control personnel succession planning within the Riyadh CL operations •• Maintain a close understanding of local market developments to ensure the client is positioning themselves correctly in the market •• Develop relationships with potential facility owners and landlords and remain knowledgeable about availability and current market rates •• Manage the Contract Logistics business whilst focusing on reducing and controlling company liability risk •• Lead communication with full Riyadh CL team
COMMERCIAL MANAGER Type: Permanent | Candidate ref: SBHAE202 Location: Dubai Candidate description: •• 18 years of broad based experience in business development, sales and operations management in UAE and India, within the freight forwarding / logistics industry. •• Key figure in the company to develop oversea networks for Africa and Indian Ocean islands •• Major focus on trade lane development in East and West Africa as well as local land transport •• Closed over a million AED in GP in the year 2016
VICE PRESIDENT GLOBAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT Type: Permanent | Candidate ref: SBHAE203 Location: Dubai Candidate description: •• Over 10 years developing agency and network development and identifying potential partners for air and sea consolidation products •• Preparation of budget, fixing targets to sales teams by heading the entire sales teams •• Appointing deconsolidation agents in the Middle East, East Africa and Europe •• Contributed successfully 5 million AED in GP annually for the group
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RECRUITMENT FOCUS POWERED BY
BRANCH START-UP WEST YORKSHIRE ryan@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787
•• £110K GP new business so far this year and more within pipeline •• Business to bring: 80% road, 10% air & 10% sea •• Mode experience: 50% sea, 25% air & 25% road •• Trade routes: Far East, USA, Eastern & Western Europe •• Salary: £45,000
MANAGING DIRECTOR (WILL RELOCATE UK-WIDE)
BRANCH MANAGER MANCHESTER
jamiew@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 951
•• 10 years’ experience within the industry •• Multi-modal (air, sea & road) •• Directly in charge of 5+ employees •• Operations, sales & business development experience
UK Multimodal Managing Director available for relocation UK wide. Ideally looking for another senior executive level role within an international forwarder of any size. Previous experience primarily with large multinationals. •• Air, Ocean, Road, Rail, 3PL experience •• Managed over 450 employees across multiple UK offices •• Led and overseen merges between companies •• Experienced in aerospace, oil & gas, healthcare and chemical •• Over 30 years of international experience
ryan@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787
BUSINESS DEV. MANAGER SOUTH EAST – £50k jamiew@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 951
•• Over 10 years within logistics field sales •• Air, ocean & road sales experience •• Won major accounts for a global forwarder •• Specialist in RORO, machinery & automotive sectors •• Based in the South East
EUROPEAN ROAD FREIGHT OPERATOR ESSEX, UK – £25,000 john@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 932
•• 10 years' road freight experience •• Stable career history, 2 jobs in the past 10 years •• Dealing with Euro imports and exports across Europe •• Dealing with all documentation from A-Z
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CANDIDATES GLOBAL ACCOUNT DIRECTOR ESSEX
jamiew@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 951
SALES EXECUTIVE, GOVERNMENT, DEFENSE & FMS WASHINGTON DC, USA
•• 20 + Years industry experience •• Handles £5 mill GP on blue chip accounts •• Won multiple awards within the industry •• Previous shipping line experience •• Asia, Far East & USA focus
danny@headfordgroup.com | +1 646 915 1495
AIR & OCEAN SALES EXECUTIVE SFO, CA
AIR & OCEAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER MIAMI, FL
samuel@headfordgroup.com | +1 312 496 6624
•• Achieved $450K+ GP in 2017 •• Territory: National •• 75% new business - 25% existing •• 50% air & 50% ocean – 65% import & 35% export •• Trade routes – Asia, Europe & Latin America •• Verticals: general cargo including high-tech, solar, medical, machines, packaging, temperature controlled, •• Salary: $95K
•• Handles medium – large Project accounts •• Close to $1m GP – 2018 YTD •• Main lanes are Middle East, Africa & S. Asia •• 70% Air, 20% Ocean, 10% Trucking •• Handles accounts nationwide •• No non-compete
lewis@headfordgroup.com | +1 404 592 6315
•• GP for 2017 was around $710,000 •• Territory – Florida with a focus on Miami •• 30% air & 70% ocean – 60% export & 40% import •• Domestic trucking (brokerage LTL & FTL), warehouse & distribution •• Trade routes: Latin America, Asia & Europe •• Salary: $85K
RECRUITMENT FOCUS POWERED BY
EXPORT OPERATOR HEATHROW, UK tom@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 934
Monday to Friday or 4 on / 4 off Main role accountabilities: Compliance •• Ensure Export processes are completed in compliance with AEO regulations and procedures including: - Customs simplifications/security and safety - Worldwide company ISO 2015 QMS requirements (swift and accurate completion of shipments working within the parameters of the AEO operating procedures and UK customs law) •• Understand Rules laid out in UK HMRC tariff, following customer customs entry instructions •• Adhere to CAA security requirements, report any non-conformity that is identified •• Adhere to Quality Management System Processes Operations •• Arrange shipments as per customer instructions following customer SOP and liaise with Overseas offices and relevant other departments to meet required deadline and KPI set by customer •• Respond to customer requests within a timely fashion. •• Ensure all shipments are placed within the company system •• Ensure customs entries are completed correctly as per instructions received from customer in writing •• Arrange OBC shipments as and when required •• Arrange third-party collections and deliveries liaising with transport department •• Monitor shipments and update all tracking information in the company systems •• Handle warehouse inventory dispatches within the specified deadlines •• Raise invoices to customer within agreed KPI (five days) •• Answer telephone calls in a polite and timely manner (within three rings)
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Customer focus •• Maintain and develop customer relationships alongside customer solutions and any other relevant departments •• Attend customer reviews with CS team •• Understand individual customer needs and requirements •• Communicate quickly and professionally to customers any changes that affect their business, e.g. delays, changes to flights, emergency measures etc. Quotations •• Ensure quotations are responded to in a timely fashion dependent on customer requirements (KPI is 30 minutes) •• Complete all quotations through BoxTop, follow up and when customer gives the green light converted into a live job •• Understands customer requirements for completing quotations and ensure team is working to these standards •• Any errors identified are raised to line manager to ensure they are not repeated •• Liaise with CS team to follow up on reasons why quotations were not gained and make any reasonable amendments to future quotations to try to secure the business Key skills & personal attributes •• Customer focused with excellent attention to detail •• A sound knowledge of export processes •• Excellent customer service skills •• Proven communication skills, both written and verbal •• Previous experience dealing with varied customer base and building strong relationships •• Ability to consider several possible options and decide on most-appropriate method •• Possess excellent IT, process and planning skills •• Strong commercial awareness, understands impact of actions Qualifications & experience •• Proven industry experience. •• Solid background in UK Customs law and procedures. •• Sound knowledge of Word, PP, Excel. Project management software an advantage. •• Dangerous Goods Compliant an advantage.
VACANCIES AIR IMPORT OPERATOR FELTHAM, UK – £24,000-£28,000
OCEAN OPERATOR MANCHESTER, UK – UP TO £28,000
tom@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 934
leah@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 785
New opportunity to join a top 25 Freight Forwarder located at Heathrow.
You will be responsible for specific accounts, ensuring their requirements are fulfilled and developing solid working relationships with the clients you are working with. Ideally our client would prefer candidates with a working background within the Freight/Logistics sector with a good commercial awareness and the ability to work to deadlines and work well under pressure.
This position would be ideal for someone with 2 years + import experience with a Freight Forwarding company, Airfreight import experience is essential to be considered for this role. The role will entail handling key Airfreight import shipments for a number of clients, you will be responsible for every step of the import process, so experience with liaising with overseas agents and UK based consignee's is essential, as is customs clearance capability and documentation handling. Salary is up to £28,000 for depending on experience Hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 till 17:30. For more information on this freight forwarding air import career, please get in touch today! We can only accept applications from candidates with the required experience for this role, as stated above, if you don't hear from us you have been unsuccessful.
•• Handling enquiries and taking bookings •• Arranging for the shipment of goods via air and ocean,
both imports and exports •• Calculating best routes and suppliers •• Regular Liaison with clients •• Logging all shipments •• Handling all relevant customs and insurance documentation •• Maximising business potential with key clients •• Good knowledge of software packages such as ASM, GEMS
AIR & OCEAN IMPORT OPERATOR SOUTHAMPTON, UK
EUROPEAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ESSEX, UK
tom@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 934
jamiew@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 951
•• Dealing with customers & overseas agents on a daily basis •• Co-ordinating import shipments from Far & Middle East •• Involved in the full cycle of freight forwarding import •• Quotes, bookings, entries, collections & deliveries for •• Responding promptly to customer enquiries and problems •• Promoting and building strong relationships •• Ability to build strong carrier relations and achieve best
Headford UK is seeking a talented European Road Business Development Manager to join an exciting project within the Essex area. Our client is opening up a brand-new depot in the area and looking to expand their sales team within the UK.
possible buying rates, thus maximizing profitability
•• 2+ years' previous experience in air or sea imports required •• Must be highly customer services focused •• Must have good attention to detail, be organised and flexible
•• Covering the Essex/South East Region •• 100% Focus on European Road freight •• Western & Eastern Trade Routes •• Salary £38,000 + Car/Car Allowance/wCommission
RECRUITMENT FOCUS POWERED BY
MULTIMODAL BDM EAST MIDLANDS – CIRCA £40,000 ryan@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 628 787
•• Air, ocean & road (with a bias towards road) •• New business and existing growth •• Compile a healthy CRM pipeline of opportunities and work in progress
•• Cross sell and share with the team •• Manage your territory and maximise time and opportunity
AIR & OCEAN SALES EXECUTIVE WASHINGTON DC, USA danny@headfordgroup.com | +1 646 915 1495
•• Top-25 forwarder •• Strengths in pharma, automotive, aerospace, oil & gas •• Competitive salary with strong commission structure •• Covering Northern VA, Washington DC & Baltimore •• Excellent infrastructure & operational support
JUNIOR AIR EXPORT OPERATOR SURREY, UK – £18,000–£20,000 tom@headfordgroup.com | +44 (0)1454 275 934
•• Air import customs clearances •• Arranging collections with selected transport companies •• Good knowledge of Microsoft systems •• Customer Service •• Processing import / export documentation •• Liaising with clients / overseas partners/agents •• Deal with queries
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VACANCIES VACANCIES TO FILL? BUSINESS DEV. MANAGER BRANCH MANAGER SALES DIRECTOR OPERATIONS MANAGER TRANSPORTATION BROKER AIR FREIGHT SALES EXEC. GENERAL MANAGER IMPORT OPERATOR KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER ROUTE DEV. MANAGER OCEAN FREIGHT BDM
GET THEM NOTICED IN FORWARDER'S RECRUITMENT FOCUS Get your freight and logistics vacancies
Your roles will also be seen at
seen by the cream of the forwarding
FORWARDERmagazine.com in the
industry. FORWARDER goes out to
Recruitment Focus section. Call us now
thousands of freight executives and
on +44 (0)1454 628 775 or email us at
managers every month.
team@freight-media.com
Bridging the gap... Covering up-to-the-minute trends and able to respond to the global staďŹƒng requirements of today's multinational operations.
+44 01454 275957 ryan@headfordgroup.com
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Sourcing market-leading talent.
www.headfordgroup.com
Your strategic growth partner. Executive Search • Branch Startups • Senior Appointments • Mergers & Acquisitions
Recruitment services across... 13 time zones 3 continents 5am to 9pm GMT
+1 404 592 6315 lewis@headfordgroup.com
+971 (0) 45 015 675 simon@headford.ae
FORWARDER magazine
UAE
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MARKETING FOCUS WITH
I
f you had a store on the high-street and sold goods face-to-face, it
Freight Media has a web design team that specialises in producing
would be essential to get the right customers through your door.
websites for freight companies. We have assisted companies ranging from
One of the most powerful tools you would have to do this, is your
startups to top-25 forwarders, making their websites look amazing and
storefront: making your window presentable, attractive, and informing
bringing new business flooding in.
passers-by about exactly what you can do for them. Here are some examples of how we have achieved excellence for
Your typical forwarder, shipper or carrier won’t have a store on the high-
our clients...
street – or anywhere. In the digital age, your website is your storefront and you only get one chance to make a first impression - we are here to
Stop press! Your headline matters
ensure that it’s an excellent one.
You want your website to make a powerful first impression. If you have web traffic coming in from search engines, your visitors should know who
Before any potential client approaches you, it is guaranteed that one
you are and what you do in a matter of seconds.
of the first things they will check is your website. If you want to appear a leading, reliable, quality company, you need a website that is well
For one client, Eurgent, this came in the form of a scrolling banner.
designed, well supported and well maintained. That’s before you reach
Immediately, you can see the company title and This opening page
more complex factors such as web hosting, search-engine optimisation,
demonstrates exactly what the company specialises in, and is also
and ‘pay-per-click’ (PPC) advertising.
complemented by some great branding.
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DID YOU KNOW? Using video on home pages increases conversions by 86%. (Wordstream, 2018) (www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics) If your bounce rate (the percentage of people leaving your website after viewing only one page) is high, the first place to look is your site design – it could be that your pages take too long to load, for example.
Device optimisation, analytics, bounce rate.. Google drives 96% of search traffic on mobile devices.
Whether your website is opened on a tablet, a mobile phone or a
(Jody Nimetz Co., 2018)
laptop, you want your visitor to have the best experience of viewing your site. We can help you to ensure that your customers are using the
‘Don’t miss out!’...call to action
site exactly as intended – and staying there – bringing the highest-quality
You don’t just want visitors to your site to know who you are – you’ll
leads straight to you.
want them to take action. Whether you want prospective clients to subscribe to your newsletter, to sign up for a new service, or to request
Get in touch today to find out how we can bring more traffic to
a call back, you should be giving any visitor to your website an option to
your website.
‘act’ whilst there – a ‘call to action’ (CTA). It’s a delicate balancing act. Not all CTAs are born equal, and if you
Sarah O'Connell, Senior Editor, FORWARDER magazine
bombard a client with unnecessary or overly sales-y copy, they’re going to leave your site immediately. Nobody wants to feel like they’re being sold to, so make sure your call-to-action will result in a tangible benefit for your potential customer, at ‘low risk’. This site we designed for KDS Global Freight Services gives site visitors highlighted CTAs in the ‘REQUEST A QUOTE’ button. The button then leads into confirmation that the quote is free with no obligation (low risk) and reaffirms that action will be taken immediately. So, there’s no reason for someone not to proceed.
WEB DESIGN
...CLICKING WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS FORWARDER magazine
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WHAT’S COMING UP... N.B. this is an excerpt from the UK version of FORWARDER.
Manchester Australasia WCA
#26
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Karl Hodgkinson, Howard Tenens
PROJECT CARGO North East Benelux
Trevor Paul, Twente Express
#28
PILOTISSUE
South West Middle East
Sela Koydengoctu, DGS Group
HAZARDOUS GOODS
Northern Ireland Africa Eddie Buist, Peter Murphy, Action International
#30
PUBLISHEDOCTOBER2018
Scotland Far East
UK DISTRIBUTION & NETWORKS
AIRFREIGHT & AIRLINES Solent Scandinavia
Introducing... Freightabase
#32
UK & GLOBAL COURIER Midlands Mediterranean Introducing... Loadie
PUBLISHEDNOVEMBER2018
AIRPORTS & SEAPORTS
PUBLISHEDAUGUST2018
Simon Beechener, Simpex
SUPPLY CHAIN
PUBLISHEDSEPTEMBER2018
15
Yorkshire The Americas
#33
#31
PUBLISHEDJULY2018
Ipswich ope
EUROPEAN ROAD
PUBLISHEDJUNE2018
Caroline Barber, Transaid
#29
PUBLISHEDAPRIL2018
Liverpool & North Wales Indian subcontinent
PUBLISHEDFEBRUARY2018
PUBLISHEDJANUARY2018
CE
TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED
PUBLISHEDMARCH2018
#27
#25
WARE & STO
Essex, Eastern
#34
PUBLISHEDDECEMBER2018
#35
#37
OCEAN FREIGHT & SHIPPING LINES Heathrow & London Iberia
#39
TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED
Liverpool & North Wales Indian subcontinent
#41
EUROPEAN ROAD & EXPRESS Yorkshire The Americas
SUPPLY CHAIN & RETAIL Scotland Far East
Featuring... Antwerp XL
EHOUSING ORAGE
Kent & Sussex n Europe
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE & BONDED W’HOUSING Felixstowe & Ipswich Western Europe
AIR PORTS & SEA PORTS Manchester Australasia
PROJECT CARGO & ABNORMAL LOADS North East Benelux
HAZARDOUS & DANGEROUS GOODS Northern Ireland Africa
George Baker, George Baker Shipping
#36
#38
#40
#42
= printed issue
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THE LAST WORD...
FREIGHT MEDIA ATTENDS
FTA LOGISTICS AWARDS 2018 O utside the many hours of writing, editing and designing
The awards ceremony was held to recognise and applaud the hard
FORWARDER magazine, we like to attend events…
work that goes into the freight industry, and featured entertainment
especially when we are nominated for an award! Last
from Irish comedian Dara O’Briain. Working with Freightabase, we
month, Freight Media had the privilege of attending the FTA Logistics
were all incredibly proud to be nominated for an award, just a few
Awards in London on December 13th 2018. Having only launched in
months after its official launch. A huge well done to the Freight Media
September this year, online freight comparison tool, Freightabase.
team (if I do say so myself!) Here’s some photographic evidence we
com, was nominated for “Most Innovative Product of the Year”
do get out of the office once in a while…
award. Almost the entire Freight Media team attended the awards ceremony to show their support behind the product.
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THE LAST WORD... THE TEAM...
CRAIG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SARAH SENIOR EDITOR RACHEL EDITOR IFE ADVERTISING KEVIN ADVERTISING DOM ADVERTISING ROB ADVERTISING TIM DESIGNER
A FINAL WORD FROM
THE EDITOR...
I
s there something you would like to see in FORWARDER? Are there topics you would like to discuss? Our next issue
of FORWARDER UAE will be based on topics our readers
want to see and will be published next quarter. So whether it’s project cargo & abnormal loads, air freight, ocean freight, courier, warehousing, or something not mentioned, we would like to know! Get in contact with us today. Rachel Jefferies, Editor, FORWARDER magazine
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NEXT MONTH...
MONTHLY FOCUS
PUBLISHED BY
We'll be selecting a focus based on your feedback...
REGIONAL FOCUS
We'll be selecting areas of interest based on your feedback...
COVER FEATURE
We showcase a service, product or personality in the industry
INDUSTRY NEWS
More news and press releases from the world of freight
FOCUS ROUNDUP
Articles from the last 12 months relevant to the focus
ASK THE EXPERTS
Topical knowledge from the FTA and other industry experts
FORWARD TECH
Industry knowledge focused on technology and advancements
MARKETING FOCUS
We help you to get your message out to the industry
M&A FOCUS
More from the world of mergers & acquisitions in freight
RECRUITMENT FOCUS
Current jobs and candidates from Forwardingjobs.com
Please be aware, in this dynamic industry these topics and features are subject to change.
I
Unit 8 Apex Court, Almondsbury Business Park, Bristol BS32 4JT twitter.com/ForwarderMag ForwarderMag facebook.com/forwardermagazine linkedin.com/company/forwarder-magazine www.FORWARDERmagazine.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Craig Headford craig@freight-media.com • +44 (0)1454 275 946 SENIOR EDITOR
Sarah O'Connell sarah@forwardermagazine.com EDITOR
Rachel Jefferies rachel@forwardermagazine.com REGIONAL SALES MANAGER
Simon Neale simon@forwarder.ae • +971 04 246 2836 ADVERTISING
Kevin Dunn kevin@freight-media.com • +44 (0)7736 791 180 Dom Roberts dom@freight-media.com • +44 (0)1454 628 794
please contact our editors Sarah & Rachel using the contact details
Ife Jarett ife@freight-media.com • +44 (0)1454 275 931
to the right. If you would like to advertise in FORWARDER
Robert Pascoe robert@freight-media.com • +44 (0)1454 628 784
f you would like your editorial to feature in next month’s magazine,
magazine, full details of our rates and technical specifications can be found in our media pack. Please email us for a copy.
DIGITAL MARKETING
Darren Glasspool d.glasspool@freight-media.com FORWARDER magazine is free in the UK. Please email for a subscription form. Please visit us online at
www.forwardermagazine.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Tim Headford tim@forwardermagazine.com SUBSCRIBE
subscriptions@forwardermagazine.com When you’re finished with this magazine, FORWARDER magazine please recycle it.
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