Optimising logistics in the Asia-Pacific region SDV

OPTIMISING LOGISTICS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

SDV is a global leader in IT based logistics solutions and supply-chain management. Philip Yorke looks at a company that is optimising its opportunities for growth in the Asia Pacific region and its recent move into the emerging Myanmar market.

SDV was established in 1885 in France as a freight forwarder that specialised in serving the trade lanes between France and Africa. However, since 1986 it has been the main logistics subsidiary of the International Bolloré Group. Today SDV is a leading global logistics and supply-chain management company that offers a diverse range of specialised business services that include international transport, customs brokerage, warehousing and distribution and supply-chain management via IT-based logistics solutions.

SDV Asia Pacific regional headquarters are based in Singapore, where the group employs over 1,000 people, and invested over 50 million SGD recently in a LEED platinum standard Green Logistics Warehouse.

SDV operates in Asia Pacific in 24 countries, with its own full-fledged offices, and its activities are divided into six main business segments: Logistics, Supply Chain, Multimodal transport, Customs and regulatory compliance and Industrial projects. The Group operates over 120,000 sqm of logistics facilities in Singapore, all complementing the vertical approach towards specific industries (aerospace, healthcare, flavor and fragrances, cosmetics, luxury retail, oil & gas, as well as

SDV Singapore Green Hub

power generation and telecom) with numerous value-added services. These industries are served by the Group with excellence with a global network of over 600 offices, and employing around 36,000 people in more than 100 countries worldwide.

In depth customized supply-chain solutions

When it comes to supply-chain management, SDV clearly leads the field. It provides its customers with unique, in-depth expertise that creates solutions that result in a vital competitive edge. Beyond the traditional services of logistics and multimodal transport offered to its customers, SDV Asia Pacific brings them in-depth visibility on their operations through performing IT based solutions (LINK, SQUARE, etc.), all interconnected to the core Transport Management System.

This visibility enables it to provide detailed and accurate reporting, and allows complementary services of enhancement of the supply-chain processes: a team of upmarket solution engineers are here to assist in value-added solution concepts going from network design, logistics design consultancy, re-engineering and pilotage of the flows, etc.

A constant focus is given on safety, regulatory compliance and respect for the environment.

End-to-End projects in environments as challenging as the African continent, optimization of the flows with multiple consolidations through hubs around the world, mixing multimodal transports, floor re-design of a logistics warehouse to improve efficiency and productivity, e-commerce distribution in fast-growing environment such as China or Southeast Asia are some of the daily services rendered by SDV to its customers in Asia Pacific.

The number of value-added services performed within the logistics warehouses is permanently increasing, and corresponds to the needs of the industry to externalize part of the processes:

Quality control, labeling, kitting, bottling, repackaging, serialization, repairs, tagging, destruction, etc. are as many of the services provided. In the healthcare sector, SDV is one of the industry’s suppliers of choice for supply-chain management solutions. Here the company must demonstrate considerable flexibility within the industry’s stringent healthcare and safety requirements and with production undergoing both externalisation and internalisation processes.

Today, SDV designs comprehensive solutions for all areas of the pharmaceutical

Furnaces at the Yard in Sattahip, Thailand, to be Installed at an LNG Site in Darwin, Australia

industry including sourcing upstream, international transport and global distribution form its dedicated worldwide hubs.

SDV’s commitment to tailor-made, optimised services is also to be found in its two other key operating areas: High Tech industries and Aerospace. For example, in the consumer electronics sector it takes into account domain names as diverse as desktop computers, electronic devices and semi-conductors. For each one of these, the supply chain from manufacturer to the final user presents specific constraints and the high value of the products adds to the complexity of handling when dealing with risk prevention linked to fragility and theft.

New growth opportunities

Earlier this year, SDV Asia Pacific took the strategic decision to expand its influence in the region with the creation of SDV Myanmar. In May this year SDV became fully operational in the booming Myanmar market. “As the country moves toward democratic and economic reforms, many of our customers are exploring this region and some of them already took the plunge on investing massively in Myanmar,” said Julien Loiret, General Manager Sales and Development of SDV in Myanmar.

“The opportunities abound in raw materials such as oil & gas but also in catering for the healthcare and communications of a country with a population of 62 million. Therefore to anticipate a strong growth in demand for transport and logistics and to accompany our customers in Myanmar’s booming market, SDV is providing a wide range of services and solutions especially in the oil & gas, telecom, healthcare and fashion industries,” added Elizabeth Shwe, who joins SDV Myanmar as a Director.

Strengthening global logistics

SDV is committed to strengthening its global logistics business worldwide and this strategy was enhanced recently when SDV Singapore entered into a new joint-venture agreement with C J Patel.

C J Patel is a diverse group of organisations across a variety of industries based in the South Pacific and is also a distribution specialist.

This joint-venture consolidates synergies in each company’s supply-chain that will enhance both organisations’ ability to deliver world-class products around the South Pacific region. The new company operates under the name of SDV Fiji and combines the expertise of two strong business partners that complement each other in terms of distribution, network facilities and integrated information systems. While geographical coverage is almost complete in Asia-Pacific, SDV is always alert to provide extra services in the existing sites and/or design tailormade facilities answering the specific needs of its customers. n

For further details of SDV’s innovative logistics and supply-chain services visit: www.sdv.com

Julien Loiret / SDV Myanmar General Manager E-mail: j.loiret@sdv.com

Elizabeth Shwe / SDV Myanmar Director E-mail: e.shwe@sdv.com