GEODIS Wilson

GEODIS is launching “Manage!“, a program designed to support its 8,000 managers around the world. Built around the company’s 7 Leadership Principles, it aims to strengthen their skills and leadership through a 14-week program. This will be key to stimulating commitment and creativity in their teams and partners, to achieve the goals of GEODIS’ “Ambition 2023” strategic plan.

“In a pandemic context marked by a disruption of norms and traditional benchmarks, management is even more essential today. To lead our market, the quality of our managers and the commitment of our teams are crucial. This new program aims to ensure that our leaders have all the attributes to support their employees and encourage them to remain agile and in tune with what is happening in the world,” explains Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS.

The Manage! program includes six training modules, including a total of 24 hours of group sessions, combined with online resources and personal assignments. It addresses decision-making, performance management, communication and feedback, through modules such as “developing your emotional intelligence” and “collaborating and coming together in decision-making”.

“People are at the heart of our business. This new program is based on the 7 GEODIS Leadership Principles which define our Group’s expectations of its leaders. It aims to develop the skills of our teams while sharing a common corporate culture, regardless of geographical location,” concludes Mario Ceccon, Executive Vice President Group Human Resources.

The 7 GEODIS Leadership Principles:

• Be a Strategy Ambassador
• Debate. Decide. Align.
• Drive results
• Duty to communicate
• Engage and empower people
• Own the All
• Walk the talk

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.

Antoine Pretin joins GEODIS as Vice President Engineering Group. He will oversee the growth in automatizing GEODIS’ service offerings to its customers.

Antoine Pretin, 38, engineer, began his career in 2007 as a project manager at Sidel Cermex, first in Dijon, then in Atlanta, USA. After a few years at Fives Intralogistics, he joined Actemium Logistics, a VINCI Group company specializing in automated intralogistics solutions, in 2014, where he was head of the distribution business.

“Faced with the acceleration of e-commerce and new consumer demands, the automatization of logistics warehouses is an essential response to handle growing flows in an ever-shorter timeframe. With his experience, Antoine will contribute to an open and constructive dialogue between the GEODIS teams and the various players in the field of automatization, to serve the needs of our customers around the world,” explains Philippe de Carné, Executive Vice President Business Development, Innovation & Business Excellence.

“The arrival of increasingly autonomous intelligent robots and a constant search for competitiveness are paving the way for increased automatization. Such solutions provide great leverage to improve performance and assist in order preparation in e-commerce warehouses, reducing repetitive tasks, but also gaining quality and reactivity. I am delighted to have joined GEODIS, a world leader in supply chain management, to support this development. The mobilization of all the existing skills within the Group and the team I am building will be a great support for our customers,” says Antoine Pretin.

GEODIS has around fifty automated sites worldwide.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.

GEODIS announces the opening of a new 6,000 sqm site within the cargo area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to provide certified services, especially for customers in the health and luxury goods sectors.

The new complex will have immediate airside access.  It will be located near Air France’s main warehouse (G1XL) and other main service providers at the airport.

The latest generation of cargo handling technology, highly secure and certified CEIV[1] and TAPA[2] Level A, will offer a level of service excellence targeted at the pharmaceutical and luxury goods sectors. The complex will be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure for the processing of temperature-controlled products, including negative temperatures.

“With this investment, GEODIS confirms its ability to provide a high-quality air cargo offering. Thanks to the strategic location of this new cargo station, we are able to accelerate processing times for the flow of goods, both for export and import, while ensuring rigorous safety standards for the products entrusted to us by our customers,” says Massimo Norcaro, Director of the Freight Forwarding line of Business of GEODIS in France.

As part of GEODIS’ ongoing commitment, this HQE Excellent certified building will ensure the highest environmental standards are met.

The site will be operational in October 2021 and will have around 120 employees.

[1] Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics.

[2] Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.

As a member of the European Clean Trucking Alliance (ECTA) since its creation in July 2020, GEODIS supports its calls for accelerated infrastructure development within the EU countries and the strengthening of CO₂ emission standards for road transport, within the context of its adoption of the “Fit for 55” package.

The European Clean Trucking Alliance, coalition calling for the decarbonisation of road freight in the EU urges the European Commission to grab the opportunity of the upcoming proposals under the ‘Fit-for-55 Package’ and come up with an ambitious policy framework to make zero emission freight a reality.

The Alliance position paper comes ahead of the Fit for 55 Package which will shape several decisive regulations for the future of road transport: the expected review of Europe’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive (AFID), the TEN-T and TEN-E regulations, the Energy Taxation Directive and CO₂ emission performance standards for light commercial vehicles.

Ramping up the infrastructure

There are approximately 40 million vehicles delivering more than three-quarters of goods in Europe[1].

“The availability of infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles is one of the biggest challenges to decarbonising our fleets – only ambitious regulations with AFID and policy support can turn this into the greatest opportunity of the decade” said Kristin Kahl, the Alliance’s spokesperson.

The Alliance calls on the Commission to establish binding targets in the AFID legislation for infrastructure in all EU member states. A minimum of 2 public charging stations per freight urban node by 2025 – to be increased to a minimum of 10 charging stations by 2030 – are needed to make the transition to zero-emission trucks a reality in every member state.

The TEN-T core network corridors should become zero-emission freight corridors, with sufficient charging and green hydrogen refueling infrastructure deployed at the latest by 2027 and completed by 2030 to enable zero-emission long haul trips.

Ensuring the production of zero emission vehicles

In Europe, transport is the biggest source of emissions (around 28%). It is the sector with the highest emissions increase since 1990.

To stay on course for zero emissions by 2050, the upcoming CO₂ performance standards revision is the opportunity to strengthen the standards in order to boost supply of zero-emission vehicles. The Alliance recommends having at least 50% of new vans sold in 2030 zero-emission and by 2035 all new vans sold to be zero-emission.

This is an opportunity to make almost CO2-free city logistics in major urban centres by 2030.

“The transport and logistics sector must play an integral part in the realization of this ecological transition.  Transport, both of goods and passengers, accounts for more than 25% of global CO₂ emissions. We must face this reality. During this crisis, we have seen an acceleration in the awareness of our customers to this need. We are looking forward to the arrival of new zero-emission vehicles on the market, as well as the deployment of improved energy infrastructures, which will be essential to ensure this transition,” says Philippe de Carné, Executive Vice President Business Development, Innovation & Business Excellence of GEODIS.

[1] Eurostat.

More about the Alliance – www.clean-trucking.eu

ECTA brings together a broad and diverse range of European players in the road transport of goods such as leading businesses, organisations and civil society associations (see Annex below) that share a strong commitment to accelerate the EU’s transition to zero-emissions trucks. 

ECTA business members include major hauliers, logistics and consumer goods companies in Europe and beyond. Altogether, the ECTA business members employ more than 2.3 million people globally and have over EUR 400 billion yearly revenue. This latter figure is comparable to the GDP of Austria[2]. The organisations that have joined ECTA are some of the civil society organisations and associations with the strongest network of members and experience in transport and mobility at the European level.

The latest members to join ECTA are Codognotto, DSLV and FERCAM Logistics&Transport.

[2] Nominal GDP in 2020, Eurostat.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

In order to actively participate in building the professional future of younger generations, GEODIS has established an internship program for the families of its employees. The ‘Jump’In’ program is an opportunity for students to join an international company and, for their relatives, to enhance the pride they have in being part of the Group.

“As the pandemic situation is threatening the start of the professional journey for many of today’s youth, I see it as a heartfelt mission to help this generation find their place.  Therefore, we are launching “Jump’In”, an international internship program for our employees’ relatives, to support them at the end of their studies. “Jump’In” offers students the opportunity to join our global team, to learn from leading logistics experts and to build the future of logistics together,” says Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS.

The Group is now offering end-of-study internships in Europe, Asia and America, across all its lines of business: Freight Forwarding, Distribution & Express, Road Transport and Supply Chain Optimization.

Children and siblings of GEODIS employees who are looking for an internship or work-study program lasting at least three months in order to complete their current year of higher education may apply. The program offers them an opportunity to enter the business world and discover the logistics sector, globally recognized as vital to the economy.

“The future of logistics depends on today’s generation of young talent – and they need our help. GEODIS is a great place to work and learn, at the heart of a sector which is fundamental to our economic and public life worldwide. It is also an opportunity for our employees to promote the GEODIS group, which is rich in a multitude of professions and expertise, and to explain to their friends and family the challenges that we face every day, together, with passion,” concludes Marie-Christine Lombard.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

Responding to the recent surge in demand for supply chain services in South Korea brought about by dynamic changes in consumer buying habits through ecommerce channels, the new facility will provide additional warehousing and value-added contract logistics resources.

Located just 25 kilometres from central Seoul and a 90-minute drive from both Incheon International Airport and Port of Incheon, the new multi-user warehousing facility is strategically located in Icheon. 

Completed in March 2021, the new premises provide a variable ambient environment with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 34°C. It will be maintaining a maximum humidity of 87% with ventilation system support and is compliant with the Korea Fire Safety Standards. This additional location brings GEODIS logistics footprint in South Korea to 65,000 square meters.

Sub-Regional Managing Director, North Asia, Chris Cahill said, “In line with our vision of being the growth partner of our customers, this investment in additional warehousing resource is just another step in GEODIS’ commitment to support our Korean customers’ development ambitions and our own expansion into strategic markets. From inventory management of raw materials to finished goods, valued added services and end to end solutions, our across the board provision logistics platforms facilitates faster speed to market for our customers’ products by being perfectly located to serve their target markets.”

Managing Director for GEODIS in South Korea, Benoit Brule comments, “Our Icheon amenity is built to state-of-the-art specifications of a Grade A standard at a strategic location. The warehouse is open to all new business offering customers an all-in-one service, increased efficiency, full visibility and total control. Above all, we have a truly professional team of supply chain experts ready to support our clients in all their Contract Logistics requirements.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

Yigit Saricinar has been promoted to Regional Air Freight Director, Asia Pacific (APAC). He will join GEODIS’ regional Management Board, reporting to Onno Boots, GEODIS’ Regional President and CEO, APAC.

Previously Sub-Regional Air Freight Director, ASEAN, Yigit has 15 years experience in the air freight industry and has been a valued member of the ASEAN management team at GEODIS over the last 3 years. During this time he has built a strong foundation for air freight in key ASEAN countries and will now expand his responsibilities to manage an ambitious air freight strategy within the regional as a whole.

In commenting on the appointment, Onno Boots said “The Head of Air Freight for APAC has a key role to play in the development of GEODIS’ services in the region. We have ambitious goals.  We will continue to be a valued growth partner to our customers, and assurance of delivering reliable and differentiated airfreight solutions to our customers is crucial.  As we expand on our scheduled services, such as AirDirect Mexico which connects Greater China to Mexico twice weekly, Yigit’s leadership will be pivotal.”

“While some passenger airlines have resumed operations, the current situation in the air freight market remains volatile,” Yigit comments. “The air freight team in APAC is well positioned to not only navigate the continued turbulence of the air cargo market in 2021, but to also thrive in both these conditions and in the years to come. We will continue to invest in our Own Controlled Network and fixed capacity.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

Mountain View, CA and Levallois-Perret, France, March 31, 2021 – GEODIS, a leading global logistics provider, has partnered with Phantom Auto, experts in long-range remote operation software for unmanned vehicles, to develop a forklift truck that can be controlled from a distance. This innovative program is aimed at improving comfort and safety, and creating job opportunities for people with physical disabilities and others that are historically underrepresented in the logistics industry.

The first successful tests took place in France (Levallois and Le Mans) as part of a multi-year cooperation between GEODIS, Phantom Auto, and Fenwick-Linde[1] to create the first remotely operated forklift, capable of being controlled from thousands of miles away. It is the precursor of a revolution in the nature of work in the logistics industry, expanding opportunity to people from historically underrepresented demographics (e.g. women, people with physical disabilities, geographically-isolated, and more).

This cooperation stems from a creative idea from a GEODIS manager and was developed in the framework of the GEODIS internal innovation program. The solution uses a Fenwick forklift combined with Phantom’s secure, network-agnostic, and interoperable remote operation software to enable remote workers to operate the vehicle, unlocking efficiency and equipment utilization gains. For example, one remote worker can operate multiple forklifts at a number of warehouses at different times of the day, all from one central location. 

GEODIS remote operators, also referred to as digital drivers, will be able to “teleport” between different vehicles and between different warehouses with the click of a button, all from the safety of a distant office. Phantom’s software provides GEODIS’ remote operators with real-time eyes and ears all around each vehicle, enabling them to safely and confidently guide the vehicles from wherever is convenient.

GEODIS’ remotely operated forklift program contributes to: (1) reduce injuries and increase overall safety in warehouses, (2) reduce the number of people physically inside warehouses to enhance worker comfort,  (3) create new future-proof remote operator jobs that can be carried out within a office environment, (4) hire individuals who may have physical disabilities restricting their use of traditional forklifts, as well as individuals from other historically underrepresented demographics, (5) recruit from regions outside of where warehouses are located, including areas of higher unemployment.

“Phantom Auto’s technology enables dynamic balancing of workforce allocation, safer warehouses, enhanced worker well-being, and employment opportunities to those who otherwise could not physically drive forklifts,” said Stéphanie Hervé, GEODIS’ Chief Operating Officer Western Europe, Middle East & Africa. “This innovation will be of benefit to the wider community and indicates the future of logistics operations. We believe that technology should serve people, and that is what this partnership with Phantom Auto illustrates”.

“Phantom is proud to have partnered with GEODIS in Europe in this groundbreaking initiative, which delivers multiple benefits in efficiency and the provision of a safer working environment,” said Shai Magzimof, Co-Founder of Phantom Auto. 

Co-Founder Elliot Katz added: “Phantom’s remote operation software can help people with physical disabilities not just to get from point A to point B, but also with actual employment opportunities, and we are thrilled that GEODIS is using our technology for good.”

[1] Fenwick-Linde is the French subsidiary of Linde Material Handling. Linde Material Handling GmbH, a KION Group company, is a globally operating manufacturer of forklift trucks and warehouse trucks, and a solutions and service provider for intralogistics. With a sales and service network that spans more than 100 countries, the company is represented in all major regions around the world.

About GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

About Phantom Auto

Founded in 2017 in Silicon Valley by a team of real-time communication and robotics experts, Phantom Auto specializes in remote operation of all types of unmanned vehicles with customers throughout the world.

Phantom Auto’s interoperable solution enables people to remotely monitor, assist, and operate fleets of unmanned vehicles from up to thousands of miles away – including forklifts, robots, trucks, passenger vehicles, and more. The company’s proprietary software delivers secure, low-latency communication over volatile wireless networks for reliable sensor streaming and safe control of vehicle functions.

For more information, please visit https://www.phantom.auto.

Photo Note:

Link to available photographs:  https://geodis.keepeek.com/bZ95dZ4p7

At the 2021 Arkema China Carrier Annual Conference held in Shanghai, China, GEODIS received the award of “Core Carrier of Arkema China”. The Annual Conference is held by Arkema to acknowledge and celebrate the company’s accomplishments in 2020, as well as to brainstorm ideas for future developments and innovative solutions in 2021.

In ensuring operational optimization in the customer’s supply chain, GEODIS APAC Regional President and CEO, Onno Boots said, “GEODIS is proud to be a partner of Arkema. This award is an important recognition and a key milestone for GEODIS moving forward in 2021.”

GEODIS currently manages the customs clearances for Arkema’s general cargo, as well as pre-carriage and on-carriage. Besides working with its nominated transport suppliers in optimizing its supply chain, GEODIS actively partners with Arkema to ensure the effective management of these dedicated supplier’s performance, including the responsibility of the adherence to agreed standards via an auditing process. 

Among ongoing projects in 2021 GEODIS is participating in a FCL[1] freight sourcing exercise for non-core destinations. This is estimated to encompass 1000TEUs of export volume in the Asia-Pacific region.

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[1] Full Container Load

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.

The ‘Best HR Strategy In Line With Business’ category award was presented to GEODIS during the Global Best Employer Brands 2021 awards ceremony at the 29^th edition of the World HRD Congress.

The Global Best Employer Brands 2021 celebrates the efforts of organizations and individuals for having the best practices. Particularly, ‘Best HR Strategy In Line with Business’ recognizes the importance of aligning Human Resources (HR) with the organization’s business strategy to boost performance and engagement.

GEODIS Asia-Pacific (APAC) embarked on a major transformation and growth journey 2 years ago.  An ambitious strategy and program were launched in line with the Group’s “Ambition 2023” goals, anchored in the guiding principle of “Led By Clients, Powered By Data, Driven By People”. This transformation program aims to pivot the business model to a much more solutions-based one and double the size of GEODIS in APAC within 5 years.

The GEODIS HR Strategy in APAC was created to support this end goal and built around four key pillars: Building a Talent pipeline; Accelerating Growth; Managing Performance and Creating An Inspiring Workforce.  HR has been working closely with all departments to ensure that within the time-scale, the right competencies and talent pool are in place, along with the appropriate development and training to support employees in their new and/or expanded roles, including critical change management that is key to a major transformation. HR has also focused on building an environment that is collaborative and engaging, in order to swiftly reach at the critical tipping point for such a successful transformation.   

Anne Tan, GEODIS’ Head of Human Resources in APAC said, “People are truly our most important resources and assets. As they are the ones implementing the business strategy on a day-to-day basis, motivating them and ensuring that our policies and processes are in place to enable them to achieve the business strategy, remains fundamental.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.3 billion in sales.