GEODIS, a world leader in transport and logistics, has reached an agreement with Innova Capital for the acquisition of PEKAES, a leading LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) and FTL (Full-Truckload) network in Poland.

Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS, says: “This acquisition is a major step forward to consolidate GEODIS’ presence in this region, which we consider strategic for the Group’s development.  PEKAES has an excellent local geographical coverage and its team is well recognized for its professionalism. Our complementary customer portfolios and our combined capabilities will allow us to offer Polish companies extensive international opportunities, while our customers will benefit from PEKAES’s expertise in Poland, which is the third largest logistics market in Europe. We are delighted to welcome all PEKAES employees and management into the GEODIS family.”

Created in 1958, PEKAES operates one of the leading FTL and LTL network in Poland for palletized freight. With 20 branches covering the whole of Poland, PEKAES handles all the national and international flows of some 10,000 active customers. The company also carries out, intermodal road-rail transport operations and offers additional logistics services on six dedicated sites. PEAKES employs around 1,200 people.

PEKAES will join GEODIS Road Transport line of business and Olivier Royer, GEODIS Executive Vice President for Road Transport, says: “GEODIS is reinforcing its service offerings in Poland and Eastern Europe, thanks to a best-in-class network. With this operation, GEODIS will also gain access and develop intermodal service offering in Poland and neighboring countries.”

Maciej Bachman, Chief Executive Officer of PEKAES commented: “We are excited to be joining forces with the GEODIS Group to offer our customers global coverage combined with a powerful logistics and transport network.”

Krzysztof Kulig, Senior Partner at Innova Capital said: “The scale of PEKAES’s success, transformation and bold expansion on the challenging Polish and international logistics market, which attracted the interest of GEODIS, could not have been possible without the hard work of the Innova Capital team and the company’s management. Together, we’ve built a logistics heavyweight, and the strength and resilience of the business was demonstrated by the negligible impact of the pandemic on current results. I am very grateful for their commitment and initiative.”

The transaction will take effect after completion of the usual regulatory formalities.

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 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

PEKAES – pekaes.pl

PEKAES Groupis a leading provider of transportation and logistics services, which includes the following companies: PEKAES Sp. z o.o., Chemikals Sp. z o.o., Spedycja Polska SPEDCONT Sp. z o.o.

PEKAES Sp. z o.o. is one of the largest companies in the TSL sector. PEKAES is committed to providing Customers with the most efficient management of their goods throughout the entire supply chain. We offer a complete warehouse space services, international and domestic LTL distribution, FTL, domestic, international, maritime, air and rail forwarding as well as bulk logistics and intermodal services.

Our group has one of the most efficient infrastructure of domestic distribution terminals, rail container and transshipment terminals in Poland and partnerships with organizations in all major European countries. PEKAES employs over 1,200 workers in its 20 Polish branches, 3 railway terminals and 6 logistic warehouses.

Our solutions are highly customized integrating IT and constant improvement of transportation operations, which makes us a provider of highest quality services. For more information on the PEKAES Group please visit: pekaes.pl

About Innova Capital –https://innovacap.com

Innova Capital is an independent private equity advisor, operating from Poland and investing in majority buyouts in mid-sized enterprises with activities in Central and Eastern Europe. From its inception in 1994, Innova Capital has invested close to EUR 1 billion in almost 60 companies located in 10 countries in the region. Innova was recognized by the Polish Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (PSIK) as PE Management Firm of the Year 2019.

GEODIS’ commitment to a socially and environmentally responsible business dates back over 10 years. Now, its online emissions calculator that determines the carbon footprint of a freight shipment is freely available on its website.

Accessed via https://geodis.com/geodis_carbon_calculator/form, the calculator measures air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions generated by an individual shipment’s journey, comparing the performance of different modes of transport (air, rail, road, sea, inland waterway, etc.). For each shipment of goods, the calculator gives an overview of the various options, making it an invaluable aid in choosing the most environmentally friendly transport.

The tool performs calculations that take into account the goods being shipped, their origin, destination and mode of transport before providing a quantitative evaluation.

“The precise measurement of emissions generated by one’s activities is a precondition for improvement. This initiative provides a transparent and reliable way to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants for each mode of transport” says Cécile Bray, Senior Expert Climate and Carbon Accounting at GEODIS.

A user-friendly solution

This new, intuitive service is available in English and French. It is developed in partnership with EcoTransIT World, whose methodology is accredited by the Smart Freight Centre’s Global Logistics Emission Council’s (GLEC) framework.

GEODIS’ actions recognized by the CDP*

Aware that climate change is a major challenge in the transport sector, GEODIS has set its sights on reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% between now and 2030.
In 2019, the company was awarded an A- rating by the CDP. With this rating, the CDP recognized GEODIS as a pioneering company that is implementing appropriate actions to report, control and effectively reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Only 6% of the companies assessed by the CDP worldwide received an equivalent or higher rating.

To reduce its carbon emissions, GEODIS:

– strives to optimize transport plans by implementing approaches that improve trucks’ load factor and avoid empty miles

– develop the use of rail for multimodal transport

– has integrated vehicles that use cleaner energy into their fleet (natural gas and electric)

GEODIS also commits to providing its customers with solutions to reduce their carbon footprint at each step of the supply chain.

*CDP is a non-profit international organization that manages the largest environmental reporting platform devoted to companies and cities.

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 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

Leading global logistics service provider, GEODIS has announced the appointment of Simon Vandekerckove as Country Managing Director in Vietnam.

The pace of change in supply chains is accelerating rapidly.  To reach its five-year growth objectives, GEODIS needs to be even more agile and adapt even faster than in recent years. Based on customer centric value creation and sustainability, the global logistics company plans on achieving this in particular in Vietnam, which has both experienced a continuous GDP growth of about 10% on average per year and transformed exponentially by leapfrogging to some of the most recent technologies and systems.

The country’s economy is on the same path to wealth as were those of China and Japan in the past. The recent European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) reinforces this trend by making the European market more accessible to Vietnamese exporters. It also opens the Vietnam market to European exporters, an opportunity for which GEODIS in Vietnam is uniquely positioned to support its clients in taking advantage of.

To meet the requirements of this increasingly demanding market, GEODIS has appointed as Country Managing Director Simon Vandekerckove, who takes over from Alan Miu, the caretaker in the role for the last eighteen months. Simon joins GEODIS in Vietnam with over 13 years of experience in the freight delivery sector. A French national, he has lived in Vietnam for the past 7 years as the country manager for a leading logistics company and is recognized for his expertise as well as experience in supply chain management. In his role Simon reports to Rene Bach-Larsen, the sub-regional Managing Director of GEODIS ASEAN.

In welcoming Simon, GEODIS Asia-Pacific Regional President and CEO, Onno Boots said, “In order to drive our ambitious plans for sustainable growth in the midst of challenging trading conditions we require strong leadership within our country organizations.  We seek to put in position those with industry experience, a thorough knowledge of the country and varied relevant skill-sets. Simon’s appointment underlines these priorities.”

With the continuous inward integration of ASEAN economies and supply chains, Vietnam also has a growing role as a regional transport hub.  GEODIS has developed its own cross border trucking operation, GEODIS ROAD NETWORK (GRN) which currently connects Singapore to Thailand and is planned to extend into Vietnam by end of 2020 and additionally into China in 2021. One of Simon’s prime objectives will be to integrate Vietnamese hubs into GRN.  This pioneering cross-border trucking system offers scheduled departures for consignments along the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok axis and will facilitate multi-modal gateway services to/from Vietnam. 

Understandably, Simon is relishing his challenging new role, “GEODIS in Vietnam is one of the best positioned forwarders in the country to support suppliers to the retail sector in particular,” he notes.  “We are able to arrange freight, customs clearance inhouse, contract logistics and distribution from our own facility.  We are well-placed to assist brands in taking advantage of the ecommerce boom with the full range of supply chain management tools, including last mile delivery to fulfill orders received on customers own ecommerce platforms. We plan on scaling up this offer.”

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 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

October 8, 2020, Paris, FRANCE: Leading logistics operator GEODIS and Accenture Interactive, part of Accenture (NYSE: ACN), today unveiled a new study which found that while there are key logistics capabilities required to build and maintain successful ecommerce operations, few brands excel at any of them.

Findings highlight:

• Acceleration of online sales

• Aims to reduce dependence on online marketplaces
• Pivotal nature of customer experience in growing sales
• Weaknesses in key logistics capabilities
• A lack of real-time supply chain visibility

“This study takes stock of the ambitions and concerns of European and American companies facing the rapid increase in ecommerce. If they want to take advantage of the rise in online sales, they must develop omnichannel logistics strategies tailored to their maturity levels,” says Marie-Christine Lombard, chief executive officer of GEODIS.

200 European and American companies that operate multiple channel logistics were interviewed about their ecommerce-related expectations for growing their brands’ sales.

2020: The Acceleration of Ecommerce

First and foremost, the study confirms that the pandemic greatly accelerated online commerce growth. Brands estimate that ecommerce in 2020 will represent nearly half of their sales (compared to a third before COVID-19).

Before the crisis, companies were making 34% of their sales online (28% on average in marketplaces and 6% on their own websites).

During lockdown, 65% of sales were made online: 38% via marketplaces and 27% on brands’ online stores. The increase is even more marked in Europe than in the United States. European companies without online sales solutions were heavily penalized, with 40% of the brands surveyed estimating that sales lost due to COVID-19 will exceed 15% of their earnings on average.

A Desire for Greater Ecommerce Ownership

A second finding indicated that most companies (52%) felt that their ecommerce potential is limited by their logistical capabilities.

“Many brands use marketplaces as a one-stop shop for selling their products online. This allows them to reach a wide audience and compensate for a lack of resources and logistical infrastructures, all while providing an expected customer experience,” said Sohel Aziz, managing director, Accenture Interactive.

59% of European companies rely on marketplaces for their online sales, a number even higher than for American companies (46%). Marketplaces held a 28% market share in the pre-COVID-19 period, a number that has risen to 38% during the pandemic.

However, most of the brands surveyed believe that over-reliance on marketplaces is not sustainable and wish to shift more of that balance toward owned ecommerce channels. Nearly two-thirds (64%) state that reducing their dependence on marketplaces is their first or second priority for the next six months.

Within 3 years, 76% of American companies and 56% of European companies surveyed wish to sell directly to consumers via their own websites, aiming to make 20% of their total sales there. (Infographic A)

“Direct sales from brands’ retail websites currently represent 5% to 8% of online sales. Brands would like to increase that to 20% or 30% in the next three to five years. The survey shows that brands are aware of the fact that improving their omnichannel logistics capabilities, such as customer experience – through customization of delivery options and tracking or customers’ ability to modify orders, for example, is essential and urgent if they are to reach this goal,” concludes Aziz.

Improving the Customer Experience, a Priority for Brands

76% of the companies surveyed state that improving the customer experience is their greatest long-term challenge. (Infographic C)

“The customer experience includes the purchasing experience and the delivery experience,” notes Ashwani Nath, vice president and global head of e-channel solutions, GEODIS. “Brands strive to provide a delivery experience that equals the act of purchasing. Among other things, this means providing improved e-fulfillment, a range of flexible delivery options, more practical tracking visibility and simple returns,” explains Nath.

Currently, 38% of American brands offer two-to-three-day shipping nationwide, and 56% plan to do so within three years (25% and 57% for European brands).

For international (intercontinental) shipping, no American brands currently offer two-to-three-day shipping, although 17% plan to do so within the next three years; 15% offer four-to-five-day shipping, with 66% planning to do so within the next three years. As for European brands, none of them currently offer two-to-three-day international shipping, although 7% plan to do so within the next three years; 4% offer four-to-five-day shipping, with 76% hoping to do so within the next three years.

The study reveals the ambitious objectives of the brands to reduce shipping times to three-day shipping within a maximum of three years for the domestic market and four-to-five for intercontinental shipping.

Among the Challenges: The Lack of Real-Time Visibility

Other challenges are emerging. Although they differ between the United States and Europe, the actions taken are comparable: Brands have worked on offering greater shipping flexibility and simplifying returns (80% of the brands surveyed had recently made efforts to provide a more practical product return process).

However, the survey points to the fact that just 16% of the companies questioned are able to get real-time key performance indicators for their supply chain (only 25% of American brands and 10% of European brands say they have access to this information). In addition, 40% of European brands say that their analytical capabilities are too rudimentary, generating data in a fragmented way, often manually and without clear governance.

“Only a minority of them have real-time supply chain inventory visibility. However, this visibility is essential to ensuring product availability, offering a variety of shipping choices and informing the customer of the product’s shipping status. In short — satisfying the customer,” says Nath. “Behind the scenes, this means optimizing the logistics cost for each order and overcoming many logistical challenges: reconciling the physical with the digital, maintaining a real-time inventory, optimizing stock, managing transportation, orchestrating orders while dealing with a variety of processes and partners. This will help brands to better utilize their physical assets and gain a competitive advantage.”

“This calls for integrating stores with ecommerce networks to serve as order processing centers, collection points, shipping facilities and fulfillment centers. One thing is for certain: inventory will have to be closer to the end customer, no matter where they may be, to ensure agility and availability,” concludes Nath.

Whitepaper available for download on the GEODIS site

Available upon request from the press department.

Methodology

• Accenture Research surveyed 200 companies (60% in Europe and 40% in the United States) with an online presence and a network of stores.
• Sales revenue between $100 million and $20 billion.
• Nine lines of business: consumer electronics, fashion & sport, luxury, furnishings, body care, non-perishable food, home care, games & toys.
• Report is the result of in-depth telephone interviews in the United States and in Europe at the end of 2019, coupled with a study conducted online in the United States and Europe between May and June of 2020.

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 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

About Accenture 
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all of these services. We combine unmatched experience and specialized capabilities across more than 40 industries — powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. With 506,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture brings continuous innovation to help clients improve their performance and create lasting value across their enterprises. Visit us at www.accenture.com. 

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Accenture Interactive is reimagining business through experience. We drive sustainable growth by creating meaningful experiences that live at the intersection of purpose and innovation. By connecting deep human and business insights with the possibilities of technology, we design, build, communicate and run experiences that make lives easier, more productive and rewarding. Accenture Interactive is ranked the world’s largest digital agency by Ad Age and has been named a Most Innovative Company by Fast Company. To learn more, follow us @AccentureACTIVE and visit www.accentureinteractive.com.