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Tag: logistics

First unaccompanied cross-Channel rail service launched

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Eurotunnel and CargoBeamer have signed a partnership which will see the launch of a new, 100% unaccompanied rail freight transport service across the Short Straits, from Calais to Ashford.

The extension of the rolling motorway from Perpignan to Ashford is a logical step in developing a future international intermodal network between the Channel and the Mediterranean. A second route from Domodossola, in the Alps region, to Calais will also be extended to Ashford after its launch in early October.

Both new railway services will prevent 8,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions , responding to the move to decarbonising freight transport and promoting modal shift. The launch of an unaccompanied freight service makes it possible to partially resolve the shortage of truck drivers in the UK and Europe as well as relieving traffic congestion on motorways.

This new service builds on the complementary expertise of both companies. Getlink SE, the parent company of Eurotunnel, brings not only the speed, flexibility, and reliability inherent in Eurotunnel Shuttle services, but also its expertise in frictionless border crossings and carriage maintenance at CargoBeamer Terminal in Calais through Europorte. CargoBeamer offers its customers the benefit of its commercial and logistical expertise through its rolling motorways from Perpignan and Domodossola.

Christian Dufermont, Freight Commercial Director of Eurotunnel, stated: “The signature of this partnership confirms our freight commercial strategy and is concrete proof of our customers’ increased interest in an unaccompanied cross-Channel service that helps decarbonise their logistic chains and improves flexibility.”

Nicolas Albrecht, Chief Business Development Officer of CargoBeamer, added: “We value the cooperation between Eurotunnel and CargoBeamer as another crucial step in developing new relations around our recently opened terminal in Calais. Connecting Europe and the UK by environmentally friendly rail is highly important to achieve our mission of reducing the carbon footprint of the logistics industry.”

Retailers: how to survive and thrive through a ‘pingdemic’

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Retailers have had it rough, to say the least. With Brexit and the pandemic causing a wave of uncertainty, brands saw themselves facing never before seen challenges. As a result, customer service teams and operational agility were pushed to their limits, picking up the pieces with frustrated customers due to supply chain and workforce shortages.

With thousands of front-line workers ‘pinged’ to self-isolate, the same problems of empty supermarket shelves, delayed deliveries, and stretched customer service teams we saw in the peak of March 2020, appeared once again. What first seemed like a viable solution to make people safer, soon had a damaging effect on the supply chain.

Now, with changes to the app made, the number of people ‘pinged’ has thankfully fallen, and policy updates mean that those double jabbed, no longer need to self-isolate. Despite this, the battle is far from won and retailers still need to emerge from these challenges in a more robust and agile position.

With brands setting the bar higher than ever before, COVID, Brexit and the ‘pingdemic’ are no longer excuses for a bad delivery experience. But what steps can retailers make to mitigate risk and protect the experience for their customers?

Step 1: automated tracking

Royal Mail recently reported disruption to deliveries in 12 different postcodes across the UK after a wave of staff were forced to self-isolate. With many other companies following suit, there was also another kind of wave – that being a surge of angry customers, without any knowledge of where their deliveries could be.

Ultimately, leading them to pick up the phone and ask ‘where is my order?’ to customer teams. If a customer’s delivery is going to be late, they want to know about it ahead of time rather than being the one to chase for updates – and this is where automated tracking can save the day.

Similar to fast Wi-Fi or running tap water, branded tracking should be basic hygiene. Yet in a recent study conducted by sorted.com, it was found that only 36% of retailers have branded tracking on their app or website, while 18% of retailers do not offer any tracking at all. With disruption always on the horizon, automated tracking is now crucial, especially when it comes to staying one step ahead of the customer.

With automated tracking, retailers can keep customers informed at every point of the delivery journey, meaning they know where their delivery or return is before they even need to ask. This is already doing wonders for some brands. MusicMagpie, for example, successfully slashed their “where is my order” contact enquiries by 63% after they incorporated automated tracking. In turn, this reduced the pressure on contact centres, all while protecting customer loyalty and confidence.

Step 2: ready for the unexpected

If retailers have less staff on the ground, those who can work need all the help they can get with automation. To drive the most efficient operations, brands need to be more informed with access to data. After all, a more informed business means a more successful one. Better informed CX teams leads to better support for customers, so accurate insights are vital for quick crisis management.

While the pandemic has been a case of unprecedented disruption, other unexpected factors (such as weather and traffic disruptions) are inevitable. No two days are ever the same in logistics. From a snowstorm to blocked motorways, anything can crop up so having the insight to act fast and make changes is critical.

This is why retailers must stay ahead of the game and be prepared to deal with any sudden issues to protect brand reputation and customer loyalty. To do so, delivery performance reporting can be incorporated to keep teams up to date with any problems or issues that can appear across multiple carriers. To be as proactive as possible, teams can set-up escalation management, such as alerts and warnings, to be notified of any missing or late parcels. With 1 out of 5 of customers less likely to shop with a retailer online again following a bad delivery experience, proactivity is therefore crucial to brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.

Step 3: better insight

No matter how prepared you may be, disruption is often inevitable, so customer service representatives must be ready to deal with any unpredictable issues. As such, it’s crucial for teams to be fully informed with access to any necessary data insights all in one place to offer quick solutions. For instance, with an interactive dashboard, teams can highlight any issues by severity, so prioritisation is clear. It’s bad enough for customers to be left in the dark, but for teams to be clueless about the status of a delivery or return too, will be self-destructive for a brand.

Even better, today’s digital age means customers can look up information on their own with ‘self-serve’. Rather than getting in touch with contact centres, customers can access the specific information they need, wherever they are in their post-purchase journey. This eases the pressure of customer service teams, allowing them to focus on more complex issues. With 73% of customers saying that valuing their time is the most important thing a company can do to provide them with good online customer service – self-serve provides an answer to your teams’ prayers.

The bottom line: be proactive

The past year has been a challenging time for retailers, but the ‘pingdemic’ won’t be the last of their problems. To be more prepared, brands must now adopt the right tech and be equipped with actionable insights to reduce the pressure on teams and deliver the best service possible.

XPO Logistics sponsors Birmingham Pride

Posted on by David Priestman

XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of freight transportation services, is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by sponsoring the Birmingham Pride Festival on 25th–26th September 2021 in the West Midlands. The theme of the event, “Stronger Together”, also signals XPO’s support of LGBTQ+ employees and allies.

XPO sponsors LGBTQ+ events that reflect the geographic diversity of its operations, as well as the individualism of its team members. The company recently supported the Tamworth Pride Festival in Staffordshire and has sponsored the New York City Pride, the Mid-South Pride Fest, the Tri-State LGBTQ+ Unity Summit and the Lesbians Who Tech Virtual Summit in the US.

Dan Myers, managing director – UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “We want everyone to feel welcome and valued as members of the XPO team. A diverse team makes us a stronger business and helps us to recruit and retain the very best people. Our support for Pride events like Birmingham and Tamworth is an important demonstration of our commitment to an inclusive workplace.”

XPO provides technology-enabled freight transportation services for customers across a range of supply chains in Europe, including food and beverage, e-commerce, industrial and consumer goods, as well as the Tour de France and other world-class events. Following success in recruiting from within the LGBTQ+ community, XPO is applying its best practices to other areas of diversity hiring, development and promotion.

Descartes’ research highlights impact of delivery experience

Posted on by David Priestman

Descartes Systems Group, a global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, has published the findings of its Consumer Online Delivery Research, which set out to assess consumers’ online purchasing experiences across Europe.

Undertaken by SAPIO Research during July 2021, the interviews with consumers across Europe highlighted that quality of the delivery service is undermining overall customer perception of both delivery companies and retailers – leading to lost sales. The research concludes that retailers need to take ownership of the end-to-end experience, in order to address consumer expectations regarding tracking and communication; safe delivery and ease of return; and, increasingly, environmental considerations.

Key findings include:

  • The quality of the experience has been far from perfect: just 16% of UK consumers are satisfied with the delivery service every time.
  • Over two thirds (68%) have had an issue with delivery in the last three months – and, as a result, 24% lost trust in a delivery company and 24% lost trust in the retailer.
  • Over a third (37%) of consumers also share their perception of both delivery company and retailer with friends and family – creating a ripple effect that rapidly undermines consumer perception.
  • 71% of European consumers consider the environment when making an online order.
  • Almost a third are interested in bulking all orders to one weekly delivery.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of purchases made online has grown from an average of 32% to 43% and is expected to remain at 41% for the foreseeable future. More than half (51%) of consumers have increased the number of purchases they make online, and 51% now make an online purchase at least once a fortnight – almost double the number (28%) pre-pandemic.

Despite these statistics, the research findings underline the fact that deliveries are failing to achieve complete customer satisfaction, with nearly nine in ten (87%) customers not always satisfied with the delivery services received. With satisfaction rates even lower for consumers who have reduced their online buying behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic, the implications of inadequate delivery experiences cannot be overlooked.

Timing is the biggest issue for home deliveries – with two in three (68%) UK consumers reporting a delivery problem in the last three months. Delivery problems radically affect customer perception – and not just of the delivery company. While almost a quarter (24%) lost trust in the delivery company, 24% also lost trust in the retailer and 23% did not buy from that retailer again.

Given that many consumers were a captive audience during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, these delivery problems should raise serious alarm bells for retailers. With just 16% of UK consumers confirming they are totally satisfied with the delivery service, a company’s ability to meet its delivery promises will become increasingly important to reinforce the quality of customer experience and maximise the chances of customer retention.

Questions retailers should, therefore, be seriously considering, include:

  • How proactively is the retailer tracking delivery performance?
  • What is the strategy for managing spiralling delivery costs and optimising driver time?
  • What is the strategy for meeting customers’ environmental expectations? Can the delivery model support bulk orders and green scheduling? Are the right vehicles being automatically assigned to deliver in Clean Air Zones?

Pol Sweeney, VP Sales and Business Manager UK, Descartes, comments: “Consumers will not return to pre-pandemic shopping habits; having become used to the convenience of ecommerce, online purchasing will continue to dominate. Individuals have become far more confident and sophisticated online over the past 18 months and expectations have risen, leading retailers to enhance the online experience, but as this research reveals, the quality of the delivery service is undermining the overall customer perception and leading to lost sales.

“Retailers that take ownership of the entire end-to-end experience and truly optimise the delivery process have the opportunity to transform customer perceptions, drive additional sales and, critically, entice customers from poorer performing competitors.”

Duisburg DC marks developer’s market entry

Posted on by Keith McKinley

BEOS Logistics, a joint venture between Swiss Life Asset Managers, Ingo Steves and Stephan Bone-Winkel, is developing an 85,000 sq m logistics facility close to the ports of DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen on the Rhine and Lippe rivers in Wesel near Duisburg for a global logistics service provider.

BEOS Logistics acquired the site from the DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen group of ports. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. As the general contractor, the List Group is responsible for the construction works, which are scheduled to start in spring 2022 for completion in summer 2023.

“Besides this first project, our pipeline is well stocked and will allow us to grow rapidly,” says Ingo Steves, Managing Partner of BEOS Logistics. “With this project, we have created an excellent win-win situation for the tenant, Delta-Port and BEOS Logistics. While the port location, with its outstanding connections, is particularly attractive for us and the tenant, DeltaPort benefits from having a long-term user and investor in place.

“What brought all of the stakeholders together, however, was primarily the focus on a solution in which sustainability plays a leading role,” says Steves. The partners’ commitment to sustainability means that the state-of-the-art property will strive for BREEAM “Excellent” certification and substantial investments will be made to enhance other sustainability features throughout the facility.

The property is being developed on a 165,000 sq m greenfield site. The majority of the leasable space (81,400 sq m) will be logistics space. In addition, the new complex will also accommodate 1,600 sq m of office and social and 2,700 sq m of mezzanine space. While the facility is leased on a long-term basis to the single tenant, the space is also flexibly designed for division into up to 10 units for different occupiers. The development will also include 37 parking spaces for heavy goods vehicles and 200 for cars.

The site of the new facility benefits not only from direct access to the Rhine-Lippe port, but also from convenient access to the B8 and A3 highways, both of which link to major logistics routes. Given its proximity to the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp, the region also serves as a hinterland hub for international goods traffic, which has led to the above-average settlement of wholesalers.

At the same time, the location offers access to the Ruhr and Cologne/Bonn regions. Overall, the Duisburg/Lower Rhine region has one of the most efficient infrastructures and is one of the most flexible logistics hubs in Germany.

Forto makes first Iberian appointment

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Forto, a leading provider of digitised freight forwarding and supply chain solutions, is to expand into the Spanish market with a new office in Madrid. The new office marks a further step in Forto’s growth trajectory and expansion of its European footprint.

The company takes its first steps in Spain with the appointment of Angel Hierro as Director Iberia at Forto Logística España. Formerly Director of Supply Chain Solutions and Chief Commercial Officer with Agility Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) (recently acquired by DSV Panalpina). Hierro brings more than 25 years of logistic industry experience to Forto. Before joining Agility, Hierro also held business and trade lane development roles with GeoLogistics and ocean freight positions with LEP International.

“We are thrilled to have someone with Angel’s understanding of the Spanish market and deep logistics expertise to drive forward our next phase of growth,” commented Michael Wax, Forto co-founder and CEO.

Hierro further commented on the potential he sees in the Forto offering: “The entire supply chain is transforming as we speak. Forto is uniquely positioned to drive this transformation. Forto’s corporate culture is based on sustainability and digitisation, coupled with an exceptional team of logistics and technology experts focused on bringing value to the supply chain. I am really excited about the opportunity to bring their offering to the local market.”

Forto teams in Spain include local customer account management, logistics operations, and technical engineers supported by Forto’s international network of logistics, operational, and technical teams around the world. Forto expects to continue to expand its presence in Spain and later also in Portugal by growing the team and its local partnerships over 2021 and 2022 and beyond.

Forto is leading a new generation of disruptive logistics companies, using its digital platform to simplify interactions, remove process friction, and increase supply chain visibility and transparency — in turn empowering customers with better insights to make smarter decisions. The company has also set the goal to make global trade more sustainable. Already more than half of Forto customers leverage the company’s carbon-offsetting offer, and Forto has implemented the “1+1 Approach” — a program in which Forto doubles the CO2 compensation of every customer to move towards climate-positive transport.

Leading brands across industries ranging from fashion, furniture, and electronics are working with Forto to manage the transport of their goods. Since its founding in 2016, Forto has consistently delivered rapid growth and broadened its solutions offering. Recent appointments of technology, sales, and finance veterans have strengthened the leadership team. Earlier in June, the company announced that it has successfully raised $240m in an investment round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from Citi Ventures and G Squared, and strong backing from existing investors including Northzone, Inven Capital, Cherry Ventures, and Unbound.

With this round, Forto’s valuation now stands at $1.2bn.

STILL organises flood aid campaigns

Posted on by Keith McKinley

There are many ways to provide support and solidarity – as can be seen from the various aid campaigns organised by the Hamburg-based intralogistics company STILL for those affected by the floods in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria.

By providing personal assistance and donating vehicles to the German Red Cross (DRK), among other things, the company and their employees are actively and reliably supporting the people in the flooded areas.

Within days of the devastating floods in the west and south of Germany, STILL employees organised spontaneous aid for suppliers in the region. For example, STILL electricians promptly travelled to North Rhine-Westphalia. There, they lent a hand to a long-standing supplier, Falkenroth Umformtechnik GmbH, repairing the central production facilities with a great deal of expertise.

This was a success: thanks to this joint effort, production could be resumed in record time. “With this initiative, our employees not only showed great personal commitment, but also proved that they have their hearts in the right place and a good sense of partnership and solidarity,” says Frank Müller, Senior Vice President Brand Management / Sales & Service Steering STILL EMEA.

On-site logistics support

The company also provided valuable emergency aid: STILL promptly made forklift trucks and other industrial trucks available to the German Red Cross in the region hit by the disaster. The powerful and robust trucks are a welcome support in dealing with the major logistical challenges on the ground.

An additional vehicle donation has just been made: to save time and effort when unloading heavy and bulky loads from the trucks, STILL supplied the DRK Ortsverband Bad Neunahr-Ahrweiler e.V. with a powerful electric high lift stacker.

“The volunteers in the flooded areas have been doing great – and often physically very strenuous – work under extremely challenging conditions for weeks. If we can help make this easier, more efficient and more ergonomic with our technology and our equipment, then we are more than happy to do so,” explains Müller.

Niglon achieves 20% uplift in productivity

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Productivity, accuracy and revenue are all up by 20% at a thriving UK electrical business thanks to LYDIA voice-picking technology supplied by Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG). The eye-catching figures make for exciting reading at electrical component supplier Niglon. As an added plus, this investment in technology did not require the customer to implement a new Warehouse Management System (WMS).

LYDIA is a cutting-edge warehouse technology supplied by EPG. This voice-picking revolution offers hope to all logistics organisations, including smaller businesses looking to adapt to the rigorous demands of the e-commerce age without substantial capital expenditure.

Gavin Clark, EPG Head of UK and Ireland, explains: “Because no new WMS is needed with LYDIA, picking consistency can be upgraded to the next level at an affordable outlay – what’s more, LYDIA Voice requires no training for new users, making the handover as swift and flexible as possible.”

No paper, no pressure

To maintain Niglon’s hard-won reputation for outstanding service, managers recognised that they needed to adopt state-of-the-art picking technology that offers efficiency, accuracy and reliability. Speed and full concentration are vital to the company’s fulfilment operations – for instance, a 9V switch looks very similar to an 8.6V switch, and probably has an almost identical product code and the same packaging.

The company’s existing paper-based picking system required training time for new staff, adding to time pressures at seasonal peaks. Ideally, Niglon also wanted state-of-the-art picking proficiency without having to absorb or invest in a new WMS. The Germany-based supply chain software specialist EPG was able to come up with the answers. Dispensing with paper and, crucially, not requiring a company to upscale to full WMS, the LYDIA Voice picking system uses a very simple, adaptable range of short voice commands.

Workflows can be adapted to suit the process, but they are always short and easy to follow. The LYDIA system is also able to comfortably understand accents and dialects where required. Niglon pickers typically wear headsets, but users may also opt for a unique wearable vest in which all the electronics are fully integrated.

Niglon set EPG the challenge of increasing order picking accuracy to 99.9% from its existing overall figure of 96%, which was weighed down by occasionally low first-time accuracy due to missed or wrong product picks.

Productivity and accuracy gains

“Yes, accuracy is 99.9%,” reveals Oliver Hinley, Operations Director at Niglon. Faster and easier inventory management is another gain among many. “Productivity has risen by 10-20% across all of our operators, with first-time accuracy rates up by 20%,” he confirms.

“We’ve increased revenue by double-digit figures but without any need to increase permanent staff, with just a few agency staff required to cover peaks. The good news is that when we do need those extra staff they can be upskilled into a complex environment very quickly, because LYDIA Voice requires no staff training and is very user-friendly.”

Witron UK celebrates 25th anniversary

Posted on by David Priestman

While Witron Logistik + Informatik GmbH celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, its UK subsidiary is also celebrating its 25th company anniversary. Founded in July 1996, the site in Stoke-on-Trent has developed from a one-person sales office into a strong team with now almost 70 employees who secure deals with new customers and serve existing customers in the UK. The subsidiary is continuously growing and is seeking many new specialists.

“It all started with a project for Universal Office Supplies”, says Jack Kuypers, Witron Senior Vice President North West Europe. “Additional cross-industry customers such as Pirelli Tyres, the Princes Group, Computacenter, Woolworth, Northern Foods, and Cepac followed soon.

“We also implemented several automated or manual logistics systems for customers such as food retailer Sainsbury’s, Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte, Tetrapak, and corrugated cardboard manufacturer DS Smith.”

For more than four years, Duncan Pointon has been responsible for the sale of automated logistics and picking systems as well as the customer support in the UK. “While the general contractor for logistics Witron was initially responsible for the design and implementation of the projects exclusively, the service portfolio has been successively expanded over the years.

“Thus, for customers such as the automotive parts distributor FEBI, the health and beauty retailer Boots, and the food retailer TJ Morris, in addition to the holistic material flow design, all IT and control components, as well as the conveyor system, the ramp-up, and individual remote and OnSite service models optimally tailored to the customers’ needs, were delivered by Witron”, explains the experienced engineer.

“Our cost-efficient, flexible, and ergonomic omni-channel solutions now have a unique selling point in the logistics world. Moreover, our customers – and we are particularly proud of this – rely on the values and culture that make Witron so unique: Rolling up one’s sleeves, keeping promises, being reliable and predictable, staying down to earth”, says Pointon, highlighting the strengths of the internationally operating family company.

Case and piece picking solutions

Witron considers itself as one of the pioneers in the UK, especially in food retail logistics and in the drugstore sector. For example, the two Sainsbury’s sites in Hoddesdon and Stoke-on-Trent continue to operate in a highly available, efficient, economical, and ergonomic manner even after more than 20 years of operation.

The Boots Store Service Centre (SSC) in Nottingham – in operation since 2007 – is one of the most dynamic logistics facilities in Europe and supplies more than 2,300 stores. On a peak day, almost 3 million pick units are picked there. The Covid-19 pandemic in particular demonstrated the enormous flexibility of the integrated Witron systems, which were modified from a pure store delivery process to a highly efficient omni-channel system within a very short time, and the warehouse now also supports Boots’ home shopping business.

In 2024, Witron will commission a new logistics centre for TJ Morris, the retailer headquartered in Liverpool. Its new client is one of the fastest-growing and best-rated UK retailers throughout Europe. While the family business currently operates around 550 shops under the “Home Bargains” brand, it is expected to be close to 1,000 in just a few years as a new store is added almost every week.

TJ Morris distributes a wide range of food, household goods, and general merchandise products. The mechanised system is designed for a daily picking capacity of 646,000 cases.

“Retailers in the UK are eager to learn about our intelligent omni-channel solutions such as the Order Picking Machinery (OPM) palletising robotics solution or the All-in-One Order Fulfilment System (AIO),“ Duncan Pointon announces.

“In the future, retailers in the UK will have to cope with a wide variety of challenges such as the availability of logistics staff, increasing cost pressure and higher logistics demands in a heterogeneous omni-channel environment. Witron’s solutions perfectly fulfil these tasks. They have been successfully implemented and utilized by market-leading retailers worldwide.”

Maximum delivery performance

High business demand, as well as the permanently growing service business, are reasons why the current office space in Stoke-on-Trent is no longer sufficient and requires a relocation within the city. That is why this year, the company will move into a state-of-the-art office on the premises of the renowned Keely University.

The move is being organised by Craig Goulding who has been working for Witron as a service and maintenance expert for almost 20 years. “Our customers can concentrate on their core business and we ensure continuously high availability of all software and mechanical components with our service teams based on a wide range of services. Thus, the logistics centres can supply many thousands of customers with goods via stores, repair departments, or online stores largely error-free every day.”

Colleagues wanted

Due to the high number of projects that Witron currently has in the sales pipeline in the UK, the company naturally requires a lot of new skilled workers. Well-trained craftspeople – electricians, mechatronics engineers, or metalworkers, as well as programmers and engineers from various specialised areas.

“And where is the best place to find them? – Right on the University campus”, says Craig Goulding. In addition to an interest in working with innovative technology and ongoing training, the ability to work in a team is a key factor. “We need team players, not lone wolves,” soccer fan Goulding sums up. “We are looking for colleagues who make the customers’ challenges their personal challenge – and are eager to solve it.”

In addition to a wide-ranging work environment in a crisis-proof and leading-edge industry, Witron is equally convincing with state-of-the-art workstations, an attractive salary, and a wide range of social benefits.

Looking ahead

A lot has happened at Witron in recent years – not only in the UK but worldwide. The Witron group is continuously growing. While Witron currently employs some 4,500 people and shows an annual revenue of €710m. Soon it will employ over 7,000 employees and sales will exceed the €1bn mark.

A new 120,000 sq m production facility for conveyor system components and control cabinets is currently put into operation at the company’s headquarters in Parkstein, a €200m investment which will more than double the company’s floor space.

“That’s why we are not only proud to look back,” Duncan Pointon and Craig Goulding agree, “but are also proud to look to the next 25 successful years. And as an attractive employer facing high demand for Witron solutions, we are sure that we can look forward to many future successes with numerous new customers and many new colleagues.”

FedEx launches small business competition in Europe

Posted on by Keith McKinley

FedEx Express has launched its Small Business Grant Competition in Europe. The competition offers a total grant pool of nearly €250,000 to European small businesses to help them grow and achieve their ambitions. For the first time, the competition will be run as a single pan-European contest, open to small businesses based in 16 countries.

The competition is open to for-profit small businesses with 50 employees or fewer across the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Fifteen  finalists will be selected to compete for the Grand Prize (€50,000) or one of the three Judges’ Choice Awards: Digital Excellence, Sustainability Champion, and Innovation Mastermind (€15,000 each). In addition to the finalists competing for one of the four prizes awarded by the jury, the non-finalist companies take part in the public voting phase and can win the People’s Choice Award in their country, leading to 15 additional winners who will receive €10,000 each.

“Running a small business is tough at the best of times, but the last 18 months have really pushed SMEs to adapt to survive,” said Helena Jansson, SVP Finance International, FedEx Express and Small Business Grant Contest jury member. “Through the Small Business Grant Competition, we want to get behind our small businesses, help them achieve their dreams, and write the next chapter of their story.”

To participate, companies do not have to be a current customer or have an active shipment account with FedEx Express. The competition entry period is open from 15th September to 20th October 2021. The 15 finalists will be announced on 17th November 2021 and public voting for the People’s Choice Awards will be opened. All winners will be announced on 26th January 2022. CLICK HERE to visit the application process and the terms and conditions.

Established in the US in 2012, the FedEx Small Business Grant Competition continues to expand year over year around the world. In Europe, the competition was first launched in 2016 in three countries, building to five countries by 2019. Now, for the first time, it is launching in 16 countries across Europe to provide more opportunities for small companies who show passion and innovation in the region.

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