time:matters looks back on a turbulent yet successful year

time:matters takes stock after an extraordinary year and looks positively towards the future. In 2020, the focus was on internationalization and network expansion. The environmentally friendly transport service ‘airmates’ was also established. This year, the further digitization of the service and booking channel is at the forefront.

(Neu-Isenburg) 2020 was a challenging year for the logistics industry: Due to capacity bottlenecks, many customers were and are concerned about their supply chains and are looking for fast, reliable, and flexible transport solutions. time:matters provides relief and ensures that even during times of lockdowns, border closures, and other restrictions, all supply chains can be maintained at any time. Despite the many challenges in 2020, the logistics expert looks back on a solid year and significant milestones.

Twelve extraordinary months

Despite the more than unusual circumstances with restrictions in air traffic and resulting capacity bottlenecks, time:matters was still able to offer its customers flexible, innovative, and high-performance solutions in 2020. The logistics expert selectively increased its personnel in recent months and will continue to do so this year. In principle, with the outbreak and rapid global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the demand for medical protective equipment increased, while the available freight capacities decreased. To counteract this development, time:matters utilized freight charters for the first time, as well as so-called passenger aircraft, which temporarily served as cargo planes to carry out urgently needed transports. The company conducted over 150 such flights last year alone – for governments as well as for industrial companies from various sectors to maintain their supply chains.

In March, time:matters also implemented a creative transport process into its daily business: “Cargo pilots have essentially taken on the role of onboard couriers and transported urgently needed stem cells for people suffering from blood cancer around the globe. In the past twelve months, over 1,000 transports have been carried out and delivered. We are always happy when we can contribute to helping patients with leukemia recover,” explains Alexander Kohnen, CEO of time:matters.

Subsidiary established in America

In parallel to the operational solutions in recent months, the logistics expert successfully advanced its internationalization strategy. In July 2020, time:matters established its subsidiary time:matters Americas, Inc., thereby complementing its existing portfolio in China, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. In September, time:matters also expanded its intra-American same-day air network. Customers now benefit from over 100 available stations, collaboration with four of the leading airlines in the USA, and up to 50,000 weekly flight frequencies.

For its ecological footprint, time:matters also made significant contributions in 2020. Since December 2019, the company has saved around 368 tons of CO2 through its transport service ‘airmates’. By the way, ‘airmates’ is the world’s first CO2-neutral onboard courier service.

Last but not least, the quality and service of the company have once again been confirmed by independent sources in recent months, as evidenced by a number of awards. For example, time:matters Spare Parts Logistics was awarded the Excellence Award from John Deere for the sixth time last year.

Positive outlook for the future

2020 has shown that time:matters is a flexible and reliable partner for its customers even in difficult times. The company naturally wants to continue this in the coming months. While last year the focus was particularly on internationalization and network expansion, the main focus now is on further digitizing the service and booking platform. Here, too, the customer is at the center – in the future, they should be able to select and book the appropriate offer in just a few clicks. This fast and easy functionality is very interesting for many time:matters customer groups, including those from the automotive, life & health, high tech & semicon, aviation, and machinery & components sectors.

2021 will also be a challenge

For the further development of digital channels, time:matters benefits from the experiences with its in-house platform ‘airmates’, which has already been recognized for its user-friendliness in the past.

Despite everything: “After 2020, 2021 will also be a challenging year for the logistics industry,” predicts Lars Krosch, COO of time:matters, adding: “In the coming months, available freight capacities are likely to remain tight, which will bring logistics specialists like time:matters back into focus to carry out important and urgent transports quickly and reliably at any time. For these challenges, we see ourselves as a company well positioned.”

Photo: © time:matters
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