“Niches, not volumes”
Schneider expanding its range of services – with a global perspective. Schneider Transport, which is headquartered in Switzerland and runs activities all across Europe, is further expanding worldwide. Daniel Girod, COO Sea & Air, and Martin Isler, COO Road Europe, describe the developments of the past four years.
What’s your current priority, gentlemen?
Daniel Girod (DG): Currently, our focus is on developing a global perspective. Since September 2019 we’ve expanded massively in Asia and the Middle East, and won direct customers. Our strategy is that we’ll control about 80% of our business there ourselves by 2025. But globalisation also calls for answers in Europe, of course, especially in the UK.
“We’re preparing our operational entry into Vietnam and Malaysia.”
Martin Isler (MI): As a freight forwarder founded in 1865, all our transports used to be related to Switzerland. Since the mid-1980s we’ve expanded internationally and today we want to tap the potential in Europe, North America and Asia in equal measure.
Where are you building up and expanding business in Asia?
DG: We’ve established a total of eight branches in Hong Kong and China so far, and opened additional offices in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia as well as in India and Dubai (UAE). While Dubai has become an important hub, we’ve also observed a lot of momentum in India at the moment. We’re also preparing our operational entry into Vietnam and Malaysia.
How is North America developing?
DG: In the last two years, business in the USA has really exploded. Schneider Freight’s ebit there has doubled and connections to and from Switzerland and Europe, especially the UK, have expanded massively, amongst others. We offer niche transports there, as well as security solutions and customs brokerage, as well as conventional ‘Consol’ products. We’re currently also expanding our trans-Pacific offerings. We’ve also recently opened a new sales office in Houston TX, and are satisfied with our start in the project business.
What links are there between regions?
MI: The UK is very important not only for our Asian and American traffic, but also for Europe, that is to say to Switzerland, the Benelux countries, France and Italy. We’ve broadened our base through strategic acquisitions, for example GFC in Basildon (England), and offer all services there. We’re strong in road transport and customs handling and also have a lot of agency business.
DG: The United Kingdom is an interesting niche where we’re constantly expanding our presence as well as our business volumes. We’re currently planning to establish offices in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.
What’s the situation in good old Europe?
MI: We score points in Europe with our specialisation in customs business in Switzerland and the UK. We’re very well represented in road transport with our own offices in the Benelux countries, Germany, France, Austria and Italy, as well as with agents in various European countries. The expansion towards the East, especially Poland, Turkey, and the like has already been tackled, and an acquisition in Austria is in the pipeline.
DG: Developing new markets through acquisitions, in connection with the expansion of sea and airfreight activities, are all part of the strategy that we’re working on.
How do you counter ongoing staff shortages?
DG: Employees are our most important resource or, to put it in Swiss German, “Ohne Lüt sin mer nüüt” (we’re nothing without people.) Every client should have a personal contact at Schneider, that’s our USP. In Asia, we work 95% with sales staff, and recruitment is going well. But we’re increasingly shifting administrative tasks of the group to India, for example.
“We cultivate a family spirit.”
MI: Our staff situation is relaxed because we cultivate a ‘family spirit’, giving lateral entrants a chance. We went on the offensive in the field of recruiting young talent in 2022. We now train 30 apprentices in Switzerland and are successfully retaining young people with opportunities for promotion and positions abroad.
How are you currently positioned?
DG: With more than 1,000 employees today, we offer our customers individual solutions and high-level services, and are constantly expanding our portfolio. In the current volatile and partly uncertain markets, diversification is important, so we’re pushing that.
MI: We implement our ESG goals with our customers and partners and strive to be more sustainable than the law requires.