Expo.Logística 2014, a trade fair that takes place simultaneously with the XX International Supply Chain Forum, brings together, among other players, GEFCO Brasil, a global logistics operator that recently expanded its operations in Latin America to provide Inbound and Outbound transport services.
During a visit to Expo.Logística 2014, Alex Feijolo, the company's Commercial and Marketing Director, spoke about the organization's growth in the country, the bottlenecks in the logistics infrastructure and the increase in competitiveness in the company's operations based on information technology in the chain logistics.
Why did GEFCO choose Brazil as a market for expansion?
"GEFCO comes from the automotive industry, the company is a PSA logistics operator worldwide. And Brazil is a growing market in the automotive sector, even in a scenario of slowdown in the last 2 years. The know-how we have today in Brazil and the expertise we have worldwide allow us to have a privileged position to develop within the country.”
How has the organization faced the adversities of the macroeconomic scenario?
“Crisis and development are opportunities. When there is a crisis in the market, our customers are looking for solutions. GEFCO's Engineering and Intelligence areas are strategic areas and providers of solutions for our customers. Therefore, we managed to grow above average this year, which has been difficult for the industry in general.”
How does GEFCO address the issue of information technology? Is it a strategic area for the company?
“Information is inseparable from logistics. If you have a good service, if you deliver the product on time, but don't give information to the customer, it's the same thing as not having done it. For example, we work very strongly with factory supplies, and our customers make decisions based on information, not always the product. When we tell the customer 'your product is in your factory', he decides to produce on that line or not to produce it, that is, information is inseparable. And that improves our service level. We are going to invest in this in Brazil and in the world, because, in addition to good people, you need tools, and that is in the use of technology.”
In what sense can information lead to a reduction in operating costs?
"Recently GEFCO won a contract where the customer had an already established operation. Each plant made its own decisions and contracted its transport providers independently. We had the opportunity to do a unique project using routing tools and we delivered a better solution, which provides for the use of fewer vehicles with a higher delivery frequency and lower cost. We use technology to bring this solution to the customer”, He concludes.
Investment in technology, differentiation and innovation in services that add value and can reduce customers' costs and improve their visibility in the chain are among GEFCO's proposals. Present in 150 countries, the organization is one of the 10 largest European logistics operators and a reference in industrial logistics. Know more: http://br.gefco.net/
