Izdanje Srbija
Serbische Ausgabe
Izdanje BiH
Izdanje Crna Gora
News
Vuk Mijanović, Nelt Group's Logistics Business Development Manager - We are leaders in new technologies, but what sets us apart are people
Source: eKapija
Sunday, 15.12.2024.
22:52
Sunday, 15.12.2024.
22:52
Comments
Vuk Mijanović (Photo: Branimir Milovanović)
The outrunning year at Nelt was marked by a successfull CEO transition and the group`s organizational transformation. Accelerated income growth continued, business operations in the Romanian market were launched, and at the recent annual press conference it was announced that the Nelt Group will achieve a revenue of EUR 1.4 billion, which is an increase of 8% compared to last year. On that occasion, the largest investment in the company`s history was announced - EUR 100 million, which will be aimed at expanding existing capacities, redesign and optimization of the logistics network. This was certainly an occasion to talk about upcoming plans, as well as the achieved results, and Vuk Mijanović, Nelt Group`s logistics business development manager, speaks for eKapija.
eKapija: Judging by the latest announcements that Nelt is planning the largest investment cycle so far, one would say that the real growth of the company is yet to be expected? Can you tell us a little more about your plans for the coming period?
- Behind us is certainly one of the most successful periods since the founding of the company, when it comes to business results and the successes we have achieved. When we were setting up the strategy "Accelerate 2025", one of the key goals was revenue growth through all three pillars of our business,
which is exactly what happened. But there is also the investment in all the preconditions that were needed to ensure success, and that is the people and the organization, processes, competencies, infrastructure and technology. The initiatives we carried out were aimed at all the prerequisites, but organizational development and processes were primary to lay the groundwork for further plans.
Of course, it was also about technology, mostly in setting digital strategies and infrastructures,
where we have made great strides. When it comes to the logistics infrastructure and technology,
there we prepared what was yet to come. Most of the announced investments are related to the logistics network and infrastructure, as well as the automation of the process. We will implement technologies such as "high bay", "ASRS shuttle" systems, as well as robotic systems for sorting goods. Apart from the mentioned investments, we will also redesign and optimize our entire logistics network. We want to offer a wider range of logistics services, create an environment for B2B or B2C eCom services, and make our operations faster and more efficient. Our idea is to create the most modern logistics hubs in the region which will combine intermodal, powerful fullfillment, our recognizable last mile in one place. We believe that all of the above is the key to further growth in all business segments and supporting our new strategic cycle until 2030.
eKapija: In three decades of business, the Nelt company has developed its activities on 12 markets and two continents, and a new company in Romania was recently presented. You spent most of your professional career at Nelt and grew along with the company. For all this time, surely you have been able to see what is Nelt`s biggest competitive advantage?
- It is difficult to single out just one, I could devote a whole interview to this question, but if i really have to have one, I would say that the people working at Nelt are certainly the biggest competitive advantage. Although it sounds cliche, it really is. The company culture and values that we all truly live by set us apart. The Alumni Club has recently been launched, where we reached 20,000 people who spent some part of their career in Nelt. I believe, and for some I know, that this sense of community is something specific and different in comparison to other companies.
eKapija: New technologies and digitization of processes place increasing demands on companies, but one would say they also manage the way of their development. Can it be said that Nelt is setting the standards in the field of logistics in this particular sphere?
- Since its foundation, Nelt has been progressive in terms of applying technological solutions in logistics operations. More than 20 years ago, we were among the first companies to introduce systems for managing warehouse and transport operations. We have set standards in all the markets where we are present. Today, there are more companies that are recognizing the trends and investing heavily in the technology and they have stepped up in these areas. The circumstances are such that if you want to move forward, investments like this are inevitable. We have invested a lot of time and resources in digitization and data management because we believe that managing and understanding data is the key. The digital infrastructure we developed through the "Data management" project enables us to understand causes and effects, not to waste time on content creation, but to draw conclusions and make the right decisions. I am convinced that the effort we put in will soon pay off, especially bearing in mind that we welcome new trends and the application of galloping changes brought about by AI.
eKapija: Automation and digitization in the supply chain certainly improve the business, but what are your experiences? What are all the challenges that you encountered or are still encountering in that process?
- Digitization certainly brings significant benefits for the supply chain and it is an understatement to say that digitization is important, it is an integral part of the lives of all of us today. Data exchanges and transparency have no alternative in today`s world, precisely in order to better understand how we influence each other and where all the potentials to create additional values in each of the links are hidden. The biggest challenge is precisely in the data, i.e. what quality and structure is the data we use. How successful we are in consolidating them, "refining" them and storing them with great precision in the right place, these systems will provide us with unprecedented benefits. We are dealing with automation right now and we try to learn from the experiences of other companies which have stepped up in this segment, primarily in more developed markets, and now also in Serbia. Until recently, automation was unavailable for our region, but circumstances have changed significantly. Automation is imminent and the benefits are certain, but it brings with it some new challenges when it comes to system maintenance and business sustainability. Different employee profiles are needed, presence of companies that can provide on-site support. What is certain is that all challenges are solvable and that we will soon see sophisticated technological solutions in action in our country also.
(Photo: Nelt)
eKapija: Sustainability is becoming a key factor in nearly every industry. How does Nelt integrate sustainability in its business?
- We strive to integrate ESG principles into our day-to-day operations, by which we contribute not only to economic sustainability but also to the preservation of the environment and the improvement of the communities in which we operate. Nelt is surely one of the first companies in the region which voluntarily started publishing a report on sustainable business according to the GRI methodology, the most relevant worldwide methodology for sustainability reporting, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). This methodology enables all stakeholders to get a comprehensive picture of our organisation`s impact, with standard and precise performance indicators. Together with our partner INFORA, in 2021, we worked on the development of a software solution to achieve greater efficiency in the optimization of sales and delivery routes. The project was launched on January 31, 2022. With the automation that the new solution provided us, we have achieved higher efficiency, optimization and rationalization of time and other resources, and ultimately, an increase in the quality of service. This solution ensured us a lower fuel consumption, resulting in a reduction of CO2 emissions by 300 tons. We implemented a digital delivery note on the Serbian market starting in 2022 and thus reduced the consumption of paper by 65%, which is 40 tons per year. We saved 1,000 trees this way. The project was also implemented in accordance with local regulations in other markets of the region where we operate. Investments have been made in renewable energy sources, and our logistic-distribution centers are equipped with solar panels and we continue to invest in solar power plants. Part of our fleet has also been electrified, which is part of our adopted vehicle replacement strategy and further electrification. The focus is also on intermodal transport, i.e. railways, and we see this as key to sustainability throughout the supply chain. We believe that our terminal and logistics centers will help us and our clients to create solutions that will significantly contribute to sustainability and decarbonization goals.
(Photo: Nelt)
Besides environmental care, we also take care of the communities in which we operate. Nelt Group and UNICEF formed a strategic partnership this year aimed at empowering children and youth in acquiring competencies for the 21st century. The focus of the three-year partnership is the strengthening of education systems in Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Angola in 2026. with the aim of ensuring fair access to quality education and skill development for every child. As part of the initiative, Nelt Group will allocate USD 1.3 million over a period of three years.
eKapija: Today, quality employees are, it seems more than ever, the most important strategic resource of a company. How does the Nelt company attract and retain quality staff?
- At Nelt, we believe that the success we will achieve depends on the health of the organization. Every two years we conduct extensive employee satisfaction surveys, according to globally recognized methodologies, precisely in order to receive "feedback" that we will implement. There are carefully chosen initiatives which are aimed at improving the organization`s health, and all employees participate in the initiatives, from executive board to operational positions. An environment is built in which trust is nurtured and employees are given the opportunity to create solutions, thus creating people capable of innovating while building their integrity. Apart from the basic benefits, which are constantly being improved, much focus is devoted to education and communication through various educational programs and employee development. In the last few years, we have been doing a lot of employer branding, with the desire to present ourselves to the market in the most realistic light and convey a part of the atmosphere in which we work. Quite a number of recognitions we have received from prestigious institutions and the business environment speak for this. People always have been, and today more than ever, viewed from the perspective of employers, a strategic resource. Market "battles" will be won by those who find a way to recruit and retain the best people.
eKapija: Given that you have been with the Nelt company for almost two decades, can you compare the state of the industry at the beginning of your career and now? Is it easier today but also more expensive to fulfill the main goal of logistics - delivery of high-quality products, in the safest and fastest way, while minimizing total costs and maximizing company profits?
- The changes that have taken place are enormous and various factors had an effect on it. First of all, the market circumstances have become much more demanding in every sense. The development of technologies and communications has put some new demands on us at the speed of light. I think logistics has always been between a rock and a hard place, when it comes to the demands placed before it. That hasn`t changed, everything has just sped up significantly. In general, the world is changing at a really high speed, and logistics must follow it. High rack storage, WMS, TMS used to be a term in the region, and now we have robots and unmanned vehicles. In the past, 1,000 people applied for two open positions, we count them on our fingers now. It is up to us to adapt quickly,
to be flexible and follow the trends, in order to meet the needs and requirements of all participants in the chain.
Click here to see the entire Special Edition Newsletter
"DIARY OF SUCCESS - People who drive the business world"
read more
Tags:
Nelt Co
UNICEF
Vuk Mijanović
logistics
logistics network
process automation
goods sorting robots
supply
logistics hub
high bay
ASRS Shuttle
success diary
special edition newsletter
logistics operations
goods storage
warehouses
transportation
innovation
Comments
Your comment
Naš izbor
Most Important News
Full information is available only to commercial users-subscribers and it is necessary to log in.
Follow the news, tenders, grants, legal regulations and reports on our portal.
Registracija na eKapiji vam omogućava pristup potpunim informacijama i dnevnom biltenu
Naš dnevni ekonomski bilten će stizati na vašu mejl adresu krajem svakog radnog dana. Bilteni su personalizovani prema interesovanjima svakog korisnika zasebno,
uz konsultacije sa našim ekspertima.