CEVA Logistics meets any logistics challenge, stimulates steady business flow

It is an exciting time in today’s global marketplace. Developments in technology, communication and the e-commerce spaces have driven dramatic increases in consumer demand and activity. While opportunities abound for logistics companies, seasonal fluctuations and changing requirements also pose complex challenges.

For global supply chain management company CEVA Logistics, offering stability to customers is no longer enough to succeed. The company invests heavily in designing systematic, automated and industry-leading solutions in freight management and contract logistics. It fulfils tailored services that are personally delivered to customers wherever they are.

“CEVA is able to implement solutions anywhere, and the company does it adeptly,” says Xavier Urbain, CEO. “Our global coverage is well-balanced. We can reach different regions worldwide making us the voice of our customers.”

CEVA offers distinct logistics added-value. Its in-house team of business process excellence (BPE) consultants studies past customer experiences to develop standardised solutions that can be applied to multiple sectors. Integrated and best-in-class services support the needs of clients from the automotive, consumer and retail, e-commerce, energy, health care, aerospace and technology sectors.

With the goal of creating a workforce of problem solvers, CEVA instituted the BPE programme to ensure a common approach across its sites globally while retaining the flexibility to adapt to local markets and opportunities. Comprised of four key components, BPE employs principles of quality assurance, continuous improvement through the LEAN programme for waste elimination, efficient project implementation that avoids duplication and reduces expenses, and regular site classification assessment.

“CEVA’s renowned business excellence department provides answers to the most challenging supply chain questions,” Urbain says. “Customers, big and small, benefit from this initiative.”

To strengthen its foothold, CEVA nurtures strategic partnerships with leading industry players. Its strategic partnership with French container transportation and shipping company CMA CGM, for instance, seeks to generate new commercial opportunities in the short and long term. Projects in the pipeline include improved e-freight services, a new data analytics department and an end-to-end supply chain management development. The partnership was further broadened last year when CEVA started to look for the acquisition of CMA CGM’s freight management business. This is due to be completed in spring this year.

“We continually work with CMA CGM to integrate our processes, create more value and open up opportunities for everyone,” Urbain says.

As a global company, CEVA also engages in joint ventures to bolster its contract logistics, air freight, ocean freight and land transport businesses. Its cooperation with ANJI Automotive Logistics in China has resulted in the bankable venture ANJI-CEVA Logistics. With at least 19,000 employees and revenues reaching close to US$1.1 billion, ANJI-CEVA is the No 1 contract logistics provider in China.

“Our customer base is strong,” Urbain says. “We support these client partnerships to permanently uphold their supply chain and logistics operations. Whenever they have a requirement, we are the first one they call because we help them optimise their logistics costs. Our e-commerce service is also fully embedded as an omni-channel process so we can do both the retail and e-commerce parts systematically for our partners.”

CEVA is reinforcing its position by continually investing globally such as in China and the rest of Asia as it taps markets in Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh. Accelerating its growth, it collaborates with technology firms IBM and Maersk to boost information technology support, and develop digitalisation projects and other initiatives that apply the blockchain concept.

“Capacity and demand can change in the blink of an eye,” Urbain says. “It is essential to have a logistics partner who provides reliability in order to maintain a supply chain’s total integrity. We constantly develop our set-up to protect our people and provide the right solutions to make business flow.”

www.cevalogistics.com