Wednesday, 24 February 2010 07:59
Apreo Logistics SA
PRESIDENT: Arkadiusz Glinka
OPERATIONS: Transport & Logistics
ESTABLISHED: 2007
EMPLOYEES: 130
REVENUE: 102,5 mln PLN
www.apreologistics.com
APREO LOGISTICS is a logistics operator which has won a renown in Poland and in the whole of Europe, providing services in the field of full truck load as well as general cargo, bulk transport, sea forwarding and warehouse logistics. The company also specializes in domestic distribution, logistical support services and customs services, which makes it a real expert on logistics chain management.
Rich tradition
Starting its business activity lass than three years ago, Apreo Logistics is a relatively new company, but its roots date back to years earlier, because it continues the rich tradition of Euroad and the Dutch Group Vos Logistics. Euroad, established in 1990, was a leader of the Polish TSL sector specializing in transport logistics. In 2003, Vos Logistics Group took over Euroad, which changed its name to Vos Logistics Polska, thus becoming a part of an international logistics company owning 30 branch offices in European countries. On 1 June 2007 Apreo Logistics took over the business activity from Vos Logistics Polska, with Investment Fund Tar Heel and partners as shareholders. Today Apreo Logistics manages a fleet of over 500 trucks with a capacity up to 120 m3 and up to 24 tons, with view to meeting the highest standards of service and building partnerships with its clients. In 2008 the company’s income from sales reached the result of 72 million PLN, while in 2009, due to widening its offer range and enlarging customer portfolio, the turnover exceeded 100 million PLN, which situates Apreo Logistics among the biggest logistics operators in Poland. Owing to this spectacular dynamic growth, in June 2009 Apreo Logistics SA won Rzeczpospolita’s ranking and was awarded a prestigious title of “LTS Mobile”.
Local branches
Since the beginning of its activity Apreo Logistics has been dynamically developing in various areas, for example by opening new local branches. In 2007 the forwarder had at its disposal branches in Warsaw, Gdynia, Zielona Góra, Rzeszów, Tychy, Radomsko and Skierniewice. In 2008 the company kept on opening new ones – in Toruń, Wrocław, Augustów and Olsztyn, and, finally, in Piła in 2009. As Mr Arkadiusz Glinka, President of the Board of Apreo Logistics SA admits, the strategy of the regionalization of the activity, which was adopted by the company, enhances its operating potential and yields best results. It has not only enabled Apreo Logistics to maintain the stable growth, even during the economic hardship, but also has been crucial to building up permanent relations with contractors. Since one of the company’s key values is to be close to its clients, the branches located all over Poland enable mutual communication and have a significant impact on the quality and timeliness of the services provided. Apreo Logistics SA is still planning to invest in the extension of regional branches.
Looking towards east…
The development of the company also takes the form of offering its transport services to new, distant areas. In 2009, as one of the first Polish forwarding companies, Apreo Logistics started operations in Turkey and the Middle East. President Arkadiusz Glinka is very optimistic about the new directions, hoping them to bring new lucrative contracts, which would allow further development: „Over the next few years we are going to become an important player in the Turkish market, with Turkey being a base, from which we will set out to conquer the Middle East.” Transport activity is supported by warehouses localized in Turkey, so loads from Poland will be collected to a transit terminal and warehouses located in Istanbul, from where they will proceed to the east. Organization of customs clearance is provided throughout Turkey and Poland. In order to provide services at the highest possible level, Apreo Logistics hired employees who will support new direction of services and communicate also in Turkish. The customers who are interested in this direction are currently offered both full truck load (FTL) and general cargo (LTL) for both neutral and dangerous goods (ADR).
Widening the offer
Apreo Logistics provides transport services in Poland, other European countries, Turkey, the Middle East, Russia and former Soviet Republics. The offer includes full truck load (FTL) and general cargo (LTL), container inland transport, transport of oversize loads, sea forwarding, air forwarding or rail forwarding. Due to the dynamic increase in the number f its clients, Apreo Logistics has been successively expanding the scope of the offer and in 2009 it decided to significantly widen the range and focus on the comprehensive customer service in the field of logistics. Now the company is also an expert of warehousing and distribution process and creates an excellent logistics system including transport services. President Glinka asserts that “the new offer is a proof that Apreo Logistics keeps on adjusting itself to the needs of the clients.” Moreover, with regard to perfecting the cooperation with contractors, the company has already introduced an offer of fast payments and implemented other settlement options favourable for forwarders. Warehouse logistics, which constitutes a supplement to the company’s offer, makes it a 3PL company, specializing in outsourced logistics services. The decision to entrust the management of warehouses to a logistics operator is beneficial to both parties. The client saves time and cuts down the costs of logistic operations, while Apreo Logistics can make use of the economies of scale, thus lowering costs of services, which translates into the increased competitiveness of the offer. The warehouse offered by Apreo, attractively located near Wrocław, is 5000 m2 with the possibility of rapid expansion up to 20000 m2. It is modern and enables a wide array of the warehouse logistics services, such as completion of shipments, co-packing, co-manufacturing or cross-docking. Widening the array of services is possible also due to the advanced IT technology systems implemented in the company. In Apreo Logistics the employees use ERP class, fully integrated information system based on the original program SWIP, which includes modules of electronic documents circulation (ESOD) and CRM integrating management of operating processes with f-k system. All departments in the company are informatized and fully integrated, which means that the input to the system by one department is immediately visible and obligatory for other departments. In 2008 Apreo Logistics won the title of “IT Leader” awarded by the “Computerworld” magazine.
Best Employer of 2009
Apart from being a specialist in transport services, Apreo Logistics is also an excellent employer, who cares for its staff, consisting of over 100 people. The company was given the title of the “Best Employer of 2009”, following the research conducted by Hewitt Associates. It was ranked in the fifth place in the category of small and middle enterprises, as the sole company in its branch. The success was summarized by President of the Board, Mr Arkadiusz Glinka, in the following way: „I ma glad that our personnel policy, which aims at building positive employee-company relations, has been appreciated. Apreo Logistics has always been concerned about attractive working conditions and good atmosphere in the team. We promote imitative and enthusiasm, which is best proven by our incentive package called „LEO”, the acronym for Loyalty, Efficiency and Operativeness. The aim of the program is to release the entrepreneurial spirit and remunerate the employees for their effective and long-term cooperation. I believe that there is no better motivation for work than the active participation in building the company’s position.” Among other factors which made Apreo a laureate of the title there was also the employees’ participation in numerous trainings or language courses, which raise their qualification, as well the access to social fund and social packet. Moreover, while pursuing its business goals, Apreo promotes a healthy life style among its staff, thus creating the image of an active company involved in sports events.
