Carsten Park Andreasen knows all about putting out fires. As Programme Director at Novenco in Denmark – the global market leader in land and Marine-based ventilation, air conditioning and fire-fighting equipment – he was constantly dealing with a variety of shipping companies across the globe. This meant that sometimes he was putting out fires on a daily basis.

"I was dealing with four different companies at once," says Andreasen. "Everybody was claiming that they had the best solution based on their own vested interests."

All this was about to change, as Novenco made the strategic decision to use Geodis Wilson as their exclusive One Stop Shopping freight solution for Air, Ocean, Express Parcels and Trucking – business worth approximately DKK 16 million a year.

A partner for change

In early 2007, Novenco’s new owner Dania Capital decided to examine the entire company to identify areas of improvement for a global turnaround effort. When the time came to deal with freight, Andreasen was firm in his intentions. "We needed to find a credible partner with global expertise at a competitive price, and who had the flexibility to follow us as we grew and changed. We wanted it all in a One Stop Shop."

Geodis Wilson, as one of Novenco’s long-standing airfreight companies, was invited to bring their ideas to the table.

Working together towards the right solutions

Andreasen needed people with deep knowledge of air, sea and road transport, as well as the ability to help with the implementation process. The target date was the end of 2007.

"The last thing we wanted was a ‘Cut and Paste’ project," says Andreasen. "And Geodis Wilson listened to us, right from the start. They were available 24/7, they were professional, and they really fought for our business, working together with us to come up with the right solutions."

Of course, financial aspects were an important part of the discussions. Geodis Wilson began with a pricing offer that represented savings for Novenco from the start. Andreasen adds: "And when we had questions about cost, they answered them honestly and reassured us when we encountered misunderstandings."

It’s about commitment

Novenco wanted a full logistical service provider, and Geodis Wilson was able to meet all of their shipping requirements – including the largest containers – all across the globe. They also included state-of-the-art e-Services such as ‘Customer Portal’ and a ‘Freight Planner’ to ensure easy, around-the-clock access to shipment information. But it was their commitment that really made the difference. Geodis Wilson staffed two employees on-site – one in Novenco’s shipping department and one as a Project Leader for Transport and Logistics during the implementation.

Andreasen is emphatic about the added advantage this brought. "Having their people on-site was a must for us. We wanted to implement the very best ideas at each turn. And I simply believe that it is easier to manage ongoing freight solutions when Geodis Wilson is here. The communication is easier, we have immediate access to the latest knowledge, and we receive internal education when and where we need it."

Growing into the future

Novenco is looking forward to growing into the future with Geodis Wilson as a partner. Geodis Wilson will soon be analyzing Novenco’s transport and logistics flow for their ordering hubs in Norway and the Netherlands, as well as in China where they are currently building up extra production capacity.

"Throughout the entire process, the people at Geodis Wilson provided competitive pricing, the right resources, and the right attitude to solve any problem," continues Andreasen. "They gained my trust. If something needs to be at a certain place at a certain time, they find the best and cheapest solution."

Now that Novenco is able to leave all their freight worries to their partner Geodis Wilson, they can spend more time on their core business - being their customers' partner in comfort and safety.