“We believe that the key to success in this industry is the customer. We need to establish a rapport with the client via trust and transparency. Transparency is a key element since your client needs to be aware of all the operations at every stage of the movement of cargo.”
This week we are publishing an interview with Pablo Fornos, the Supervisor of the Air Freight Department of Visa Global Logistics, Globalia member in Madrid, Spain. In this interview, he talks about his company and its history, the challenges of freight forwarders during the pandemic, and the importance of digitization among other things.
Q. When and how did you start in the freight forwarding industry?
A. Our company was formed back in 1982 with the objective of offering personalized logistical solutions for our clients. We realized that there was a high demand for luxury merchandise like cars or works of art coming from Italy which required special logistical and transport solutions that most companies in the industry were not capable of offering. This is what prompted us to start offering specialized services that these operations require.
Q. Could you tell us a bit about the history of your company?
A. Our Madrid office was opened in 2019 from where we offer a specialized service for perishable goods as well as project cargo services with a proficient team qualified to handle these types of products.
Q. What distinguishes you from other freight forwarders in the industry?
A. What distinguishes us from our competitors is the personal touch with comes with our services as well as the transparency we offer via track and trace systems. Our second distinguishing factor is our specialization in high-value, sensitive, and perishable shipments and our years of experience in handling these types of products.
Q. What according to you are the keys to success in our industry?
A. We believe that the key to success in this industry is the customer. We need to establish a rapport with the client via trust and transparency. Transparency is a key element since your client needs to be aware of all the operations at every stage of the movement of cargo. I believe that digitization is equally important because it allows us to offer transparency and instant data to our clients allowing them to locate their shipment, and know its status.
“We ensure environmental sustainability not just in our daily operations but also in the way we structure our work, with more efficient means, clean fuels, modern tools, work flexibility, and adaptability to the hourly needs of the different agents around the world.”
Q. Which are the biggest challenges for freight forwarders in your country at the moment?
A. Right now the most important challenge facing the sector is the COVID-19 crisis. Considering the fact that around 90% of merchandise is moved in the belly hold of passenger flights, it is easy to understand why the grounding of numerous passenger planes all over the world has led to reduced air cargo space during a time of high demand for essential items. Another challenge for freight forwarders is undoubtedly digitization. Digitization will simplify and quicken all the stages of operation while the elimination of paperwork for customs or AWB will ensure lowered cost and more agile services. Moreover, we also have to consider the challenges in developing environmentally sustainable logistics.
Q. How the freight forwarders are dealing with these challenges?
A. I think that the logistics industry is making integrated efforts and trying to go ahead with digitization and restructuring of their operations in a bid to become more efficient.
Q. How will Visa Global deal with these challenges?
A. With regard to the COVID-19 crisis, we are strictly observing all the safety precautions and constantly adapting and innovating to serve all our clients and agents through remote work and with the strictest security measures whenever physical presence is called for. As for digitization, we strongly believe that investment in this regard is absolutely important because the future is already here. Technologies such as blockchain or Artificial Intelligence are here to stay and at Visa Global Logistics we know that we have to be at the forefront of these innovations to provide quality services to our clients. As for environmental awareness, we ensure environmental sustainability not just in our daily operations but also in the way we structure our work, with more efficient means, clean fuels, modern tools, work flexibility, and adaptability.
Globalia members with shipments to/from Madrid, Spain, are invited to get in touch with their professional team.
A good working relationship with the customs authorities will also open the door to several other benefits such as customs simplifications, prior notice for customs control, priority treatment when selected for customs control, less document-based controls and more.
In the words of Mr. Abdelhamid El Malatawy, Chairman & CEO of Dispatch Global, “On this special event, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to our partners as their trust and support have always been the biggest drivers for our continued growth. None of our achievements would have been possible without you and your valuable support!”