12/2/2008

GEODIS wins a new major paneuropean contract with IBM

On 1st of March 2004, IBM and GEODIS signed a five-year contract concerning the distribution of all finished goods, customs formalities and reverse logistics for the computer giant IBM, throughout EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa). History This success strengthens the strategic partnership with IBM begun in 1998, with an initial five-year agreement for the management of its logistics activities in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. This was followed in 2002 with a reverse logistics contract concerning the returns and dismantling of PCs in Europe, at the end of their leasing period. Finally, within the terms of the "Manufacturing" contract in Ireland, GEODIS manages upstream and downstream logistics for the server plant in Dublin, on a 30.000 m² logistics platform. "Future", a new concept The "Future" bid, launched at the beginning of 2003 by IBM, was not to renew an existing contract, but to develop a new concept across an expanded geographical area. " As IBM's partner, we were able to propose a solution that fits IBM's commercial strategy, guaranteeing both flexibility and cost control, through central management of end to end flows, explained Jean-Louis Demeulenaere, General Manager of GEODIS Solutions, the entity dedicated to sales development and management of the group's major customers. "To achieve this, we will act as managing vendor, that is to say that we will manage not only our own subsidiaries but also external operators on part of the scope." The services "The distribution of finished goods accounts for 90 % of the turnover generated by this "Future" project, said Marc Walbaum, Key Account Manager IBM at GEODIS Solutions. It concerns PCs and servers, manufactured across Europe. GEODIS coordinates these transport flows via a centralised organisation which allows the anticipation of potential risks. This means that IBM can be sure that GEODIS always complies with contractual lead times. We ensure tracking through our SCIM (Supply Chain Information Management) information system, which guarantees real-time feedback of all events occurring along the supply chain - from orders sent out by IBM through to end-customer delivery, via cross-docking or warehouse operations." The keys to success "If our commercial relations with IBM have developed over the past five years, to the point where it is now GEODIS' leading customer, it is firstly because we have successfully reached very competitive cost objectives, while supplying a recognised quality of service, concluded Pierre Blayau, GEODIS Chairman and CEO. Up until now, we have demonstrated our ability to provide these services ourselves, and today we are progressing into a new phase as managing vendor, taking up position as managers of the entire supply chain."