DB Schenker consolidates European logistics operations

The German logistics provider says the consolidation will provide more seamless service and lower costs for customers.    DB Schenker Logistics is reorganizing its European operation and combining four management regions into one, the company said last week.
   As of Jan. 1, the European region will be the largest business unit within Schenker, employing 40,000 of the 65,000 employees in Deutsche Bahn’s logistics subsidiary. The region will be organized into 10 country clusters headed by Ewald Kaiser, who will also remain in charge of land transport.
   “Our new structure in Europe will make DB Schenker Logistics more powerful and faster when it comes to making and implementing decisions. In these days of digitalization and globalization, this is a vital requirement,” Jochen Thewes, chairman of the management board of Schenker AG, said in a statement. “This centralization will allow Region Europe to pick up speed.” 
   The leaner structure will improve service and help lower costs, Kaiser added.
   “Especially among global customers, there is strong demand to have access to Europe as one single area without borders. This is reflected in the new structure. Simpler and shorter decision-making processes will make it easier to come up with integrated logistics solutions which are geared specifically to the customer’s requirements and to implement them quickly,” he said.
   The ten country clusters in Region Europe are: 
     1) Germany and Switzerland;
     2) Nordics: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark;
     3) France and Morocco;
     4) Southeast: Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Bosnia Hercegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Turkey;
     5) Poland and Eastern Europe: Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus;
     6) BeNeLux: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg;
     7) Italy;
     8) UK and Ireland;
     9) Iberia: Spain, Portugal;
    10) And Russia.