Panalpina has centralised ocean freight documentation, updates of order management, track and trace and other systems and other systems for a substantial part of its greater China area in order to boost efficiency and cost savings.

The Swiss freight forwarder has announced the opening of a centralised services centre (CSC) in Wuhan, based on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Previously, the operations that take place in the centre took place in individual business units.

Patrick Meyrat, area head of centralised services centre, greater China, told CI: 'The benefits to our customers are that there will be better quality services and performance, as combining them all into one centre means that it is easier to maintain and observe the operations. It also lowers the cost base for Panalpina, as by centralising it, there is the benefit of economies of scale, and also Wuhan has a low cost base.'

He added that in the future it was possible that the centre's operations would expand to cover other areasthan greater China.

Ceo Monika Ribar said at the opening ceremony of the centre: 'In addition to the CSC set up, Panalpina will strive to open its own operational entity in Wuhan as to gather to the demands of our clients and build on the developing direct transport modes into and out of Wuhan. We will continue discussions with the Wuhan authorities as to have an operational entity opened during the first half of 2010.'

Panalpina Greater China consists of three districts: Yangtze River, Bohai Bay and Pearl river delta. There are two business unit clusters, Taiwan and China West. Launched in 1976, the Panalpina Greater China now has a workforce of more than 1,300 with 18 branches.

Source:CI-online