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~ Spring GDS ~

A JOURNEY TO THE INTERNATIONAL

E-COMMERCE AND LOGISTIC LANDSCAPE

6 MARKETS, 6 INSIGHTS, 6 MANAGING DIRECTORS

Text: Spring GDS // Photos: Spring GDS

BJÖRN BECKHAUSEN GABRIELE BAVERA KELLY VAN DER WEG
MANAGING DIRECTOR MANAGING DIRECTOR MANAGING DIRECTOR
SPRING GDS GERMANY SPRING GDS ITALY SPRING GDS UK

Six managing directors of Spring GDS (Global Delivery Solutions) share their expertise
on how retailers can fulfil local customers’ needs while shipping their items cross-border.
Discover their advice for e-commerce businesses looking to develop internationally.

One of the key strengths of Spring GDS is adapting the solutions to the local markets and
their specific needs. Being a customer-oriented, solution-driven, and innovative logistics
partner is part of the DNA of the company. We interviewed: Gabriele Bavera (Italy); Björn
Beckhausen (Germany); Lou Laforet (North America); Ugur Sirmen (Eastern Europe);
Kelly van der Weg (UK) and Petr Zajíc (Central Europe).

hat can you tell us about the e-commerce they will need to achieve their international goals and the
landscape and current challenges in your new logistic challenges they will face. This means being
Wregion? ready to reshape our product portfolio with services that
Gabriele [Italy]: Our market is fragmented and segmented. are not yet in demand.
The e-commerce market comprises very few large Kelly [UK]: E-commerce is a highly transformational
players, a medium-sized segment including hundreds of market where continuous adaptation is needed for
companies that have structured themselves in the last businesses to remain relevant and impactful. It’s highly
five years mainly for international sales. There are also competitive, both from a logistical and seller perspective.
small companies and start-ups entering the non-domestic The international playing field for merchants in low-
market. Considering the dynamic evolution of the global value FMCG, such as clothing and sports, is seeing fierce
e-commerce environment, one of the challenges of the next competition from large Asian e-tailers, who are eating
few years will be continuing to innovate our solutions for part of their markets. 3PL structures offer scalability and
our customers. Moreover, we should be sharp in identifying help to become faster in delivery, lower in costs and more
the companies with more important growth, the channel attractive for UK consumers. The customs “complexities”

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