Michael Otto with Balance at the Start as CEO of Trans.eu

Since the beginning of the year, Michael Otto has been working as a consultant for Trans.eu GmbH. He has now been appointed as the new CEO of Trans.eu GmbH and is thus responsible for the entire strategic direction of the transport platform in the German-speaking market. In an interview with Loginfo24, he explains his vision for Trans.eu and the challenges that need to be overcome.

(Berlin) Trans.eu GmbH has a new CEO in Michael Otto. He spoke with Loginfo24 about how he started, what his biggest challenges are, and the developments in the logistics industry.

Loginfo24: Mr. Otto, you have recently officially started in your new position. How would you describe your kickoff?

Michael Otto: It was a good and productive start. In 2024, the logistics industry is once again facing challenging tasks. I am pleased to meet these in my new role at Trans.eu.

You originally come from computer science. You must certainly benefit from that in a cloud-based transport platform, right?

Absolutely. I have over twenty years of experience in the development and implementation of digital solutions and software systems for the logistics industry. In the medium-sized environment, I initially worked as a project manager on numerous successful outsourcing projects and was responsible for the conception, further development, and marketing of proven as well as innovative software solutions. Since 2000, I have successfully built new departments and business areas in various leadership positions, and from 2013 as managing director, I have driven corporate modernization and change processes. The in-depth expertise I have gained over the years provides me with a solid foundation to make the next big strategic steps with Trans.eu.

Why did you choose Trans.eu?

For about a year and a half, I have been accompanying internationally operating companies as an independent consultant in digitalization, process automation, and corporate management. Trans.eu was one of the most exciting projects for me because it connects computer science and logistics, making it a company with a promising future perspective.

What strategic goals do you pursue at Trans.eu for your market?

My team will align the service and solutions of Trans.eu to maximize customer benefit. We want to ensure that the freight offerings and transport capacities on our platform complement each other optimally. The larger the number of users, the greater the overlap between supply and demand. One sub-project we are already implementing in this context is the integration of common TMS systems across Europe. I know this industry very well, and partnerships with TMS providers will offer significant advantages to our mutual customers in the spot market.

What unique opportunities do you see for Trans.eu in your market?

As a partially hidden champion in the DACH region, we can shape the market with our innovative offerings in a fresh and innovative way. Due to the platform’s leading position in Eastern Europe, we offer a unique access to transport capacities that are increasingly scarce in Western Europe. The business of traditional freight exchanges is also undergoing change. The reliability of the companies active on the platform has come into sharper focus. With the private freight exchange, we already have a suitable solution in our portfolio that enables freight forwarders to work more closely and quickly with known and trusted partners thanks to automated transport allocation. Additionally, the own vehicle fleet can be maximally utilized, especially with our private platform.

Do you see any other trends in the transport market that align with this assessment?

In my view, there are three central trends:

1. The “real” and connecting digitalization as a response to the constantly increasing cost pressure and the shortage of skilled workers.
2. IT security to protect against the growing threat of cybercrime.
3. Sustainability, which is an investment in our future on one hand, but will also become an increasing cost factor on the other. But the more interesting question is how our customers can benefit from it.

And how can customers benefit from it?

Starting with the trend of “real” digitalization, the platform offers a variety of advanced tools. The processing of a transport order can be handled digitally by the entrepreneur via the platform. The cross-company data exchange is ensured, among other things, by a real-time messenger with an automatic translation function and through an app. Status data is automatically communicated back, if possible, even to the TMS. If entrepreneurs use their own TMS and/or telematics solutions, this data can also be fed back and further processed in the data pool of the overarching system.

Artificial intelligence can already support dispatchers in searching for freight in the freight exchange today. Through a reporting service, all data (e.g., the current market level of transport prices or the performance of individual freight carriers) can subsequently be evaluated. With the continuous digital processes, dispatchers thus save a lot of working time and gain new space for important customer conversations or to manage critical situations. At the same time, better strategic decisions can be made with the collected data.

What aspects should be considered regarding security?

Based on the Dekra certifications and the AWS Cloud, our platform is best protected against cyberattacks worldwide. We do a lot to keep the security of the platform at the highest level. For example, a whole team is dedicated to the authorization and monitoring of the companies active on the platform, so that no “black sheep” can remain active on the platform for long. Partner companies connected to the platform are authorized, verified, and regularly prompted to update, for example, insurance documents, in digital and automated processes. Additionally, ratings for individual companies can be viewed at any time. Furthermore, particularly reliable companies can be invited to an exclusive freight exchange with the private freight exchange to prioritize them in transport allocation.

And what about sustainability?

Sustainability in logistics is a sensitive topic, as the industry is not exactly known for environmentally friendly practices. Nevertheless, even small steps can make a fundamental contribution to sustainability. The primary focus is on using existing resources more efficiently. The share of empty trips is still over 30%. Through effective capacity management on the Trans.eu platform, existing transport capacities are optimally distributed to the available vehicles. The utilization of freight carriers can be optimized, significantly reducing empty trips and CO2 emissions per transported shipment.

Back to you. What do you see as the biggest challenge in your new role as CEO?

My biggest challenge will be to manage my time well. Trans.eu is a very dynamic company with many motivated employees and outstanding innovative projects. I will need to focus, as there are many opportunities and possibilities. But first, I will concentrate on establishing a good foundation. My new team has already warmly welcomed me and will actively support me in this.

What is your vision for the development of the company?

I want to establish Trans.eu as one of the central transport platforms across Europe. For this, we rely on our philosophy of “Connecting People – Connecting Freight.” Germany plays a key role due to its central location and strong economic power. With the Trans.eu platform, we can already solve many challenges faced by freight forwarders and carriers that are unsolvable with a traditional TMS. Through partnerships with TMS systems, we can become an AI-based assistant for dispatchers and reduce the boundaries between contract and spot markets. Our customers gain maximum flexibility and can respond more quickly and easily to changing situations. We want to minimize non-value-adding activities for our customers, as the actual core business is not done by the platform, but by the people who will have more time for it again.

Michael Otto is the CEO of Trans.eu GmbH. He initially worked as a project manager in the medium-sized environment on numerous successful outsourcing projects and was responsible for the conception, further development, and marketing of proven as well as innovative software solutions. After several leadership positions up to the management level from 2000 to 2022, he has been working independently as a consultant for about a year and a half. In this role, he has accompanied internationally operating companies in digitalization, process automation, corporate management, optimal team composition and development, growth financing, as well as business development and M&A tasks.

Fotos: © Trans.eu GmbH