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28. February 2021The shipping company Hapag-Lloyd introduces the quality promise ‘Volume Agreements Complied’. It is the fifth offering in a series of quality promises. The mutual commitment to volume agreements between customers and the shipping company will enable both parties to plan significantly more effectively, leading to substantial cost savings.
(Hamburg) Consistent and reliable forecasts and planning processes are essential prerequisites for a successful partnership, especially in the complex world of shipping. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had a strong impact on the logistics industry. Hapag-Lloyd is aware of this and will initiate measures in 2021 to significantly improve the stability of shipping processes. With the fifth quality promise ‘Volume Agreements Complied’, Hapag-Lloyd aims to fulfill bookings for at least 90 percent of the volumes agreed with its medium- and long-term customers.
In the future, Hapag-Lloyd will establish clear volume agreements with customers for a specific period and geographical scope. This will allow the shipping company to reduce the number of booking rejections when customers fulfill their part of the agreement by placing bookings in advance up to the agreed volume. The mutual commitment to volume agreements will enable both parties to plan significantly more effectively, leading to substantial cost savings.
Trust in Planned Supply Chains
Moreover, both sides can rely on the already published fourth quality promise after the agreement: With the commitment to ‘Loaded as Booked’, the shipping company can significantly reduce the number of containers moved to later departures. With the introduction of the new quality promise ‘Volume Agreements Complied’, customers now have a high level of trust in the planned supply chains, which they need to make reliable forecasts.
“Our new quality promise enhances planning and booking efficiency. All our quality promises are interconnected. We are gradually changing our service processes to achieve our ambitious goal of becoming the ‘Number 1 for Quality’. In 2021, we will continue on our path towards that goal,” says Juan Carlos Duk, Managing Director Global Commercial Development at Hapag-Lloyd. “‘Volume Agreements Complied’ is another milestone in strengthening our customers’ trust in the flow of goods with us. Now we can be proud that with the fifth quality promise, we have already implemented half of them.”
A Dialogue on Performance
Since January 2020, Hapag-Lloyd has introduced five of its ten quality promises as well as a ‘Quality Promises Customer Dashboard’, which provides full transparency on how the company has fulfilled each of its quality promises. The shipping company is confident in achieving its ambitious goals and invites customers to track progress in the ongoing efforts to improve services and products. To this end, Hapag-Lloyd provides its customers access to all performance data at both global and individual levels.
By providing this performance data, Hapag-Lloyd also offers a solid basis for regular monthly, quarterly, and/or annual business meetings with its customers to fulfill their mutual commitments.
Intensive Collaboration
“A smoother business operation requires intensive collaboration and continuous dialogue,” says Danny Smolders, Managing Director Global Sales. “2020 was an extraordinary year for all of us. In 2021, our goals will continue to be to deliver high quality to our customers, ensure the stability of their supply chains, and create more transparency about our mutual commitments. With all our efforts, we aim to alleviate their concerns in day-to-day operations.”
Hapag-Lloyd’s 2023 strategy is not only about standing out from the competition through service and quality but also about maintaining close and resilient partnerships. By optimizing the supply chain and ensuring business fulfillment, Hapag-Lloyd will further strengthen its long-term business relationships with its customers.
The remaining five quality promises will be published by the end of 2021.
Photo: © Hapag-Lloyd
