Reflecting on 2023 and Year-End Greetings
Hello, I’m Ichiki of Sync Logistics.
As 2023 is drawing to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the year and extend my end-of-year greetings.
■Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Our Company’s Establishment
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Sync Logistics. In July, we held a commemorative party to celebrate this milestone and invited our valued partner companies who have supported us over the years. I am deeply grateful to everyone who attended.
It was a joy to share our journey so far and our vision for the future, as well as to introduce our valued team members. Despite the nerves, it was a delightful and memorable experience to be surrounded by such warmth and support.
Following the party, we experienced some pleasant changes. More partner companies resonated with my thoughts and our initiatives, proactively suggesting, “Let’s try this,” or asking, “Is there anything we can do to help?” We are extremely grateful for the insights and proposals from those well-acquainted with the field, which often highlight our blind spots and have become a significant driving force in creating high-quality logistics systems.
Such positive cooperation between logistics service providers bolsters the efforts to maximize the benefits for our exporting clients (the shippers). We would be delighted to continue receiving various opinions and ideas that support this goal.
■Thoughts on the Resignation of New Graduates – Unlocking the Potential of the Younger Generation
Since we began our graduate recruitment in 2022, we have been dedicating time to strengthen personnel development and organizational structure. However, this year, two of our new graduates resigned. New graduates stepping into the workforce often encounter various gaps between their expectations and reality.
- The vision I convey during training sessions differs from the actual state of the industry.
- The information given by colleagues A and B within the company is inconsistent.
Even when they sense contradictions or have doubts, it is natural for them to hesitate to point these out to the concerned parties.
In an era where diverse channels provide access to a world of information, enduring what feels unjust seems pointless. The traditional method of “Just do as you’re told” seems less acceptable for nurturing talent.
The younger generation, particularly those in their teens and twenties, hold the potential for innovations that the older generations may not think of. To unlock this potential, it is crucial for those in influential positions to engage in open dialogues with the younger workforce.
Furthermore, it is necessary to create opportunities for proposals and challenges, and to constructively align what should be preserved with what needs to be changed. I am confident that if such a culture of open communication takes root within our company, fostering honest and straightforward dialogue, we can grow into an organization with even greater productivity.
■The Need for a New Business Model
Over the past decade, I have consistently operated my business with the philosophy of “putting the customer’s (shipper’s) success first.”To be honest, there were times when I deviated from this path, prioritizing short-term profits or the convenience of the logistics side. However, such approaches only led to temporary gains.
I am firmly convinced that the long-term benefits for the entire industry will come from logistics and transportation service providers working together to consistently implement the following process:
- Reaching an agreement among logistics stakeholders that “the top priority is to ensure the customer’s success.”
- Understanding the value and business challenges that customers (shippers) aim to deliver through their products (used cars).
- Developing optimal logistics services that are tailored to the value our clients provide and the specific challenges they face.
By doing so, the volume of distribution will naturally increase, leading to higher productivity and profitability for the logistics sector. This approach will also enable us to increase salaries for our employees and fees paid to our cooperating companies. My unwavering belief is that prioritizing our customers’ success is essential for immediate benefits but also for safeguarding the long-term employment of all stakeholders involved.
Currently, the market is thriving. In fact, the demand is so high that our customers are holding back on their purchases. If the logistics and transportation sector is well-prepared to handle this demand, we can reduce lost opportunities and further increase the volume of logistics.
To maximize the business of exporters, we believe it is necessary to evolve our business model beyond the existing methods. We aim to develop a system that provides even more flexible and smooth logistics services, adapted to the market situation and our customers’ needs.
Since last year, we have been envisioning a business model that will energize the entire industry. I look forward to sharing more about this with you in due course.
In the coming year, I am committed to diligently working to prove the value of everyone who interacts with me. I look forward to your continued support.
Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year.
Thank you for your time.
