Contracted by Sync Logistics for vanning in the Nagoya area, with business doubling in about 3 months. (Granne Logistics Corporation)
Granne Logistics Corporation is a vanning service provider based in the Nagoya area. As a partner company, it has supported Sync Logistics for more than 7 years. Within 2 to 3 months of working together, Granne Corporation says that the number of vehicles they have handled was double than their projection, putting their business on a stable track.
We asked Mr. Yasuaki Sato, President of Granne Logistics, about the background and benefits of their partnership, and his impressions of Sync Logistics.
Contracted for Vanning Vehicles in 100 Containers per Month, Mainly Bound for Mongolia
Company profile and description of business
Our company’s main business is vanning used vehicles in containers. We are especially good at vanning vehicles bound for Mongolia, which requires highly efficient loading and technical skills. We can handle different loading configurations for vehicles of various shapes and sizes.
We are also a “manufacturer vanning”* type of company, which allows us to offer various services that cannot be done in highly restricted port areas. For example, we can easily handle requests aside from vanning such as tire and bumper removal.
*Manufacturer vanning refers to vanning within a company’s own premises and not within a port area.
Background and details of partnership with Sync Logistics
The catalyst for establishing Granne Logistics was a meeting with Mr. Ichiki, the president of Sync Logistics, who was already an acquaintance at the time.
At the time, they were trying to expand their network nationwide, and when I told him I was planning on starting a vanning business in Nagoya, he enthusiastically invited me to work together, saying “Why don’t we work together, making the most out of each other’s expertise?” I strongly agreed with him, and we formed a partnership.
Our services mainly comprise of vanning operations and yard management. Shippers’ used vehicles are collected by Sync Logistics and are transported to us over land. When they are handed over to us, they are photographed and stored properly at our yard. Vehicles that are about to be exported then undergo vanning operations.
We handle about 100 containers for vanning per month, and the number of vehicles stored at the yard (inventory) is about 500 to 600 per month. When we started, we were transacting with several forwarders, but we gradually shifted to working with Sync Logistics with whom we have built a relationship of trust over the last 7 years. They now account for the majority of our sales.
Efficient Inventory Control and Office Work Through the Centralized Management of Operations Using Sync Logistics’ Proprietary System
Cooperation and information sharing with Sync Logistics
We use La-Plus, a logistics management system developed by Sync Logistics to manage the progress of our vanning operations and to share information.
La-Plus is packed with information necessary for our operations, and has a wide variety of useful functions such as search and tally. Because of this, we save time and effort in inventory management and in accounting. Through system updates, we also feel its user-friendliness improves year after year.
Another really useful function is the ability to upload photos of vehicles for centralized management and sharing.
We Have a Lot to Learn from Their Conscientious and Committed Way of Working with Shippers
Impressions of Sync Logistics
In over 7 years of doing business with them, I’ve always felt Sync Logistics’ conscientiousness in dealing with shippers and partner companies like ours.
For example, they thoroughly explain the risks to shippers who request complicated tasks and vanning plans, taking into account our analysis. While we are not there when they are explaining, we know that our analysis was conveyed to shippers based on their feedback.
Also, Sync Logistics basically doesn’t decline difficult requests, but they look for ways to fulfill them. This sometimes makes it challenging for us, but they don’t leave everything to us. They take the initiative and think of ways with us so we don’t get the short end of the stick.
There aren’t many forwarders as committed as Sync Logistics, and I think this is why they have gained the trust of shippers. We have a lot to learn from them.
Business was Twice as Much as Projected Within 3 Months of Partnering with Sync Logistics
Effects and benefits of the partnership
The biggest benefit is that our company has grown to its current size, and business has stabilized.
When I first established the company, I was thinking we would only operate on a small scale. When Mr. Ichiki shared his dream with me, I was skeptical at first. But within 2 to 3 months of our partnership, the number of vehicles we were handling was almost double our projection, and is stable until now.
This is the result of Sync Logistics securing cargo bookings properly.
Another benefit is that they regularly share information onsite (in the destination country) and information from shippers with us.
For example, they often tell us by phone about market information in Mongolia and European countries, and trends among shippers. This kind of advance information helps us plan our vanning operations. Thanks to Sync Logistics’ kind consideration, we can prepare for various situations.
Further Improving our Service Quality and Stability to Meet Expectations and Gain Trust
Prospects for future business
We want to improve the quality of our services and make them even more stable so that we can continue being a partner company to Sync Logistics in the years to come.
As a vanning contractor, we are always conscious of the need to do the work contracted to us perfectly. While this may sound simple, it is actually difficult to do, and if we are not perfect, we may inconvenience Sync Logistics and shippers.
Shippers’ demands are becoming more diverse, so I think it’s very important that we continue to strive to be of service to them.
Thankfully, Sync Logistics told us that our company is indispensable in maintaining their business in the Tokai region. We will continue to do our best in meeting their expectations and keeping their trust in us.
■Company Profile
Company name: Granne Logistics Corporation
Description of business: Loading and packing used vehicles for container transport
Devanning of imported cargo
Number of employees: 7
URL：http://granne.jp/
