Ahead of the 25th Supply Chain Excellence Awards, Logistics Manager caught up with Dan Myers about how he feels about XPO being shortlisted for three award categories. Two of them are for the Supply Chain Visibility and Urban Logistics with Whatsapp.
Taking place on 8th November at the Hilton on Park Lane in London, the Supply Chain Excellence Awards are set to be a night of celebration, as the best in the logistics industry gather together on this very special 25th Anniversary.
How does it feel to have been shortlisted for a Supply Chain Excellence Award?
We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Supply Chain Visibility and Urban Logistics categories. It’s an honour to be recognised for the projects we implemented with WhatsApp.
We are genuinely pleased that the industry recognises the results our team deliver for our customers. So many people have contributed to driving improvements, including, and essentially, our customers. So it’s great that their combined efforts have been shortlisted.
What has changed in your projects since you entered?
We delivered on all expectations immediately and consistently after that, which is crucial for last-mile service. Now we have plans to roll out something similar for other companies who sell direct to consumers.
We’re a team that is always striving to be better, pursuing excellence every day. We expect a lot of ourselves because this is what our customers are looking for from a partner.
What are you most excited about on the night of the Awards?
Getting dressed up and meeting as many different people as possible. There hasn’t been a lot of that in the last 18 months!
It’s also an excellent opportunity to recognise the fantastic things being done by people across the industry. This year, the significance of our industry is gaining wider acknowledgement, which it greatly deserves.
What do you think is the most important thing to focus on now in the industry? What should be the biggest priority when it comes to change for the better?
The industry’s focus should be on the next generation. We are constantly bringing talent and new ideas into XPO to help with innovation and sustainability. We want to do things right, and these are the two areas where our industry can have the most significant impact.
What are you looking forward to after the Awards?
I am personally looking forward to our next exciting technology launch and the next one after that, as our interactions with our customers keep changing. For example, we are looking at increasing the use of artificial intelligence in our transport operations, further enhancing our customer relationships.
What made you decide to compete for the Supply Chain Excellence Awards?
We wanted to get our message out about all the exciting work we’re doing, and the Supply Chain Excellence Awards are highly regarded.
How will you celebrate if you win? Where will you keep the trophy?
The team will celebrate, and they deserve it. The trophy will be displayed in a unique cabinet. We hope it will be the first of many to come.
We are always on the lookout for what’s next; the teams’ results are fantastic. However, we know there’s always something beyond the rainbow.
What are your hopes for the projects going forward? What are your next steps?
We will continue to innovate in areas like customer communications. It is all about understanding what our customers hope to achieve and what they need to do. We spend a lot of time talking to our customers and their customers. We want to understand if there is something that we could be doing but are not yet doing.
We are always on the lookout for what’s next; the teams’ results are fantastic. However, we know there’s always something beyond the rainbow.
I am a massive fan of the awards, having made a couple of submissions in the past myself and been a finalist on a few occasions, but sadly, no winners. However, the award process itself showcases the very best of our industry.
What difference did the project make for your company and the sector?
WhatsApp was a game-changer; the ability to enrich communications with consumers is vital. However, there is much more we plan to introduce with the further development of this initiative.
What are your impressions of the Supply Chain Excellence Awards generally?
I am a massive fan of the awards, having made a couple of submissions in the past myself and been a finalist on a few occasions, but sadly, no winners. However, the award process itself showcases the very best of our industry.
Can you sum up 2021 from a supply chain perspective?
Wow, what a year. 2020 was a tough one for the industry, and 2021 has been nearly as hard. But together, we have risen to the challenge whilst always doing the right thing for our colleagues and customers.
Do you have any advice for future Supply Chain Excellence Awards competitors?
It’s important to recognise and celebrate the great things so many people in our industry achieve. There are few better ways than being chosen as a winner by your peers.
