Be more Oscar!

Be more Oscar!

Jun 8, 2020 | ,

Metro colleague, Dani Jealous’ son has very sadly recently been diagnosed with Batten Disease, a rarely inherited condition that affects the nervous system and is a genetic life-limiting neurodegenerative disease.

The genes causing Batten were only identified in 1995 and the only current medication is still undergoing NHS evaluation.

In Dani’s words. “There is no treatment or cure for Oscar, and we can’t predict what he will need and when he will need it. Every day with him is a gift and we will react to his needs with the support of our family, friends, @BeMoreOscar followers, the NHS and the Batten Disease Family Association.”

Dani’s Metro workmates are today raising awareness of Batten Disease, to support Dani and her family, by wearing orange and posting updates on social media.

Dani has set up a Facebook page @BeMoreOscar to share Oscar’s story, talk about this devastating condition and the positive ways that the family are facing, including Oscar’s growing Bucket List.

Dani’s posts are often difficult to read. But they are also uplifting and heroic and deserve to be shared, to support the whole family.

Today is International Batten Disease awareness day, So Be Kind, Reach out, Subscribe, Like, Share, Get Involved but most of all #bemoreOscar

The Metro team talk: Dave Jones

The Metro team talk: Dave Jones

Jun 8, 2020 | ,

Metro has evolved continuously over the last four decades and Dave’s journey with us over the last two and a half, mirrors many of Metro’s evolutions, developments and innovations.

Dave’s professional life began on the carrier side, with a container shipping line in Liverpool and Birmingham, building invaluable experience and knowledge of shipping line operational and financial management.

Joining Metro in 1996, Dave’s unique insights into shipping line functioning was invaluable in refining the business’ Far East Sea freight operations and commercial agreements.

‘Sharing the knowledge’ saw Dave take on an internal training role which, by popular request, evolved into external training of customers.

Dave’s training skills were put to use again, in the future, when he spent five weeks training new ‘Back Office’ colleagues at our first BPO operation established in Malaysia, before aiding the successful roll out of the initiative.

Spells away from Metro HQ, has been a feature for Dave, with customer secondments in the UK and Europe often lasting several months, as customers become reluctant to let their latest ‘shipping resource’ leave. One Christmas assignment for Dave didn’t end until the following August.

Outsourcing is one of Metro’s four key service pillars – together with forwarding, supply chain and technology – and Dave is a critical member of the team that deliver this highly specialised solution, to some of our biggest and most important manufacturers and exporters.

Having recently led sea freight exports for one of our VIP accounts. Dave is now managing complex export and cross-trade supply chains for an entire OEM manufacturing base.

In addition to sharing his prodigious knowledge, Dave finds time to share his voice, as a choir member, musical cast member and in church celebrations.

Digital disruption is just noise

Digital disruption is just noise

Jun 4, 2020 | ,

Digital disruptors will no more kill-off today’s forwarding sector than the advent of European rail did in the 1800s, according to director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), Robert Keen.

This week Robert Keen (pictured) described comments from a ‘disrupter’, that with digitalisation accelerating globally as a result of COVID-19, it believes the future of the traditional freight forwarder is more precarious than ever, as PR puff.

“There’s this idea that if forwarders do not adapt, they will die – but you just need to look back at the sector’s history, it has always adapted. Said Robert”
Technology adoption, conception and development has been a critical success factor since Metro’s inception and, as one of our four key service pillars, is a unique selling point.

“We keep hearing the usual spin from digital start-ups on how their presence in the sector will lead to the death of traditional forwarders,” said Mr Keen. “It’s a load of rubbish.”

“We are already developing and delivering technology-led products and services that will meet customers needs more effectively, enhance their experience and cut their costs.”

Granted, some forwarders will fall by the wayside if they’re yet to go digital, but most worth their salt have been offering at least track & trace solutions of all shapes and sizes for many years. 

At Metro we have our own development team and product suite, to conceive, create and support the solutions that drive our operations and support our customers. 

Our new 4PL modular platform simplifies management of the biggest and most complex supply chains, while Metro’s unique Brexit solution, will support the biggest importers and exporters seamlessly through the transition period, into the new EU trading environment.

Using a unique mix of API and EDI technologies to handle multiple data flows, as well as RPA in the middle, Metro customers will get real time digital dashboards and complete supply chain visibility so they can monitor KPIs and focus on the exceptions that matter.

Mr Keen said forwarders were “incredibly adaptive”, saying that there is evidence daily of freight forwarders developing systems comparable with those of digital disruptors.

Metro hire the best and most-gifted forwarding and software development staff, directing their efforts to deliver the highest value, embedding themselves in our customers’ entire supply chains.

Digital disruptors will no more kill-off today’s forwarding sector than the advent of European rail did in the 1800s, according to director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), Robert Keen.

This week Robert Keen (pictured) described comments from a ‘disrupter’, that with digitalisation accelerating globally as a result of COVID-19, it believes the future of the traditional freight forwarder is more precarious than ever, as PR puff.

“There’s this idea that if forwarders do not adapt, they will die – but you just need to look back at the sector’s history, it has always adapted. Said Robert”
Technology adoption, conception and development has been a critical success factor since Metro’s inception and, as one of our four key service pillars, is a unique selling point.

“We keep hearing the usual spin from digital start-ups on how their presence in the sector will lead to the death of traditional forwarders,” said Mr Keen. “It’s a load of rubbish.”

“We are already developing and delivering technology-led products and services that will meet customers needs more effectively, enhance their experience and cut their costs.”

Granted, some forwarders will fall by the wayside if they’re yet to go digital, but most worth their salt have been offering at least track & trace solutions of all shapes and sizes for many years. 

At Metro we have our own development team and product suite, to conceive, create and support the solutions that drive our operations and support our customers. 

Our new 4PL modular platform simplifies management of the biggest and most complex supply chains, while Metro’s unique Brexit solution, will support the biggest importers and exporters seamlessly through the transition period, into the new EU trading environment.

Using a unique mix of API and EDI technologies to handle multiple data flows, as well as RPA in the middle, Metro customers will get real time digital dashboards and complete supply chain visibility so they can monitor KPIs and focus on the exceptions that matter.

Mr Keen said forwarders were “incredibly adaptive”, saying that there is evidence daily of freight forwarders developing systems comparable with those of digital disruptors.

Metro hire the best and most-gifted forwarding and software development staff, directing their efforts to deliver the highest value, embedding themselves in our customers’ entire supply chains.

Digital disruptors will no more kill-off today’s forwarding sector than the advent of European rail did in the 1800s, according to director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), Robert Keen.

This week Robert Keen (pictured) described comments from a ‘disrupter’, that with digitalisation accelerating globally as a result of COVID-19, it believes the future of the traditional freight forwarder is more precarious than ever, as PR puff.

“There’s this idea that if forwarders do not adapt, they will die – but you just need to look back at the sector’s history, it has always adapted. Said Robert”
Technology adoption, conception and development has been a critical success factor since Metro’s inception and, as one of our four key service pillars, is a unique selling point.

“We keep hearing the usual spin from digital start-ups on how their presence in the sector will lead to the death of traditional forwarders,” said Mr Keen. “It’s a load of rubbish.”

“We are already developing and delivering technology-led products and services that will meet customers needs more effectively, enhance their experience and cut their costs.”

Granted, some forwarders will fall by the wayside if they’re yet to go digital, but most worth their salt have been offering at least track & trace solutions of all shapes and sizes for many years. 

At Metro we have our own development team and product suite, to conceive, create and support the solutions that drive our operations and support our customers. 

Our new 4PL modular platform simplifies management of the biggest and most complex supply chains, while Metro’s unique Brexit solution, will support the biggest importers and exporters seamlessly through the transition period, into the new EU trading environment.

Using a unique mix of API and EDI technologies to handle multiple data flows, as well as RPA in the middle, Metro customers will get real time digital dashboards and complete supply chain visibility so they can monitor KPIs and focus on the exceptions that matter.

Mr Keen said forwarders were “incredibly adaptive”, saying that there is evidence daily of freight forwarders developing systems comparable with those of digital disruptors.

Metro hire the best and most-gifted forwarding and software development staff, directing their efforts to deliver the highest value, embedding themselves in our customers’ entire supply chains.

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The Metro team talk: Linzi Barnes-Cox

The Metro team talk: Linzi Barnes-Cox

Jun 3, 2020 | ,

We often talk about the need for resilient, agile and flexible supply chains. And while our leading-edge technology creates the environment to support those aspirations, it is colleagues like Linzi that make things happen.

Linzi’s wide-ranging skills and capabilities have been honed over a decade with Metro and client-side, in a variety of roles and responsibilities.

Linzi began her career working in the shipping departments of a manufacturer and chemicals company, before starting at Metro in 2007 to work in the sea freight team on export documentation.

Early career highlights included a trip to Malaysia to train and develop the fledgeling outsourcing operation, that has been successfully extended to India.

Moving onto the export commodities team, Linzi started working with some of Metro’s biggest accounts, processing their documentation and freight booking requirements, quickly moving into a supervisory role.

Having spent some time looking after some of Metro’s blue-chip accounts, Linzi was transferred to the Airfreight team in 2015, to look after the day to day import operations of some of our major retail clients.

Linzi’s role was extensive, managing purchase orders from origin through to Birmingham airport, arranging customs clearance and airport collections and redeliveries, in line with clients’ KPI service levels.

During this period Linzi was Metro’s representative at various client service reviews, on and off-site.

While still a member of the air freight team, Linzi’s role has expanded to incorporate sea freight movements, as a key part of her responsibilities as key account coordinator for a big automotive account.

In addition to looking after UK and European exports for finished vehicles, Linzi also works on special sea freight movements, including project and RORO.

She is also a member of the specialist automotive air freight team, moving cars for motor shows, press-launches, testing and photo shoots.

With some exotic destinations for some of our VIP clients globally, Linzi says “it is a very varied role which I enjoy and it definitely keeps me on my toes!”

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