At Metro, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Our latest advancement, the MVT Invoice Application, is set to transform how customers manage invoices and financial transactions.

Launching for BETA testing on March 17th, this new feature enhances our My Visibility Tool (MVT), delivering seamless, integrated invoice management.

With real-time tracking, a dynamic dashboard, and full visibility across all trading currencies, customers can monitor outstanding payments and settled transactions effortlessly. Advanced search, quick filters, and an intuitive invoice type switcher streamline workflows, eliminating manual effort and saving valuable time.

Additionally, the ability to view and download invoices and credit notes instantly ensures a hassle-free, centralised experience. This innovation empowers users with greater financial control, reduces administrative burdens, and enhances overall efficiency.

Key Features & Functionality:
Visual Dashboard – Get a summarised view of outstanding invoices across all trading currencies at a glance.
Paid Invoice Overview – Track monthly and yearly invoice values in real time across multiple currencies.
Advanced Search Function – Quickly find and retrieve invoices and credit notes with an intuitive search tool.
Invoice Type Switcher – Effortlessly toggle between Freight & Customs and Duty & VAT transactions for better organisation and clarity.
Pre-configured Quick Filters – Navigate to the most relevant data instantly using streamlined widget-based filtering.
View & Download Capability – No more chasing paperwork! Instantly view PDF invoices and credit notes or download bulk invoice documentation in spreadsheet format.
Transaction Summary – Gain quick insights into charged codes and line items with an information icon providing clear transaction details.
Settled Transactions Access – Easily review settled transactions and retrieve necessary records in just a few clicks.

DOWNLOAD PDF Feature Summary

Join the Beta Testing Group
To ensure our new Invoice Application meets the highest standards of functionality and user experience, we are inviting a select group of customers to participate in the BETA phase. This exclusive opportunity allows participants to shape the future of Metro’s digital financial tools while gaining priority access to the latest enhancements.

Interested? Reach out to your key account manager or EMAIL Ian Powell, Customer & Technical Solutions Director.

Metro remains committed to leveraging technology to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. The MVT Invoice Application is just one of many initiatives designed to bring greater control, visibility, and efficiency to our customers.

Stay tuned for further updates and the official launch.

This Christmas, Metro is celebrating the festive season by showing appreciation for its staff and supporting those in need through meaningful charitable initiatives.

The company has partnered with Booni Box, a social enterprise dedicated to creating environmentally friendly, personalised gifts that deliver a lasting impact.

A gift with purpose
Metro staff across the company’s global headquarters and three regional offices will receive a ‘Homelessness Prevention Box’ from Booni Box as a token of gratitude for their hard work throughout the year. However, this gift is about much more than appreciation.

Each box is a collaboration of purpose-driven products from independent brands committed to making a difference. In addition to providing thoughtfully curated items, a portion of the profits from Metro’s purchase will be reinvested into social projects, amplifying the positive impact of every purchase.

The initiative directly supports proactive outreach and coaching for individuals at risk of homelessness, with each box also funding a hot meal for someone in need, ensuring that Metro’s Christmas gift extends far beyond its workforce to touch the lives of those facing hardship.

Charitable highlights in 2024
This initiative is part of Metro’s wider commitment to giving back. In 2024, Metro raised £23,000 for JCB’s NSPCC charity fundraiser, with a team of staff participating in a 50-mile sponsored cycle to JCB’s head office. The company also contributed £15,000 to other charitable causes, supporting staff-driven initiatives, local community projects, and customer-affiliated fundraising efforts.

Metro’s support extended internationally as well, with donations to the Monsoon Accessorize Trust, helping to uplift the communities that supply materials for the business.

Looking forward
Metro’s partnership with Booni Box reflects its ongoing commitment to social responsibility and sustainability. By choosing a gift that makes a tangible difference, the company is not only thanking its staff for their dedication but also giving back to those in need during the festive season.

As 2024 comes to a close, Metro continues to exemplify the spirit of giving—ensuring that its impact is felt within the organisation and far beyond.

The automotive industry is in a constant state of motion, moving 1.6 billion components every year to support the manufacturing of approximately 85 million cars worldwide.

With around 20,000 parts required per vehicle, the sheer scale of supply chain activity is immense, particularly for the 960 million components that must be imported via rail, road, sea, or air to reach production sites.

Metro’s Automotive Operational team plays a crucial role in keeping this complex system running, managing parts, accessories, and vehicles against stringent delivery KPIs to ensure timely, in-full deliveries, no matter the challenges. As global supply chains adapt, Metro’s expertise in overcoming obstacles helps to keep the automotive world moving.

Chinese EV Imports causing waves
European automakers are facing significant pressure from an influx of more affordable electric vehicles (EVs) from China. Chinese brands have quickly gained ground in Europe, rising from less than 1% market share in 2019 to an estimated 8% today. With forecasts suggesting that this figure could double by 2025, European automakers are now contending with vehicles priced as much as 20% lower than EU-made models. In response, the European Union has implemented additional tariffs on Chinese EVs, raising import duties by up to 45.3% after a high-profile trade investigation aimed at protecting the European market.

China has responded by advising its automakers to reduce investments in European countries that support the new tariffs. This escalating trade tension highlights the competition between Chinese and European manufacturers, especially as China’s surplus production capacity of 3 million EVs annually—double the total EU market—seeks new outlets following similar tariff impositions in the US. Germany’s Volkswagen, for example, plans to restructure its domestic operations, including shutting factories and reducing staff, in response to mounting cost pressures and competitive challenges posed by Chinese EVs.

Autonomous driving advances with electric
As the automotive sector continues its shift toward electric mobility, autonomous driving technology is expected to advance alongside it, with early implementation focused on well-defined urban areas. Inner-city environments, where infrastructure and controlled conditions better support this technology, will likely see the first deployments of automated driving. 

Projections estimate that widespread adoption of self-driving passenger vehicles in the UK could save 3,200 lives and prevent over 50,000 serious accidents by 2040, resulting in an economic boost worth £38 billion. Public openness to this technology is growing, with nearly a third of adults willing to try automated passenger services and even higher interest among Generation Z.

Metro’s automotive logistics

The automotive logistics team has had a busy month, handling over 150 cars transported via road, air, and sea, as well as shipping more than 500 containers of automotive components globally and managing around 30 full trailer loads of parts across Europe. 

When time is critical, Metro steps in to provide airfreight solutions for urgent deliveries, whether it’s a customer’s car for a deadline or a new vehicle heading to an event or press reveal. This month, Metro helped a client successfully re-import a car from China to the UK, overcoming delays caused by complex regulatory challenges. For automotive manufacturers, private collectors, and high-profile individuals, Metro ensures that vehicles arrive securely and on time, whatever the destination.

As the automotive industry adapts to new market conditions, from the rise of Chinese EV imports to the advancement of autonomous technology, Metro remains a dependable partner, supporting clients across every stage of the supply chain and helping them navigate the complexities of a fast-evolving global market.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Automotive supply chain, please EMAIL our Automotive team who are standing by to assist.