Operational Excellence and Security Matter More Than Ever

Visibility, control and consistency for more resilient European transport

In today’s logistics market, customers are not just looking for capacity—they are looking for resilience, reliability, visibility and security. We see operational excellence as a practical discipline: the ability to deliver consistent, visible and secure transport performance across markets.

This expectation is also shaping how we manage transport operations across Europe.
 
As highlighted by Melanie Niethammer, Senior Manager Operations & Chairwoman of the European Operations Team:
“Customers today expect more than reliable transport. They need visibility, control and the confidence that their supply chains remain secure and resilient, even in complex environments. Operational excellence is the ability to bring all these elements together consistently and turn them into a competitive advantage.”
 

Consistent Service Across Europe

One of the biggest challenges in European transport is ensuring consistent service quality across different countries, operating environments and customer requirements.
 
We address this through standardised processes and aligned ways of working across our European network.

For customers, this creates a more stable operating environment, with:
  • the same service quality across markets
  • fewer disruptions in cross-border flows
  • more predictable operations
Real-time visibility dashboard showing shipment tracking, proactive updates, earlier risk alerts and better control in European transport

More visibility. Better control. 

As transport networks become more complex, visibility is critical.


When performance data is structured and visible, teams can move from reacting to issues towards managing them earlier and more consistently. KPI transparency and shipment tracking help customers:
 
  • identify risks earlier
  • react faster
  • plan with greater confidence
A recent example across the STI Freight Management network is the standardised RTV — Real-Time Visibility — dashboard introduced at the beginning of March.

Having one unified weekly view has improved transparency across our organisation, helping teams manage performance more consistently and respond faster where improvements are needed.

Since introducing this regular KPI visibility, we have seen a clear improvement in Real-Time Visibility performance, supporting faster follow-up and more consistent operational control.

To build on this approach, a group-wide KPI dashboard is planned for Q3. The objective is to create a common performance framework across the group, supporting greater consistency in processes, reporting and operational decision-making.
 
For customers, this means greater control over the supply chain and a more evidence-based approach to continuous improvement.

Security as an Operational Requirement

Security is becoming a key factor in transport partner selection.
This is especially important for sensitive and high-value flows. Across our European network, we continue to strengthen security through strict validation processes and high operational standards.

In Germany, for example, the team is working towards TAPA TSR1 certification, reflecting the growing importance of protection, traceability and control in transport decisions.This reflects a clear shift in the market: security is no longer treated as an additional feature, but as part of operational resilience.

Built for Complex and Sensitive Transport

This is particularly relevant in sectors where precision and control are essential:
  • Temperature-controlled food and QSR supply chains
  • Pharmaceutical and healthcare products
  • High-value and time-critical shipments
In these environments, resilience, reliability and control are not optional. They directly influence service continuity, product integrity and customer confidence.

Cross-Functional Collaboration in Tender Management

Operational quality also depends on how early operational expertise is included in customer solutions.
 
One example is the joint tender review approach introduced between Operations and Commercial teams. By involving Operations from the beginning of the sales process, requirements, risks and customer expectations can be assessed before a solution is proposed.

This way of working has already supported new business opportunities across key European lanes, including Germany–Sweden and Germany–UK.

For customers, the benefit is a solution that is not only commercially aligned, but also operationally realistic from the start.

What This Means for Customers

Operational excellence creates practical value for customers through consistent service across Europe, greater visibility, stronger security, and deep expertise in complex, temperature controlled and time critical transport operations.

Taking Quality the Extra Mile


For us, operational excellence is about more than execution. It is about creating the conditions for reliable performance through consistency, visibility, security, collaboration, and control.

In a market where customers expect reliability at every stage of the transport process, the real differentiator is not simply moving goods. It is doing so consistently, securely, and with the right level of control across every shipment, every day.

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