Freight soſtware firms join forces 2


Freight Soſtware Group, parent company of BoxTop Technologies has completed its purchase of UK- based freight soſtware company Forward Computers Ltd (FCL). FCL founder and shareholder founding shareholder-directors, Graham Donnelly has also retired and his role will be taken up by Christopher Hewlett of Freight Soſtware Group. Otherwise, there will be no other staff changes, with Russell Woodward and Ken Stewart continuing in consultancy roles. The latter said: “Christopher


has long held Forward Computers and ForwardOffice in high regard and, as with staffing, he has no plans to make any other


>> 1 the uncertainty are being felt


throughout the supply chain. For example, in the small parcels/low value sector,


initial government


plans in a No Deal scenario were that all overseas companies sending goods covered by the scheme would have to register with HMRC. However, the trade pointed that that this was not practical because in effect it would mean that the party responsible for VAT would be established outside the UK, making enforcement difficult. Forwarders when acting as customs agents would be reluctant to clear such goods because of concerns about


representing a


party outside the UK increasing their liabilities. BIFA director general Robert


changes whatsoever. Likewise, BoxTop will remain BoxTop. The only difference is that the two companies will no longer operate in competition, rather they will be able to offer alternative options to prospective customers, depending upon their specific requirements. With his own background originally in forwarding, and a proven track record growing a very successful freight soſtware company, Christopher brings a wealth of experience to the table.” Freight Soſtware Group’s


Christopher Hewlett said of his new acquisition: “I have long admired them as a company and as a competitor; they have some very


Keen commented that BIFA had also raised its concerns about Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP), the Government’s flagship policy aimed at alleviating frontier congestion and facilitating the work of customs agents. However: “We are still lacking detail of the data required to complete the supplementary declaration despite the fact that the original Brexit date has long since passed. “We are still uncertain whether


the proposed TSP procedures will work, post 31 October, when systems are largely untried, communication links between the parties involved on the processes are not established, many remain unaware of their responsibilities or the processes to be followed.” Windsor added that it was proving


good people and customers.” Both companies would


maintain separate headquarters – Forward Computers in Nottingham and Boxtop in Windsor. The Boxtop and Forward


Computers brandings would be clearly maintained, but work would now focus on moving applications onto more modern platforms, including the Cloud, in line with overall trends, he said: “My longer term goal is to take the talent in both organisations and design the next-generation systems.” He added: “What I also like


about both companies is that they both provide a human touch.” Telephone support is always


hard to persuade businesses to invest in systems, staff and training to operate TSP given that there was no certainty that it would ever be implemented or, if it was, how long a ‘transitional’ system would be in operation for. “Why get involved in something that potentially has a short life and which might morph into something else.” he asked.


In


fact, registration for TSP had been quite reasonable, he said, with around 7,000 UK firms registered. BIFA’s own members were


also baffled by the government’s plans – or lack of them – and were finding it hard or impossible to justify the cost of recruiting new staff or training existing ones in customs procedures. There were heavy costs attached to either measure, which would be hard for


available and both provided large support teams. Most staff tended to have a freight forwarding background too. A certain amount of


consolidation was taking place in the freight soſtware sector as owners and founders approached retirement age. Companies also needed to offer multiple solutions as their customers themselves became increasingly multimodal. As for Brexit, while there was


a certain “fear of the unknown”, Hewlett was confident that the industry would be able to cope – in fact, forwarders could find themselves more in demand than ever.


a commercial firm to justify, given that there was a possibility that they might not be necessary in the event of a trade deal being signed between the UK and EU. Some companies might usefully


consider registering for customs transit procedures, said Windsor, especially those that were already operating other regimes like temporary storage. While there would be a cost involved, it could reduce the likelihood of delays at the border, especially if groupage operators were to stream consignments


into transit- and


non-transited-registered goods. The French authorities are also reported to be well-advanced in setting up a ‘traffic light’ system to speed the movement goods through entry points such as Calais.


Issue 5 2019 - Freight Business Journal


News Roundup Forwarding & Logistics


The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has appointed Thorsten Neumann as its first-ever full-time president and chief executive. He has served in a voluntary capacity as chairman of TAPA’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region since 2006, alongside his responsibilities as, most recently, director of channel security and business resilience at Microsoſt Corporation. Over the last 13 years, he has been part of a TAPA EMEA leadership team which has delivered unprecedented growth for the Association’s 410 member companies and partners in EMEA.


Palletways Group chief executive James Wilson is to retire on 1 July and Luis Zubialde, the current chief operating officer at Palletways will assume the role. Wilson will continue in an advisory role to both Palletways and the Imperial Logistics’ international division.


CP Training Services is offering what it says is the only BSc (Hons) Supply Chain Management Professional Degree for the workplace that can be paid for by the Apprenticeship Levy. It provides employees with the chance to earn a salary during the entire learning experience. www.cptrainingservices.org.uk


DHL Global Forwarding, Deutsche Post DHL Group’s air and ocean freight specialist, has launched myDHLi Quote & Book, a new online service for comparing quotations and making instant bookings. The service guides customers through the quotation process and enables them to directly compare available options, including DHL Ocean Connect LCL (less-than-container-load) as well as two speeds of air freight, DHL Air Connect and DHL Air Economy.


Imperial Logistics has secured additional road transportation management business from BMW Group. It is adding new routes and extra daily runs to its existing programme of just in time and just in sequence megatrailer operations, delivering parts from component suppliers and BMW Group locations throughout Europe to the company’s plants in Germany. Alha Group pharma and business development manager, Nicola Caristo is to be the new secretary general of the Cool Chain Association (CCA). Caristo has worked in a variety of roles during a 22-year career for the Alha Group, one of Italy’s leading air cargo logistics providers. He is also one of the 25 members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Time and Temperature Working Group, which develops and maintains standards for the transportation of healthcare goods. Caristo takes over from Edwin Kalischnig, who has served as secretary general of the CCA for the last seven years.


Dachser is to rebrand its Irish arm, Johnston Logistics as Dachser Ireland in September. Dachser acquired a majority share in the Irish logistics company two years ago and the integration process is nearing completion, with Johnson’s migration to Dachser’s DOMINO and MIKADO proprietary IT systems for transport and warehouse management taking place in February.


UK offshore islands and Ireland specialist Paul Davis Freight Services has appointed Andy Jehan as chief executive. He has worked for Jersey Post for 37 years, latterly as operations director and also served as chairman of Portsmouth-based Fraser Freight.


The British International Freight Association has elected John Stubbings as its national chair, succeeding Mark Bromley who becomes immediate past chair for a two-year term. Rachel Morley, general manager for operations at BIFA member company, Spatial Global, has been elected vice-chair. Morley was appointed a director of BIFA in 2017 and chairs the trade association’s Midlands region. Sir Peter Bottomley remains as BIFA president. Also joining the Board as a director is Charles Hogg, commercial director of Unsworth Global Logistics. Hogg is currently chair of BIFA’s Maritime, Road and Rail Policy Group and replaces Andrew Melton of Ligentia, who has stepped down aſter 14 years’ service on the Board. Melton will continue to assist BIFA as vice president.


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