The logistics field is increasing by some 20 per cent a year. Suomen Logistiikkatalo Oy intends expanding in a controlled manner but more quickly than the growth in the sector. One of the most promising growth areas points to Russia.

"A fast growth rate requires large-scale investment in premises, which may also mean big risks. We're making patient progress, says Antti Aaltonen, the logistics manager.

"The essential question with Russia is the country's own development and its effect on Finland's transit traffic. The outlook is promising. Large-scale logistics centres are being built in Russia and the strong rise in costs locally will create growth conditions for Finland."

Aaltonen goes on to say that the real opportunities will be created through cooperation by means of long-term customer relationships. At the moment services are being put out to competition too much in pursuit of a short-sighted price advantage. A change, however, is taking place.

"The length of cooperation agreements in Central Europe can be up to seven years. There are also signs in Finland of going in the same direction. Only this way will real development be achieved."

Delivery chain in real time

"Reliability is based on the professional skills of the personnel and a flexible service concept. These special features are especially emphasized in transit traffic," Aaltonen stresses.

Logistiikkatalo handles transit traffic to Russia from the Finnish cities of Turku and Lahti. More than 90 per cent of its customers are import companies. "In the main we handle the entire order-delivery chain from the supplier of an item to the customer, but the extent of the service is always constructed separately on a customer-by-customer basis."

With an information system developed for their needs, Logistiikkatalo's customers can follow all the stages of the order-delivery chain in real time. An all-embracing service concept for the customers brings considerable added value.

Expertise found

Aaltonen says that Finnish expertise in logistics has developed enormously in recent years. Expertise in transit traffic in particular is at a good level thanks to companies' management systems and the professional skill of the operational personnel.

"The core of our expertise is in the solutions and services produced inside the walls of the logistics centres. They're based on high quality and the ability to construct reliable and flexible customer-responsive solutions," Aaltonen explains.

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