A full 20% of employed Belgians live less than 15 kilometers from their workplaces, so commuting by bicycle obviously has enormous potential.
Ziegler is fully aware of this opportunity and the inherent benefits that come with it: improved physical fitness of employees, reduced atmospheric pollution, and less time wasted in traffic jams for them are all benefits that electric bikes have to offer.
With those advantages in mind, Ziegler has made it easier for employees to start using this means of transport by offering its employees in Belgium an advantageous bicycle leasing programme that started in January 2021. Ziegler’s staff can choose the electric bike of their dreams from among many models available from authorised dealers, and benefit from a package including annual maintenance, insurance and the possibility of buying the bicycle at the end of the lease.
Since the launch of the programme, the number of Ziegler employees who have taken the plunge to ride their e-bikes to work has increased. The programme continues to attract more and more participants who wish to adopt a more economical mode of transport, have a desire to stay fit, and who support further development of appropropriate infrastructure to facilitate such travel more widely – such as bike paths.
In addition to turning their daily commutes into real workouts sessions, these Ziegler employees are contributing to the increasingly green reputation of Ziegler and are perfect ambassadors for the company’s sustainable development programme “Ziegler. Now even Greener”.
As part of a series of interviews focused on the topic of last mile logistics, Ziegler met with Mr. Philippe Lebeau, Professor at the VUB and a member of the MOBI Research Center. His expertise covers, among other things, supply chain management, sustainable logistics, electric vehicles and freight transport in Brussels. In particular, he contributed to the “Cargo Bike” project launched by the Brussels-Capital Region, which aimed to create the ecosystem necessary to stimulate the wider adoption of cargo bikes with the underlying goal of reducing reliance on motor vehicles. Having devoted his PhD to the electrification of urban logistics, Philippe Lebeau has focused his research on last mile logistics and worked for four years on the development of a sustainable distribution network in Brussels that is based on a system of using urban centers of consolidation together with electric vans. His research then led him to study the use of cargo bikes for last mile (the BCklet project). He is also active within the VUB, where he leads the courses on sustainable mobility and logistics with Professor Cathy Macharis.
So there are many good reasons to ask for his insights into the effectiveness of Ziegler’s latest last mile innovation project: the XXL cargo bike and the urban micro-hub.
The Cargobike: an excellent urban delivery solution with low environmental impact
In Mr. Lebeau’s opinion, initiatives such as the XXL cargo bike developed by Ziegler represent an excellent solution to meet the challenge posed by climate change and poor air quality. Since cargo bike has the advantage of being electrically powered, it doesn’t emit atmospheric pollutants such as CO2, NOx and PM.
But that’s not the only benefit. When we talk about external societal costs associated with transport, we must also consider the noise pollution it causes. Already improvements in this area are being made, for example with the introduction of 30 km/h zones in Brussels and the speed limit of 100 km/h on the Brussels Ring. “Not only are cargo bikes quieter and reduce noise levels, they are also safer because they are slower.”
A solution to urban congestion
What’s more, cargo bikes can also help alleviate congestion problems in city centres. Indeed, they can use the cycle lanes as long as they are wide enough and in good condition.
Massification versus fragmentation
To combat urban congestion, a rule of thumb is to consolidate shipments and make smart decisions based on the volume of goods transported. The principle is that it is better to dispatch a full truck rather than 10 smaller vans to make the same deliveries. The same logic naturally applies to cargo bikes.
In order to optimize environmental performance, it is necessary to couple groupage/consolidation with cargo bikes. There is no point in further fragmenting volumes. The goal is not to put as many delivery vehicles on the road as possible, but to use cargo bikes wisely, where their use has the most impact.
How urban logistics micro-platforms and cargo bikes complement each other
The combination of micro-hubs and the cargo bike is perfect because it allows goods to be brought closer to consumers. The goods are first pre-routed in bulk to the micro-hub by small groupage vehicles. Last mile delivery can then be provided from the central micro-hub by cargo bikes, which is the ideal solution: not only can it be parked easily, but it is also emission free. In this configuration, last mile delivery can be arranged within a radius of 3 to 5 km from the micro-hub.
By consolidating flows while implementing electric cargo bikes together with urban micro-hubs, it becomes possible to reduce the distance travelled for each delivery, which translates into fewer emissions and a reduction in external societal costs.
“Your cargo bike has the advantage of being very large, which allows you to transport many parcels at the same time, and your micro-hub in Place Albertine is perfectly located for deliveries in the centre of Brussels”.
The latest thinking on micro-hubs
Currently, one idea that is being researched in Brussels is that of a shared repository. It would be a deposit open to carriers with the aim of consolidating the goods as much as possible.
Tests were also carried out in Brussels on mobile hubs. A semi-trailer, for example, could act as a hub. However, for a city like Brussels, this solution isn’t quite the ideal solution. A lean approach would be micro-hubs in the form of vans or smaller trucks that would be parked at the start of the day and act as hubs to supply cargo bikes.
Other solution in addition to cargo bikes and micro-hubs?
Future opportunities will depend on the continuing electrification of delivery vehicles as well as the reduction of diesel-powered vans. By 2030, the use of diesel vans under 3.5 tonnes will be banned in the Brussels LEZ (Low Emission Zone). However, a recent survey showed that of all delivery vehicles in Brussels, 94% still used diesel, compared to only 5% petrol and 1% CNG.
And even today, a majority of companies surveyed still rank diesel as the top fuel for their future van purchases, although electric is gaining popularity and is currently in second place.
Professor Philippe Lebeau concluded with this: “We are very happy to explore all these new and innovative options for last mile delivery and hope that in the future we can work together on even more exciting projects! We are fully prepared to help and support Ziegler in your research! It would be great if we could share best practices in urban logistics with each other. Ziegler is a big name in transport and a major player in the logistics field. It is encouraging to see you participating in cyclo-logistics. Indeed, this should not only be reserved for small niche operators, it is really something that is gaining momentum and which makes sense for large operators. So together we can increase the impact of sustainable and innovative last mile logistics.”
Ziegler’s head office in Brussels had the honor of hosting on March 22, 2022, the launch of the latest Trends sector publication: the Trends Top Transport & Logistics.
The event, which took place outdoors, with a magnificent view of the Brussels canal, was a huge success as it welcomed more than seventy personalities from various companies and industries.
By way of introduction, our commercial director of Ziegler Belux, Xavier Vanwynsberghe presented our strategy “Ziegler. Now Even Greener” and our vision of urban distribution.
Mark Goossenaerts, Director SHIP IT, explained the philosophy of SHIP IT and the upcoming collaboration with Ziegler for the distribution of the last mile via the Brussels waterways.
Burt Riské, General Manager of Trends Business Information, concluded by presenting Trends Top, a one-stop shop for up-to-date business information and advanced web-based tools for financial analysis, targeted prospecting, geomarketing and sales management. In a nutshell, a true cross-media communication platform and a valuable online research tool.
Ziegler is very happy to have been associated with this launch and to have opened its doors for this event which offered excellent networking opportunities. We would like to thank all the participants present on this occasion.
Future-proof and diversify your supply chain. Be prepared for any future disruptions by adding rail freight into your logistics chain.
What we learned from the supply chain crisis during the early 2020s, it is that the unexpected can and will happen. Businesses struggle and also thrive in adversity, but there are some things we can do to ensure we are as ready as we can be for when conditions shift suddenly.
With a special focus on transport between China and Europe, Ziegler Group is supporting our customers with their individual challenges and advising them on opportunities to make the most of supply chain disruptions – both now and future.
Here are some ways Ziegler Group is looking at our own ways of doing business, as well as advising our customers.
With many companies looking for alternatives to improve supply chain issues, many are asking about the possibilities to take advantage of the newly improved overland rail routes from China. So here are 10 of the most common questions we are asked!
Strict gender divisions between professions reserved for men and women no longer exist. Theoretically, that is but there are areas that we still – even subconsciously – reserve for different genders. How so in the supply chain sector?
Only a dozen years ago, it was rare for a woman to be found working in a position related to civil engineering, IT, or transportation and supply chain. Today, that has changed and continues to do so. At the Ziegler Group this is easily apparent where 35% of employees today are women and this number is increasing with each passing year. Most of them work in administrative, operational and sales positions, a fair number are managers but there is also a large number of women holding positions which were once dominated strictly by men, such as truck drivers, forklift operators and IT specialists. In many Ziegler countries like Hong Kong, China, Greece and Tunisia, women even make up the majority of staff and management.
Yes, they will tell you that for most of them, they could feel that they were entering a sector traditionally thought of as ‘male territory’ but that didn’t hold them back and for most it was an exciting challenge, even though they knew they would have to prove their worth. “When I joined the industry in 2011, I found a very masculine environment, and I was only 22 but I knew that the only way to make a change was to prove myself as a skilled person,” recalls Stephie Combe, Branch Manager in Ziegler Aurillac, France. “It wasn’t easy at first because I had just finished school and therefore had no experience but thanks to my persistence, I managed to push through my point of view and show my qualities and above all, prove that there is a place for me in this so-called ‘male’ world of transport,” adds Melanie Brasse, Land Operations Manager at Ziegler France.
Tenacity, persistence and resilience are certainly the qualities that have helped most of the women in male-dominated industries break through the resistance of their colleagues and environment and achieve success. However, the women who work at Ziegler also point to other important traits. “In terms of the qualities needed to break through, I think femininity brings finesse, detail and vision to stereotypically male professions, essential to success in this industry,” notes Ophelie Crevon, Branch Manager in Ziegler Rouen, France.
Patricia Knott, HR Manager at Ziegler UK, also notes that natural feminine empathy is a trait that, in spite of appearances, proves very helpful in a so-called masculine world. “Communication skills, the ability to relate to people at all levels, from the warehouse to operations departments to directors. A sense of humor, the ability to listen. Those qualities have certainly helped me a lot in this industry,” she says. She is supported by Ingrid Derimay, a sales representative in Ziegler France: “I don’t pay attention to comments that are sometimes not so appropriate, and I know how to gently but effectively bring some people back in their place when they go a little too far,” she says.
So, are there any particularly feminine traits that can help you to break through in a male-dominated industry or profession? Or perhaps women bring with them a different kind of feminine energy that is neither better nor worse but is equally effective in achieving the desired goals, even if the method looks different than was previously assumed…
Geraldine Van Reems, responsible for UK import customer service in Ziegler Netherlands, agrees, “I often manage to achieve more than my colleagues by being nice, talking lightly, joking. I believe that this is how you can achieve more than by acting tough and harsh,” she says. “Also, not to be overestimated is our female multitasking and ability to handle many things at once,” adds Mylene Beard, responsible for marketing in Ziegler France. Agnieszka Szulc working in Ziegler IT departament as a Full Stack Developer adds patience to it as well, which can sometimes be the key to success, especially in building good partnerships. “From my experience working with female developers, they have more patience, especially for beginners. With the right amount of patience, everyone on the team can feel more at ease and learn what they need to learn faster,” she notes. The ladies also find great value in their sensitivity and intuition, which certainly bring a feminine breath of fresh air to a masculine environment. “I think being organized and having feminine intuition brings great value to my work,” says Melanie Brasse.
So, can supply chain really still be called a man’s industry today? “Yes, it’s a more masculine industry but I’m in my place among men, I’m one of the team, I don’t feel I stand out in any way, I just sometimes wear heels and skirts,” Geraldine Van Reems states. “I’ve been working in the road transport industry for 29 years and when I started this subject wasn’t discussed. The biggest difficulty for me at the time was the age, not the gender difference. I think this issue is still relevant today but experience has made us approach the conversation differently, without an inferiority complex. Creating mixed-gender teams is essential to maintaining balance in a department, company or international group,” adds Sylvie Cousin, Branch Manager in Ziegler Narbonne, France. “While there is always the thought in the back of your mind that something is only for men, I try to go with the assumption that there are no more male-dominated industries and anyone with the right skill set will find their place where they belong,” Agnieszka Szulc concludes.
Women are making bolder and bolder forays into once male-dominated career paths and not just in the supply chain industry. Increasing gender diversity in many industries and professions certainly brings a lot of value to them but also to the teams and individuals working in them. However, some women are still hesitant and worried about whether they can make it. Katarzyna Dolińska, IT Scrum Master at Ziegler Group encourages them to redirect the focus away from gender and rather towards skills and competencies, “Don’t focus on your gender as a problem, but rather on developing your super skills,” she says. Monika Schneider, HR team leader at Ziegler Germany advises them not to be afraid and to believe in their abilities. She also notes that systemic support in this regard is important. “According to a British study, women’s IQ is on average higher than men’s. Women today are very well educated and contribute a lot to teams. Equality in the labor market must be guaranteed by the government,” she notes. .
The women at Ziegler Group are excellent proof that success is possible in any industry and in any position. Persistence, perseverance, professionalism and optimism are qualities that anyone can use on their path to success. These women have lived up to their potential and that is their key to success in the supply chain industry.
In this time of unprecedented supply chain issues, it’s worth looking into other transportation methods you may not have considered before.
Sea freight dominates as the most common transportation method. However, current vessel shortages, port bottlenecks and container availability are stretching out lead times and raising prices to historic highs.
In the world of Rail Freight, new developments with overland routes between China and Europe make rail transport increasingly attractive with short transit times and reasonable pricing.
And Air Freight usage is increasing year by year due to its speed and reliability.
Let’s quickly review these three methods of transporting goods from China to Europe. And please keep in mind that freight specialists from Ziegler Group will help you make informed decisions about what solutions make sense for your business.
In this series of interviews that Ziegler is devoting to partners who support it in its urban logistics projects, Ziegler today gives the floor to Interparking, which is developing its vision of urban mobility that is both greener and more efficient.
Both Ziegler and Interparking are key players in urban mobility – one as a carrier and the other as a parking operator. Each has an essential role to play in relieving congestion in cities, improving urban mobility and promoting a peaceful city. So a partnership between the two was a natural result of that shared goal.
Use of the car and respect for the environment perfectly reconcilable
Interparking has been present for more than 60 years in the urban mobility sector in the heart of major European cities. Its teams facilitate more fluid travel in urban centers and their outskirts.
Interparking frees up public space. At any given moment, a full 30% of vehicles on the street are vehicles trying to park. So a car park with 500 spaces represents a queue of cars 2.5 kilometers long that has been taken off the streets. The construction of new car parks makes it possible to return public space to pedestrians and cyclists.
Using a car is also compatible with respect for the environment. The development of new innovative projects, which are growing in number daily, will make this more a reality than ever before: shared vehicles, connected and autonomous cars, hybrid and electric cars are the bridge to more sustainable mobility and will require an appropriate service offer.
Multimodality ahead
Interparking strongly believes that multimodality is an essential pillar of both greener and more efficient mobility. Most of its car parks are connected to other modes of transport: bus, tram, metro, train, bike rental stations, airports, etc. Its Pcard+ allows its customers to access its car parks, but also public transport networks and multiple ancillary services (such as electric charging). Each customer can thus flexibly combine several modes of transport to optimize their journeys.
Environmental responsibility also remains a major priority for Interparking. In addition to CO2 neutral certification in all nine countries where the group is present, Interparking is strengthening its activities in the fight against climate change, such as the program to plant mangroves in Benin in partnership with the independent design office CO2 Logic.
In terms of innovation, Interparking is the first Belgian company to have equipped its car parks with particle reduction systems in the Beffroi car park in Namur, Belgium. This device neutralizes 50 to 70% of particles, 40% of fine particles and 20% of ultrafine particles in suspension in the car park, resulting in cleaner air.
Ziegler and Interparking Launch a Last-Mile Logistics Microhub
In September 2021, Interparking and Ziegler launched the first micro-hub for Cargo Bikes at Parking Albertine, near Sablon in Brussels. Ziegler had previously initiated an experimental hub from its facility in Chaussée de Vilvorde for distribution throughout the city centre of Brussels. But to be able to make more deliveries and be closer to the city centre, Interparking and Ziegler jointly launched the first micro-hub in the Albertine car park.
This “last mile” delivery solution combines three innovative aspectsto deliver large parcels throughout the centre of Brussels, while ensuring low or even zero CO2 emissions. For starters, an electric van transports goods from the main logistics hub to the Albertine car park microhub in the city centre. From there, Cargo Bikes transport packages to their final destinations. This service is not only greener, it is also more efficient. The Cargo Bike XXL makes up to 50 stops per day, while a conventional distribution truck only makes an average of 25 stops in the same time.
This service therefore solves two issues simultaneously: it makes it possible to 100% decarbonize delivery in the city centre while improving performance at the same time. Partnerships like this will be essential to our goal of providing optimized and sustainable mobility.
Support innovative projects
Maintaining regular dialogue with all stakeholders is essential to stimulate innovation, meet new societal needs and continue to grow in a highly competitive market.
To imagine the mobility of tomorrow, Interparking constantly consults its institutional customers, daily road users, public authorities and local residents. At the same time, Interparking supports and is a member of several innovation-focused programs such as the PropTechlab in Brussels which promotes innovations in the field of construction and real estate, as well as the 19 coding school, among others.
Among the new services: last-mile delivery with Ziegler
Alongside its parking activities, Interparking is developing new services related to other parked car senarios: car-wash, electric charging, car-related services, urban farming, etc.
It makes sense to include last-mile delivery logistics among these. With this first micro-hub as a pattern to follow, Interparking can roll out more micro-hubs to maximize space utilisation in its car parks while helping to relieve city centre congestion. Parking Albertine is just the first of many car parks that will be utilised for this service in the coming future.
Soon, Interparking and Ziegler will launch similar microhubs in the Belgian cities of Bruges and Knokke. And while we’re at it, why not abroad?
The future of urban mobility
The next few years promise to be exciting on the mobility front. Innovations regularly emerge to develop and encourage modes of travel that are ever more respectful of the environment.
Someone who uses a car at one time during the day is often a pedestrian, cyclist or public transport user at other times of the day. Interparking facilitates this with activities and projects geared towards the use of electric vehicles and multimodality.
New technologies already are providing many solutions to climate challenges. Both Ziegler and Interparking are anticipating the arrival of a new generation of autonomous vehicles. These will represent a new challenge that the two partners will be proud to work through together, with the big picture goal always kept in mind – more efficient and responsible mobility in large cities and their surroundings.
Overland rail routes from China to Europe are beating out sea freight in speed, container availability, and value.
“Most companies are accustomed to using sea or air freight,” says Luc Audiens, freight specialist from Ziegler Belgium. “But many people aren’t aware of the advantages that rail routes have more recently started to offer.”
Let’s explore the ways that rail freight is helping European companies diversify their supply chains and receive shipments faster from China.