Page 22 - a.hartrodt Business Report 2020 EN
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                                   Opportunities and risks
Opportunities and risks
Meeting moments of crisis with growth
Risk in logistics has many faces. Transport damage, currency fluctuations, climate disasters, cyber attacks, regional unrest, strikes, pandemics: any possible supply chain attacks and failures need to be unerringly avoided or circumnavigated. Risk management is therefore a key component of our management processes.
This includes an automated reporting system, which maps products, customers, suppliers, locations, sectors, profit centres and investments and enables continuous monitoring and management of all processes. On top of this, we practise active quality management. Whenever possible, the local a. hartrodt companies are certified as AEOs (approved economic operators). We also provide seamless insurance coverage for all subsidiaries, which protects us against the risks incurred in our business.
We manage currency and interest rate risks with an ever­more clearly structured finance and treasury system. Some financial risks are easier to manage due to our global, decentralised
group structure. For example, we can hedge currency risks internally using offsetting cash flows in foreign currencies. In addition, services are largely charged in local currency, meaning that there is only a low currency risk.
By setting up medium­term bank loans and additional lines of credit, we have averted any financing risk. The funds for the growth ahead are in place.
One promising way to deal with risks is to invest in opportuni­ ties. By expanding our network and diversifying our range of services, we safeguard our company’s development in many areas. Among other things, we are, for example, developing international overland transport and inventory turnover in Europe and other regions. We fundamentally see opportunities in growing with our customers’ increasing demand for logistics services. In addition, we are working throughout the company on increasing our LCL business and expanding food transport. In short, there are opportunities for us in many areas, even or especially during the crisis.
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