1. What have you learned, and what opportunities have you found from the Covid-19 crisis?
Since the Covid-19 first appeared last February (2020), everyone has been in a panic. The logistics industry in
2. How do you adjust your business in response to the increasing oil price?
Years ago, when we were facing the swinging oil price, we kept the customers informed about this factor and the necessity that we might need to increase our service fee regarding the oil price. For the recent crisis, we admit that it significantly impacts our income and revenue. However, we have EV technology that JWD has already signed a contract with our Japanese supply partner. Thus, this February, we will launch the first trial of EV lorry in our freight. Moreover, we have cooperated with the Chinese partner to bring more EV trucks. Therefore, to achieve our 'Green logistics' mission and maintain the ESG policy, we must implement more EV transports.
3. Confronting the container imbalance.
This issue directly impacted our customers. I received an email from customers in
4. Business adjustment in the era of digital disruption.
Talking about digital means the backend or freight management system and the robotic technology that replaces human labor. JWD was the first logistics company to implement such technology and has been operating under an IT solution initiative for over ten years. Besides, we have also applied Business Intelligence (BI), such as providing a dashboard for the management team to oversee the operation in each unit. I also have my dashboard to receive daily income and revenue reports.
5. Generation gap management
JWD will soon turn 43 years old. We have a wide gap between the old generation who are almost retired and young new-graduated employees. With more than 2,000 employees, we brainstorm experience and know-how from the seniors with the enthusiastic, progressive juniors. I admit we have a strong HR department. Plus, we are the rising sun industry. While everyone has struggled with the pandemic, we still have acquired positive effects. Thousands of employees from other sectors were assigned to work from home, leave without pay, and even dismissed. We did none of these. Therefore, I believe our staff knows how lucky they are with the company's position these days.
6. Investment in
JWD has been expanding business to
7. Logistics business is the backbone of the economy.
Yes, this is very important. As I said, no matter what crisis, all businesses seek survival. Logistics plays a significant role in supporting their backend, transportation management, storage management, air-freight, sea-freight, etc. Logistics cannot stop working. But of course, in a bull economy, we have a lot to do. The higher volume brings about a higher supply. Therefore, the increased competition is the customers' stage of judging and bargaining the price and service. Logistics is an exciting business. Most of the time, we must decrease our costs because we profit from the customer cost.
8. Art Storage business.
Forty-three years ago, JWD started our first business in moving and relocation services such as home and office move, including exhibitions related to Art. A couple of years before the Covid-19 pandemic, we started the JWD Art Space, aiming to provide Fine Art logistics solutions, and cooperated with the
9. What is your most potential challenge these days?
After Covid-19, I admit that JWD has performed exceptionally well. We have grown three quarters in a row. Therefore, my most potential challenge is how to develop further. How can we maintain our performance until the end of this Q4? While the Omicron seems threatening the economy and brings us an unclear scenario, how can we reach our next year's target, especially the top and bottom lines? Can we grow as expected? These are our challenges.
10. We must not be proud of our past achievements.
I believe that as a listed company when we achieve something, others keep an eye on us. Because we are in the market and must work transparently, other competitors can always follow or imitate us - for example, cold chain management. Nowadays, everyone jumps into this service which I am very appreciative of. Thus, we aim to create new products regarding new trends, long-term potential, and sustainability. After that, the commercial team and I must pursue new products and services that could solve the problems for our customers, either B2B or C2C. We must admit that when there are many players in the market, profit margin and everything we did in the past will naturally decrease. Most commonly, they usually compete with price war campaigns. But, as a result, we must not stop and constantly search for new business opportunities.
11. What's your inspiration for work?
My inspiration. I was only 29 years old when I first took the responsibility in this position due to my father passing away. However, my father's goal to register the company in the capital market had inspired me. And I made it. Indeed, there are many things he wanted to do, and I have achieved most of them so far - just a few things to go.
12. What's your goal?
My next goal is to grow JWD following our 5-year strategy as we announced to the investors and shareholders that we will reach
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