After the relaunch of Militzer & Münch in Dubai in 2017, the young country unit quickly succeeded in building stability and positioning itself on the market. As Managing Director of Militzer & Münch UAE, Anil Manath experienced the rapid development as well as the challenges of recent years, above all the coronavirus pandemic, from the very beginning. We spoke to him about strategies in times of crisis, plans for the future and the merits of his team.
Mr. Manath, how have you experienced the development of Militzer & Münch in Dubai so far?
We managed to grow strongly in the initial phase and establish the location. This gave us an important foundation, which benefited us in the challenging years that followed. We clearly felt the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, for example in the form of supply bottlenecks and freight fluctuations. However, we were able to absorb this very well as we can react flexibly and have the right attitude when it comes to overcoming difficult phases.
Could you describe this attitude in more detail?
Only with motivation and enjoyment of our work can we be successful. That’s why it’s crucial to create the best possible working conditions for the team, and to adapt them to the situation. During the pandemic, we set up a dedicated team to support our employees, for example, in seamlessly continuing to work from home. However, it is just as important not to stick to the status quo in our own activities, but to view hurdles as an opportunity to break new ground – which is our great strength. We have encouraged our team to find innovative solutions to maintain customer satisfaction and our operational efficiency, for example by offering alternative routes and new products, such as LCL consolidation services. Thus, we made the most of the situation and even achieved record results during that time.
And Militzer & Münch Dubai has continued to grow…
That’s right, we now have 65 employees. That is also an impressive development in view of the sometimes adverse circumstances, and it’s a sign of our efficiency!
Which transport routes are particularly in demand, and what is the current focus of Militzer & Münch’s activities in Dubai?
Maritime transports are the most frequent, followed by air freight and road haulage. We are strongly product-oriented. Our services include LCL consolidations from France, China, India, Germany, Italy and Sri Lanka as well as LCL groupage transports from Kuwait. We are experiencing increasing demand in the area of ship spare parts forwarding and chandling services. We will soon be opening a new branch in the port of Fujairah to further improve service in this sector for our customers. We have also successfully expanded our asset-light contract logistics model: Our team now operates three leased warehouses with a total of some 1,670 square meters. We hold more than 4,000 pallets in external warehouses.
What motivates you personally in your work?
That I get to work with professionals who give their best every day and fully identify with the Militzer & Münch company. Our team does not shy away from difficult tasks, but works hard to solve them. The excellent results we achieve confirm my belief that working together as a cohesive unit is the most simple and effective recipe for success.
