DSV/Uti merger 'one of the fastest set-ups in history'

Change is never easy, but the

biggest acquisition in DSV’s

history – incorporating UTi

into its business – is a merger

that has seemingly been

accepted with relative ease.

DSV South Africa

managing director, Gordon

Wyatt, attributes this

to communication and

consultation.

“The entire process has

been managed really well,” he

told FTW. “A huge amount

of communication and

consultation has been key in the

process while at the same time

it has been quick and decisive

throughout. UTi and DSV are

both very customer-centric

businesses and this common

culture has also made the

change easier.”

According to Wyatt,

efficiency is what customers are

after more than anything at the

moment. “DSV has acquired

many companies over the years

and the focus is always on the

clients and the staff. We move

quickly and make decisive

decisions, which minimise

the impact of the change,” he

told FTW. “We are already

completely integrated in South

Africa in what has been one

of the largest, and certainly

fastest, full integration set-ups

in the company’s history.”

June 1 saw the official

rebranding of UTi to DSV,

making it now one of the

leading global logistics

organisations with an

expansive network.

“Due to the current

economic global downturn,

all clients are looking for more

efficiencies and value,” said

Wyatt. “DSV understands this

and our approach allows us to

deliver on this requirement.

Our decentralised and local

management model is perfectly

suited to make quick and

effective decisions to support

this requirement.”

This, he said, was going to be

the focus going forward as well.

“This is a global company but

our focus in South Africa is very

much on the local client,” he

told FTW.

The integration of the

company was, however, not

without its challenges.

“The change on to the DSV

global system has been a

massive challenge as we needed

to train over 1 000 new users

and implement the system

timeously, but we are excited

that this has been done by the

deadline and are 100% up and

running.”

The post-merger plan,

he said, was relatively

straightforward and included

establishing DSV’s systems

within the UTi operations even

further.