Filip Simović, Managing Director of Militzer & Münch - We celebrate five years on the Serbian market with outstanding results

Militzer & Münch is celebrating five years of successful business on the Serbian market, during which the company became one of the top five logistics companies in Serbia. The results, they do not hide, exceeded expectations, which is also proven by the number of employees, which grew 15 times - from 20 at the beginning, to 300, which is the number of the M&M team today.

The general director of the company, Filip Simović, reveals in an interview for eKapija that the portfolio of services has been expanded and that they now offer, in addition to road transport, which they started with, and air, sea, rail transport, as well as support for complete logistics and customs clearance of goods.

The company Militzer & Münch can also boast of the longest railway route in the world, which crosses eight time zones and covers over 13,000 kilometers, from China to the Balkan countries. It currently has 36,000 square meters of warehouse space in Serbia and plans to expand by an additional 4,500 square meters in 2024.

Our interlocutor points out that they have transferred the successful business model from Serbia, based on sustainable and high-quality business, to neighboring countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, and they plan to expand further to other countries in the Balkans.

eKapija: The company Militzer & Münch is celebrating five years since entering the Serbian market this year. What results marked this period?

- Militzer & Münch marks five years of successful business on the Serbian market, during which the company became one of the top five logistics companies in Serbia. This period was marked by significant growth and expansion, including an increase in warehouse space to 36,000 square meters, with plans to expand by an additional 4,500 square meters. The results have honestly exceeded expectations, the proof is we started with 20 employees, and today we have about 300 M&M team members.

The previous experience and acceptance of new ideas and visions motivates us to continue forward with a sure step. With a strategy that emphasizes our employees, innovation and automation as the future of the company, we have achieved extraordinary results that seemed unattainable at first. We have strengthened our team and our offering, and now we can confidently say that we are ready for the growth we are focused on in 2024. We managed to expand our portfolio of services and now we offer, in addition to the road, with which we started, air, sea, rail transport, as well as support for complete logistics and customs clearance of goods.

eKapija: What obstacles did you encounter on your business journey in Serbia?

- Every beginning is difficult, and ours was no exception. Obstacles are an integral part of every business, and one of the key factors of success is the team you have formed from the very start. We believe that we have assembled an outstanding team of experts in their respective fields, which has helped us overcome all obstacles, not necessarily in an easy way, but in a way that has led to less undesirable situations.

The competition is high, and with a new name it was necessary to break into the market and gain the trust of clients. Obstacles were present at every step - from price optimization and creation of the most favorable offers, to harmonizing all procedures and finding the best ways to operate the warehouse and provide complete logistical support. All this with the aim of reducing human errors to a minimum.

In addition to these operational challenges, we also faced administrative requirements, customs procedures and infrastructural issues. However, our success in gaining the trust of our clients and maintaining high standards of service has contributed significantly to overcoming these obstacles. Thanks to our dedicated team and focus on quality, we have managed to position ourselves as one of the leaders in the market.

eKapija: Which services you provide would you single out as particularly well received by clients?

- I would like to single out two services that are particularly well received by our clients: road and rail transport.

Road transport is one of our most profitable services and is highly valued by our clients. This service provides flexibility, speed and reliability, which is extremely important to clients. Thanks to our efficient fleet and professional team, we have managed to build a reputation as a reliable partner for all types of road transport.

In addition to road transport, rail transport also stands out as an exceptionally accepted service. Our rail service guarantees a reduction in delivery time, cargo safety and cost optimization, whether it`s a full load or group shipments. We can boast the longest railway route in the world, crossing eight time zones and covering over 13,000 kilometers, from China to the Balkan countries. This route provides customers with efficient and reliable long-distance transportation options, which further contributes to their satisfaction.

Both of these services, road and rail, are critical to our success and growth, and the high standards we maintain help us build and maintain the trust of our customers.

eKapija: You also do business in the region, what are the experiences in neighboring markets?

- Our experiences in the neighboring markets are extremely positive, thanks to the successful business model we applied in Serbia. We have transferred this model, based on sustainable and high-quality business, to neighboring countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Although these markets are smaller, the need for our services is significant, which was one of the main reasons for expanding our business there.

The success in these markets encouraged us to plan further expansion into other countries in the Balkans. The positive results we have achieved confirm that our approach is effective and that there is a high demand for our logistics solutions in the region as well. We are looking forward to continued growth and strengthening our presence on the Balkan market.

eKapija: Has the global crisis, which particularly affected the goods transport sector, affected your business and in what way?

- The global crisis, especially caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, affected the goods transportation sector. However, M&M was able to adapt to the new conditions and continue to provide high-quality services, resulting in additional growth and expansion of storage capacity. M&M currently has 36,000 square meters of warehouse space and plans to expand by an additional 4,500 square meters in 2024, which indicates the continued growth and development of the company.

eKapija: How much does the company invest in technological innovation, as well as sustainable growth and environmental protection?

- Our company is committed to sustainable growth and environmental protection, which is reflected in a series of initiatives and investments we undertake. One of the key steps in that direction was the installation of solar panels on the roofs of our business building in Dobanovci. This initiative not only reduces our ecological footprint, but also contributes to lower energy costs, thus achieving environmental and economic benefits.

In addition, we continuously invest in automation and innovative technological solutions in order to improve the efficiency of our services. Our strategy includes the application of the latest technologies in logistics, such as advanced cargo tracking and management systems, digitization of operational processes and the use of artificial intelligence to optimize routes and resources. These technologies enable us to reduce delivery time, increase the accuracy and reliability of our services, and minimize the possibility of human error.

Environmentally friendly practices are deeply rooted in our daily operations. We actively implement recycling programs in all our facilities and regularly organize training sessions for employees on environmental awareness and responsible behavior. Our initiatives include reducing paper consumption through digitizing documentation, using environmentally friendly packaging materials and encouraging our partners and clients to implement sustainable practices.

We are also planning further investments in sustainable technologies and practices. Our goal is to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2025 by increasing the use of renewable energy sources and optimizing logistics operations. We believe that sustainable growth is not only a social and environmental responsibility, but also the key to long-term business success.

eKapija: What are the company`s further plans, in terms of opening new markets and introducing new services?

- Our long-term goals include maintaining the status of one of the market leaders, continuously raising service standards, strengthening cooperation with clients and investing in innovation and technological advances to meet the growing needs of the market. We are committed to constantly improving our services and business processes in order to stay ahead of the competition and provide the highest level of quality to our clients.

As for opening new markets, this is certainly part of our strategy for the future. Although our current focus is on consolidating and improving operations in existing markets, we plan to start expanding into new markets in 2025.

In addition to opening new markets, we are also working on the introduction of new services that will further improve our offer. Our vision is to be a pioneer in implementing the latest technologies in logistics, including advanced supply chain management systems, automated warehouse operations and innovative transportation solutions. These new services will enable us to provide even more efficient and reliable logistics solutions, reducing delivery times and optimizing costs for our customers.

Through all these activities, we aim to build long-term relationships with our clients, providing them with high-quality services that meet their specific needs. Our commitment to innovation, sustainability and service excellence lays the foundation for the continued growth and success of M&M Militzer & Münch in the future.

M&M Militzer & Münch Transport & Logistics d.o.o. Beograd

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Filip Simović

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