INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH: SIAMKO GROUP
34 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Leonidas Siamantas, Director of Siamko Group
Our year long experience gives us the possibility to solve even the most complicated situations concerning transport customs and border procedures for our clients. Our professionalism puts as in the highest position in the Serbian Ministry of Transportations with 500 Greek bilateral licenses for the current year. Our multilingual staff gives as advantage in communication with people of various nationalities around the region. Last but not least our positioning in Belgrade and Thessaloniki gives as a strategic advantage.
Siamko Group is a family company which provides transport and logistics services and successfully operates in Serbia since 2015. Can you tell us more about your company profile and services that you offer to your clients?
The creation of our company was inspired by the involvement of my father Konstantinos Siamantas in the market of road transport in West Balkans and Greece since the 1990s based in Thessaloniki, Greece. We are providing transportation of full or partial truck loads between Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Hungary and the rest west Balkan Countries. We are operating with our fleet of 22 trucks, as well we offer 4PL services with our network of cooperating truckers. We have ADR licensed drivers for transporting of dangerous goods. A part of offering point to point delivery of goods for our clients we also provide consulting and support for various logistic issues concerning the countries we operate.
How did Siamko Group develop during this period? What do you consider to be the biggest challenges and success during the last 9 years?
The company commenced its business operations in the summer of 2015. A planned investment that turned to become a necessity cause of the various problems that were created by the capital controls in Greece since 2015. Since Siamko Group invested in expanding its fleet of trucks up to current 22 trucks plus trailer units. We enriched our personal with both experienced and young individuals willing to provide the best customer care to our client. Siamko Group has its own service in Dobanovci to maintain its own fleet in the best possible way.
There have been three major challenges in the past 9 years, for our business. To begin with the Capital control in Greece that began in the summer of 2015 end ended in September 2019. It created various problems in cash flows when doing business with Greece. It boosted a sense of instability and uncertainty to all of Greeks and the Greek business world. Unfortunately, shortly after the end of that period the Covid Pandemic appeared in our doorsteps in March 2020. A lot of big challenges were in front of as. One was the irregular demand for our services. Periods of very high demand were followed by periods of low demand. Our personnel specially the truck drivers had multiple challenges due to restrictions in movement whether in a counting or with cross countries journeys. Not to forget to mention for instances when a driver would become covid positive while on route. After Covid, the war in Ukraine brought its own set of challenges for the trucking business. Main challenge was the rapid and constant increase in diesel prices. That cause loses in profits since the price of transport is predetermined with clients so it was a bore by companies like ours. Above all a constant challenge for any road transport company is the constant lack of truck drivers. This is a huge issue in most countries in the world. The luck of drivers followed with the rest increases of all prices, parts, tires and taxes put pressure on doing business in our sector and a wave of fleet reduction across Europe is going to rise transport costs for everybody. Greatest successes for our company are that we enjoy the benefits of stability in Serbia in the past decade, alongside with the economic and infrastructure development of the country. We are very glad for our cooperation with fellow Greek companies and members of HBA. We managed to build a very satisfying fleet size and a very responsible team in our office.
How do you define an effective approach to clients and what would you highlight as the main advantage of your company compared to other companies in the same industry?
Since we are a B2B service provider direct communication on regular basis with our clients is key to our success. Exchanging information between all parties involved is the essence of improving operations and the services we provide to our clients. Our year long experience gives us the possibility to solve even the most complicated situations concerning transport customs and border procedures for our clients. Our professionalism puts as in the highest position in the Serbian Ministry of Transportations with 500 Greek bilateral licenses for the current year. Our multilingual staff gives as advantage in communication with people of various nationalities around the region. Last but not least our positioning in Belgrade and Thessaloniki gives as a strategic advantage.
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The logistics and transport industry is constantly changing and adapting to the rapid growth of technology and the need to conserve the environment. What are the latest trends in this sector and which ones are you implementing in your business?Indeed, logistics are a dynamic sector constantly changing and improving. Usage of modern software is a key tool for that constant improvement. Such programs that we use are cost management programs were the goal is to input all the data concerning the operations and through statistical analysis to detect areas of possible improvement and cost reduction. GPS trucking software to have total control over the fleet movement, best routes selection, cost effectiveness, time effectiveness, improved diesel consumption, better crews working hours utilization. Software for monitoring tires helps to maximize the effective usage of tires, reducing consumption and minimize the negative effect to environment. The biggest trend in logistics is the move toward Green and sustainable logistics. Lean logistics are one way for improving of ecological side since the key element is to reduce or eliminate unnecessary steps, remove non-essential activities and to make processes as effective as possible. This leads to the decrease of CO2 emissions. Route optimization targeting emission reduction. Currently in Serbia trucking companies are switching to EURO 6 trucks that have the lowest CO2 emissions. The future will determine if EV will substitute diesel engines in long distance trucks or maybe the auto industry will choose LNG or even Hydrogen as-the fuel of the future.
What are your plans for future business development in the coming years?
The main plan is to conclude the renewal of our fleet by replacing the remaining EURO 5 tucks to EURO 6 trucks. Maintaining our position in the market will be the ultimate goal for the next years.
What does the Hellenic Business Association represent for you and, as an active member of the HBA, are you satisfied with its work?
Being a member of Hellenic Business Association is more an emotional thing rather than just a business activity for me. I enjoyed all the activities of HBA during those past years that I am a member and I am eager to attend whatever will be next. I am of the belief that all business man in Serbia that are involved with activates between our countries should join and become member. It opens doors to new opportunities. My best wishes to all the board members both new and old to have a successful term. And for the and I would like to special thank Stelios Zakof for bringing me as a member to HBA.
