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Agility, a leading global logistics
provider, has been awarded a new
contract by ExCeL London to be its
exclusive supplier of logistics services.
The contract was awarded after an
extensive tender process. Under the
new three-year contract, Agility Fairs
& Events will partner with ExCeL to
provide event organizers, exhibitors
and contractors with specialist event
transportation and logistics, pre- and
post-show storage, on-site receiving
and delivery, forklift/mechanical
handling equipment, and customer
logistics advice and support.
Logistics
Business
spoke to David
Richards, Managing Director for Agility
Fairs & Events UK and to James Mark,
Executive Director, ExCeL London.
What is ExCeL’s partnership program
and how did it come about? What
are you hoping to achieve and what
benefit will it have for your customers?
James Mark
: ExCeL London’s
commercial partnership programme
works with industry-leading companies
to enhance the venue’s position as
the home of world leading events.
ExCeL London and Agility Fairs and
Events draw on shared global business
expertise and excellence in delivering
outstanding customer experiences.
We are working together to create an
holistic approach to logistics for events
which enables great event outcomes
for our clients and visitors.
Tendering process – how many firms
were on the shortlist & what was
criteria for selection?
Mark
: The appointment of Agility Fairs
and Events as ExCeL London’s official
logistics supplier was the culmination
of a rigorous tendering process
involving a number of competing
companies. Agility’s response to
the program’s request for proposal
provided compelling evidence of
industry leading expertise in the key
areas of customer service, regulatory
compliance, breadth of services and
international capabilities. We are
excited to have now activated the
partnership and to be working together
to find new and innovative responses
to evolving customer needs.
Benefits of having Agility on-site
already
Mark
: Agility Fairs and Events has
over 200m
2
of warehouse space
and a central office function based
at ExCeL Being located on-site
enables Agility to respond quickly
and efficiently to changing customer
requirements such as storage
solutions, packing, collecting, receiving
and dispatching event and exhibition
materials. Meeting event organisers
and exhibitors on-site facilitates
easy dialogue and coupled with the
close working relationship with our
own venue teams, drives service
development and leads to long term
business relationships.
David Richards
: As part of the
preferred logistics partner agreement
with ExCeL, Agility are the only
exhibition logistics company to have
a permanent office and warehouse
facility at ExCel. This allows us to offer
a number of specialised exhibition
handling and storage services on-site
- without the need to use additional
resource transferring goods to and
from the venue. Our dedicated ExCeL
team and their unique on-site position
has positively benefitted numerous
exhibitors, conference, exhibition and
event organisers and visitors.
Contract renewal – what changes/
new services have been made/added
Mark
: Expert and reliable on-site and
global services are at the core of our
partnership, encompassing everything
from local receiving, storage and
delivery to customs clearance and
worldwide transportation. In addition
to servicing our exhibition customers,
the new agreement has allowed a
new focus for Agility to extend their
services to meet the specialised
needs of our conference clients. The
logistics requirements for conferences
tend to be very bespoke and new
services introduced have included the
preparation of delegate packs, stock
management of marketing collateral
and provision of specialist supplies.
This has enabled us to move forwards
with our shared vision of providing an
holistic event logistics solution across
the full spectrum of our events.
Richards
: The partnership worked
very well so the contract renewal was
mainly focused around extending our
growing relationship further. Some of
our ‘organiser’ clients do have very
specific service requirements and we
work with them to tailor our logistics
solutions to their needs. In recent
months there has been more of a
focus on the management of courier
shipments, as failures by couriers
delivering or collecting shipments is
probably the most frequent logistics
issue at an event. We have also seen
an increase in service requirements
for goods moving to and from ExCeL’s
increasing conference portfolio. The
biggest obvious change for Agility is
our increased profile around the venue.
This increased exposure allows us to
communicate the services and facilities
we offer to a much wider audience.
What other show venues do Agility
operate similar services at worldwide?
Richards
: Agility has a presence on
some of the largest exhibition venues
around the world and will continue to
work with providers to offer the range
of service required. Although each
venue operation is unique, each office
has a shared dedication in offering
value-added exhibition and event
logistics solutions.
Get Organized
10
Logistics Business Magazine | September 2015
Event Logistics