Work@7Days

Last mile logistics – what does the job of a hub manager look like, and what are the challenges?

Employees in operations are at the heart of the supply chain: pickers, drivers, warehouse staff, forklift drivers – they all pitch in and make an important contribution to the 7Days supply chain. How do the employees see the CEP services industry, what motivates them and what challenges and technological hurdles do they face?
To find out how staff with operational responsibility see the function, we spoke to our long-standing employee Mr Kastrati, the hub manager at the main site in Egerkingen.

Interview

Interview with Mergim Kastrati, hub manager at the main site in Egerkingen

What fascinates you about the logistics industry?

My tasks are varied, I’ve been able to take on many different tasks in a short period of time, learning new things – and continuously developing and growing with the company. Each working day brings new tasks and exciting challenges, which have to be solved together in the team with the knowledge we’ve acquired. Our work keeps Switzerland on the move. I enjoy working in an industry that is growing and developing.

What are the biggest changes that you’ve witnessed at 7Days in the past few years?

I’ve been working for 7Days for almost 13 years now, holding various functions and positions. I completed my apprenticeship in logistics at Ferroflex, which is active in the steel trade. After that I worked for Müller AG Handwerker-Zentrum in the incoming and outgoing goods area. I moved to 7Days as a driver in 2010, then started my career in the warehouse – initially as a shift manager, and subsequently as a deputy hub manager in Egerkingen. In 2015, with the benefit of on-the-job training and a federal certificate as a logistics specialist, I was able to grow into my current position as hub manager at the Swiss headquarters in Egerkingen. During this period 7Days has developed far beyond its original press-distribution business, becoming a logistics service provider in the area of transportation and warehousing. The variety of products that we handle every day and bring to their respective destinations on time has increased. Even though the processes are becoming more complex, this variety makes the work interesting. Furthermore we gauge ourselves against the applicable ISO standards, striving to improve our operational excellence every day.

What is your experience of working with your colleagues?

We have a good mix of young and experienced employees in the team, aged between 20 and 40, with different cultural backgrounds and affiliations. We are all dedicated at 7Days, most of us on a full-time basis. Besides working together, we also enjoy sharing our free time and being there for each other.

What is a typical working day for you?

7Days works for its clients day and night, so I usually work in shifts. As a rule my day starts at 3 a.m. and ends at about midday. This gives me the opportunity as a manager to cover both shifts: I’m available to employees with questions and concerns. It’s important for me to be present for all employees and to observe and optimize processes, as well as addressing difficulties directly and solving them together with the team. Much of what I do is personnel management, supporting key players, handling complaints in cooperation with the drivers, and controlling and planning tasks. I also have administrative responsibility for subcontractors. I spend about 2 to 3½ hours a day on the computer.

What experience have you had with alternative drive technologies?

Egerkingen is one of the sites where we’ve been using our new electric vehicles for a few months now. The new drive types bring new challenges in planning and implementing routes. Given the limited range of electric vehicles, we primarily use them in cities and urban areas. Their payload is also lower than that of conventional vehicles, and that must be taken into account. But these challenges can be overcome, and technological refinement will make the use of alternative drive technologies more efficient. It’s important for every one of us, in both our private and professional lives, to contribute to a resource-friendly approach to our environment in order to make the future a little greener.

Why do you work for 7Days?

7Days has consistently offered me new opportunities for further development over the past ten years. Together with my colleagues and line managers I’ve been able to expand my knowledge and experience, taking on more responsibility. The transformation of the company from a pure press logistics provider to a fulfilment service provider has also made my field of activity more varied and interesting. New customers have brought new process-related requirements, and in meeting these we have made efficiency our priority: making a difference together.