Gestilog, creator of solutions
Thomas Larsson, Robert Curzon Price, Ryan Klaus
There’s no doubt about it: covid marked a major turning point in the way industrial logistics are managed, with the unprecedented take-off of e-commerce. Against this backdrop, companies had to come up with strategies to speedily move their facilities closer to where the consumers are. And with this came the inevitable need for storage infrastructure. Which, in turn, presented a great opportunity for logistics real estate, as Thomas Larsson, BARNES Suisse’s strategic partner in this very specific segment, explains.
What are the reasons for the logistics real estate boom, apart from the pandemic factor?
Excluding the pandemic effect, logistics real estate is still relatively nascent. However, what has changed for companies today is a need to optimise their budgets while reducing their carbon emissions, and this demands new solutions. In other words, the days of having trucks everywhere are over. Bearing in mind that Switzerland is a pioneer in piggyback transportation (since 2016, Swiss transport policy has set itself the goal of transferring transalpine freight traffic from road to rail, Ed.) and rail transportation is the mainstay of Swiss mobility, all companies want to set up operations on sites served by rail. The challenge lies between road and rail, but also in last-mile management. Another factor driving this boom is the privatisation of the Post Office some twenty years ago. This led to the emergence of new, more efficient delivery companies. They offer optimised journey times and competitive costs. In this reshuffling of the cards, companies need to identify sites that are suited to their activities. And that’s where BARNES comes in. While online sites can operate without a point of sale (a storefront or offices), it is virtually impossible to develop this type of business without logistical services, such as storage facilities.
Your sector is very specific. What made you team up with BARNES, which seems far removed from your area of expertise?
I’d like to say that you’re wrong, at least partly. But before looking at the business synergies, this partnership is first
and foremost a human story. The two CEOs, Jérôme Félicité and Robert Curzon Price, put their trust in me, and I’d like to thank them for that. We realised that – both at Gestilog and BARNES Suisse – we were reaching customers who had private real estate needs for themselves and their families, but also requirements for their strategic locations, which demand vision in terms of logistics. In short, while client requirements differ, it is very often the same client who makes the decisions.
Find the full interview in the 19th edition of BARNES Magazine.
What are the reasons for the logistics real estate boom, apart from the pandemic factor?
Excluding the pandemic effect, logistics real estate is still relatively nascent. However, what has changed for companies today is a need to optimise their budgets while reducing their carbon emissions, and this demands new solutions. In other words, the days of having trucks everywhere are over. Bearing in mind that Switzerland is a pioneer in piggyback transportation (since 2016, Swiss transport policy has set itself the goal of transferring transalpine freight traffic from road to rail, Ed.) and rail transportation is the mainstay of Swiss mobility, all companies want to set up operations on sites served by rail. The challenge lies between road and rail, but also in last-mile management. Another factor driving this boom is the privatisation of the Post Office some twenty years ago. This led to the emergence of new, more efficient delivery companies. They offer optimised journey times and competitive costs. In this reshuffling of the cards, companies need to identify sites that are suited to their activities. And that’s where BARNES comes in. While online sites can operate without a point of sale (a storefront or offices), it is virtually impossible to develop this type of business without logistical services, such as storage facilities.
Your sector is very specific. What made you team up with BARNES, which seems far removed from your area of expertise?
I’d like to say that you’re wrong, at least partly. But before looking at the business synergies, this partnership is first
and foremost a human story. The two CEOs, Jérôme Félicité and Robert Curzon Price, put their trust in me, and I’d like to thank them for that. We realised that – both at Gestilog and BARNES Suisse – we were reaching customers who had private real estate needs for themselves and their families, but also requirements for their strategic locations, which demand vision in terms of logistics. In short, while client requirements differ, it is very often the same client who makes the decisions.
Find the full interview in the 19th edition of BARNES Magazine.
