Member Article

Roadfreight Operator Reveals Success of Brexit Product

Europa Flow, the “frictionless customs product” launched by roadfreight operator Europa Road at the start of 2021 in response to Brexit, has delivered a phenomenal service to customers in its first year.

To date, Europa Flow has dispatched 75,000 consignments across 24 European Union (EU) countries. Exporting approx. £68m worth of goods every month.

Over 5,000 customers are now signed up to Europa Flow across a diverse range of sectors. That number is growing exponentially as they reap the benefits of this seamless and hassle-free service.

The Europa Flow product completes the Export Declaration and the Anticipated Import Declaration prior to collection meaning consignments can be collected and exported on the same day, maintaining pre Brexit Transit times. It also removes the hassle and cash flow impact to the EU Buyer who no longer needs to appoint a customs broker, pay to complete import declarations, or pay import duties and VAT. Ultimately making this product extremely attractive to both UK Exporters and their Eu Customers.

On average the Europa Flow product defers £1.8m worth of duty per month and Zero Rates an estimated £14.28m per month in VAT.

Europa Road is the European road freight division of innovative logistics operator Europa Worldwide Group. Europa invested more than £5m in Brexit preparations, including the launch of Europa Flow, which was 12 months in the making.

Customers were engaged at every stage of its development, to ensure the Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) concept was realised effectively. The system became operational in August 2020, allowing time to evaluate and refine the approach before the Brexit deadline kicked in.

Sales and Branch Network Director at Europa, Adrian Redmile, commented: “Although Government reported a 23 per cent decrease in total UK trade in goods with EU countries in quarter one of 2021 compared to quarter four of 2020, it is an improving situation, and one which Europa is extremely proud to have made a positive contribution to.”

“Europa Flow has been hailed by customers as revolutionary. It offers a unique service, unavailable through other carriers, to ease the movement of goods between the UK and Europe.”

One credited it as being responsible for their firms’ shipments returning to pre-Brexit transit times. Another said the service allowed them to fulfil their customer promises. Europa Flow’s clients range from manufacturers exporting parts and machinery to sportswear, toys, biscuits, audio equipment, chemicals, and thermal films.

Stateside Skates’ CEO, Alistair Crichton, commented: “Flow presented a bold and clever solution and Europa had obviously worked hard to create an integrated product. Although none of us fully anticipated the early intricacies, every exporter was in the same situation. Our customers in the EU are happy and transit times are back to what they were.”

Edson Electronics Managing Director, Neil Woods, stated: “January was a problematic time across the board, particularly for customs amendments. Europa Flow ironed out these difficulties in the appropriate way. They were proactive and speedy, ensuring our goods could move smoothly.”

Fizz Creations’ Dispatch Supervisor, Carl Danbury, said: “Some customers threatened to leave us if Brexit paperwork issues were unresolved, so we had to find a system that worked. Europa Flow facilitates a painless process for our palletised shipments, meaning our goods reach our customers quicker than before. It is effective and hassle free.”

Europa Worldwide Group’s unwavering focus on Brexit readiness is paying dividends, it is expecting to achieve a record turnover of £260 million this year, against £210m in 2020, increasing to £300 million next year. Profits are expected to be £10m in 2021, an increase of £6.4m over 2020 levels which were depressed by the global pandemic and related lockdowns.

Alongside Europa Flow, £2m was allocated to increase capacity by 75 per cent at the Dartford transit warehouse. £3m was also invested in consultants, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), recruitment and training.

Although the country continues to face significant supply chain issues due to the combined effects of Brexit and Covid-19, Europa Flow is making significant difference. It has allowed customers to remain operational whilst they build up their own commercial resilience in the wake of these economic shocks.

Adrian continued: “We are delighted with how Europa Flow has been received by the market. Our dedicated team worked incredibly hard to deliver this innovative solution and to ensure customers continued to meet their export objectives.

“These latest statistics speak for themselves; Europa Flow is playing a crucial role in enabling goods to be delivered anywhere in Europe, at speed and without bureaucratic hold-ups. Feedback shows our customers are happy with the way the product is optimising their operational efficiencies. We will continue to respond to market needs and leverage in further improvements as we move into the next phase of Europa Flow’s growth plan.”

Europa Worldwide Group has six divisions – Europa Road, Europa Air & Sea, Europa Showfreight, Europa Warehouse, Europa Contact Centre, and Continental Cargo Carriers and has featured in The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for the last three years.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Greenwood .