Arvato Supply Chain Solutions is growing and expanding its capacities in Hanover, where it will handle the online business for a sporting goods manufacturer and a customer from the beauty and cosmetics industry. To this end, the international supply chain management and e-commerce service provider is moving into the entire space of a new logistics center measuring around 47,000 square meters at the Hannover-Messe site. The expansion will create around 300 new jobs.
The new logistics center will handle all e-commerce logistics for the B2C business of both customers. This includes warehousing, order picking, packaging, distribution and returns management. “The current expansion shows that the expertise we have in fulfillment and logistics support for e-commerce businesses is being rewarded in the market,” says Dr. Stefan Weidt, Executive Vice President Arvato Supply Chain Solutions. At the Hannover-Messe site, Arvato has already been operating a logistics and distribution center of around 60,000 square meters since 2015, which mainly handles online orders for companies from the fashion and lifestyle industry. Stefan Weidt: “The great know-how on site enables synergies for new business. Our processes and services are always strongly focused on our clients’ end customers – an approach that is becoming increasingly important in online retail.” For companies in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle industries, for example, Arvato implements complete solutions that cover all facets of a successful e-commerce business – with services ranging from classic warehousing to integrated multichannel fulfillment and payment.
Qualified workers are needed for this. Stefan Weidt “The operational launch for our new clients is scheduled for the first and second quarters of next year. For this, we are currently looking for around 300 employees.” The jobs advertised cover all areas and positions required to operate the logistics center – for example, warehouse specialists, order pickers or forklift drivers in the commercial sector, but also employees from commercial professions and technicians. The new hires will bring the total number of employees at the Hannover-Messe site to around 950 – not including temporary staff, who are additionallyneeded to handle the high volumes, especially during peak periods such as Black Friday or the Christmas shopping season.
In addition, Arvato is continuing its automation strategy for the company’s global network of locations in Hanover as well. “When handling e-commerce business today, service providers are confronted with complex fulfillment processes, increasingly small shipment sizes, high peak volumes and increasing delivery speeds,” explains Stefan Weidt. “These are challenges that often cannot be met without modern automation technology. With the AutoStore system, we can achieve a very high throughput rate and it relieves our employees because it transports the ordered items directly to the picking stations according to the goods-to-man principle.”
Fast distribution to end customers is also supported by the excellent location close to the Hanover trade fair center. The site is connected to the A 2, A 7, A 37 and A 352 freeways around Hanover via the trade fair expressway. Nine federal highways can also be reached quickly from there.
In addition, great importance has been attached to sustainability in the new logistics center. For example, the building has a highly insulated facade and will be equipped with energy-saving LED lighting. A photovoltaic system with an output of around 4.4 million kilowatt hours is to be installed on the roof. Gold certification from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) is being sought for the property. Stefan Weidt: “The goal of the entire Bertelsmann Group, which includes Arvato Supply Chain Solutions, is to be completely climate-neutral by 2030. With the sustainably designed new hall, we are making an important contribution to this.”
