expert and trans-o-flex develop new shipping solution with reusable packaging

• Specialist retail group will save 700,000 disposable cartons annually, accelerate receipt of goods at retailers and reduce the rate of damage and loss
• After an eight-month pilot project and 22,000 test shipments, trans-o-flex Express becomes the exclusive CEP service provider for expert's central warehouses.

expert, the electronics specialist retailer, has decided to replace shipping cartons and immediately opt for a shipping solution with reusable packaging developed in cooperation with trans-o-flex. The company's central warehouse in Langenhagen will, therefore, no longer pack goods in disposable cartons, but exclusively work with reusable containers for its deliveries to the 410 specialist stores and shops all over Germany. “This move is part of our logistic sustainability strategy and is another step towards environmentally friendly deliveries to our locations,” says Edwin ten Voorde, Head of Logistics at expert. “In addition, we can significantly reduce damage and loss during transport as well as accelerate and simplify the receipt of the goods at our specialist dealers”. By switching to reusable containers, expert will no longer be sending around 700,000 parcels a year in disposable cartons. Cardboard boxes will only be used in transport if they are original cartons that can be used in shipping, such as for televisions or fully automatic coffee machines, which, in this way, do not have to be repacked.

For almost eight months, the expert Group, together with trans-o-flex Express, tested what happens when orders in the central warehouse are delivered to the markets in reusable containers of two different sizes. 38 of the 410 expert locations took part and received a total of 22,000 small and large reusable containers as part of the pilot phase. The subsequent survey of the participating expert stores was clear: the overall concept, practicability, quality and handling were all rated “very good”. This clear vote of the pilot participants was immediately taken up by the members of expert's Management Board, who, together with the expert Supervisory Board, decided to switch to the new container concept. The required reusable containers are currently being delivered. The introduction phase will be concluded by the end of the year. From January 2020, shipping to all expert specialist markets and shops in returnable containers will be offered as regular service. In the course of the changeover, trans-o-flex has also taken over the transport of around 250,000 parcels per year that expert had previously dispatched in cooperation with another service provider.

Easier acceptance of goods saves expert almost 3,000 man-days per year

When switching to reusable containers, the decisive factor for expert, in addition to the environmental friendliness of the new solution, was above all the increased delivery quality. In comparison to dispatching the goods in cartons, expert was able to document during the test phase that the number of damaged goods had dropped by 74.2 % in relation to the reusable containers in use. Over the entire analysis period, there were only 14 cases of goods damage in the reusable containers. expert also found that every branch saves significant time by switching to reusable containers. The reason for this is that the processes associated with receiving the goods, preparing them for sale and disposing of the cardboard packaging material are faster or are no longer necessary at all. Based on an 8-hour day, expert saves almost 3,000 working days per year.

Reusable containers marketed by trans-o-flex on an exclusive basis

“Over the next few years, trans-o-flex will offer the returnable solution on an exclusive basis,” explains CEO Wolfgang P. Albeck. “We believe that we will be able to win other companies as well.” expert works with two different sizes of reusable containers. The impact-resistant boxes are secured several times and can be folded together to save space for return transport. They were developed by the Schoeller Group, one of the shareholders of trans-o-flex, especially for the needs of transport-sensitive and high-quality products. Albeck: “Depending on the dispatcher's requirements, other container sizes are also possible”.

About expert SE:

expert SE, headquartered in Langenhagen, is a trade association group for consumer electronics, information technology, telecommunications, entertainment and household appliances. It currently comprises 211 expert shareholders with a total of 410 locations all over Germany. In line with the brand claim "With the best recommendations", expert, like no other electronics retailer, stands for the highest level of service and consulting competence. In the company's 55-year history, expert has been able to establish a strong position in the market and is now the second largest electronics retailer in Germany.  For years, the expert Group has recorded business results that are above the industry average. In the 2018/2019 fiscal year, internal sales at industrial selling prices (excluding VAT) amounted to 2.14 billion euros. www.expert.de

The expert brand is present at more than 4,000 locations in a total of 21 countries. The respective national companies are united in expert International, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Zurich. In 2018, all members of expert International generated a total turnover of more than 15 billion euros. www.expert.org