Career
In the first half of 2020, for safety purposes online meetings almost entirely replaced in-person discussions. Many of annual industry expos were canceled or postponed, and logistics professionals aiming to constantly absorb external knowledge chose online alternatives that, while convenient, did not offer the many benefits of face-to-face communication.
At the end of the summer, some industry events were able to return to more-or-less traditional formats, albeit around more narrow themes and with fewer participants. Experts from the AsstrA transport and logistics corporate group nevertheless continued to keep their fingers on the industry’s pulse and attend conferences, forums, and other similar events when safely possible to do so.
On August 12-13, the first online conference of logistics companies was held. Participants included cargo owners and transport company owners and managers. The conference included sessions and round tables on supply chain management, cargo transportation security, customer service, and legal support. Andrey Sulla, Deputy Operations Director for Rail Transport took part on behalf of AsstrA.
Andrey Sulla
"The event organizers invited me to speak and share AsstrA's experience. Customer service is an exciting topic always involving plenty of issues to discuss. At AsstrA, improving customer service is the ultimate goal of every department’s team members.
My presentation was on how our customer service goals shape our Trade Lane Management system. By building mini-teams of experts focused on certain routes, we aim to improve service quality and deliver better results. As a result, clients get multiple shipment options for each destination they are sending cargo to,” says Andrey Sulla.
On August 26, the AsstrA team attended a workshop called "The Car Repair Market: How to Reduce Costs and Maintain Quality.”
Oksana Lysogor
"This event had a hybrid online/offline format. Some of the speakers participated remotely. After a break from face-to-face meetings, it's nice to see your industry colleagues in person again. This was a practical event that covered the state of the industry and supported discussions with representatives of car repair companies and owners of rolling stock," says Oksana Lysogor, an AsstrA Railway Department Specialist.
Maksim Raskopin
"The seminar focused on car fleet modernization, the introduction of cluster bearings, and improving the reliability of freight truck wheelsets. We also managed to share our experience, discuss unusual cases, and gather intelligence on competitors,” adds Maksim Raskopin, an AsstrA Railway Department Specialist.
On August 28, Brealbulk Russia took place in St. Petersburg in the traditional "live" format.
Egor Lokhovinin
"This an exclusive annual event for the “who’s who” of Russian project logistics. Attending such industry meetings is an excellent way to understand market demand and our clients’ specific requirements. You can observe the latest trends and catch up with partners and customers in an informal setting,” says Egor Lokhovinin, an AsstrA Heavy Lift Department Specialist.
