Blog #25: Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and "Where the fuck is Goslar?"

By Natascha de Raad

The places mentioned all have one thing in common: I have spent time in these cities over the last three weeks. I had appointments for a few meetings in the big cities - and Goslar is where Med-X-Press is based.  On the way to the various locations, a few things went through my mind that I would like to briefly describe. 

The question "Where the fuck is Goslar?" was put to our Managing Director by a representative of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies in Berlin. Not that Goslar is the hub of the world, but the World Heritage town deserves a certain degree of recognition simply because of its historical significance. But be that as it may - we have the chance to change that.

On my trips to the major German cities, I once again became aware of the easy accessibility of all the destinations that are important to us.  No problem from Goslar, because the convenient location makes it possible to travel quickly in all directions. Admittedly, everyone knows that there are sometimes traffic jams, but on the whole I got from A to B quickly. I think it's worth mentioning what this means for us in the Harz region and for us as a company, because it's a big plus for the regional economy

"We get to live where others go on vacation", a phrase that sounds trite, that I don't particularly like and that also applies to any number of regions. Of course, that doesn't mean that it isn't still true. Goslar and the Harz Mountains are an Eldorado for nature and culture lovers. And for the economy? That's a fair question.

The clear answer from Med-X-Press: "For us as a pharmaceutical logistics company, the location is ideal. We have good connections to the transport networks of the major north-south and west-east routes. We are not far from airports and seaports, which is particularly important for international markets.  The Goslar location represents a competitive advantage for us as a company.

What does that mean in concrete terms? For example, we can offer our customers late cut-off times and overnight delivery is usually guaranteed. When things get tight or a medicine is urgently needed, our logistics manager gets behind the wheel and delivers just-in-time, quickly to the place where the product is urgently needed. Our favorable geographical location enables us to exploit these advantages for our customers.

At the same time, we are always active in identifying potential weak points and offering solutions.

One source of frustration, for example, is the handling of deliveries, the situation at the ramp when there is no more room for additional trucks in the yard during peak times. To ensure that everything runs smoothly and without unnecessary waiting times at goods inwards, we have installed a system that solves these problems. Logisticians or freight forwarders will know it, I'm talking about Cargoclix. Timeslots can be booked on this platform at Med-X-Press so that times and, above all, quantities are firmly booked with us. This makes the entire process easier and things move quickly. And finally, using the time management platform means that everyone involved can plan their personnel deployment more easily. Why am I describing this here?

Transport is just one building block in Med-X-Press's service portfolio, but it is a good example of how we are constantly optimizing our processes. Of course, this also applies to all other business areas, such as storage or production. Transport management is so exemplary because, although we benefit from our location advantage here, this alone is of course not enough. Rather, we are constantly working on expanding these advantages.

And we are not only committed to this within our company, but also in the region itself. Only a strong environment makes us stronger.  The convenient location is just one factor; there are many advantages for the local economy that we can only explore and promote together with other companies and institutions.

Last week, the second "Kraftraum" took place in Goslar. This is a new format that Goslar Marketing Gesellschaft launched together with the Wirtschaftsverein pro Goslar last year.  The event provides information and is an invitation to network. The current topic: sustainability/circular economy - you know, that's our topic too.  The Harz region is preparing to become a model region for various areas of recycling. The new economy is following on from the old economy. Where raw materials used to be extracted from the earth, secondary raw materials are now being produced. A wide range of companies, including start-ups, are already active and scientific institutions are developing new technologies.

Here too, the often negatively connoted province plays a positive role. We at Med-X-Press greatly appreciate the fact that we are in contact with many companies. It is easy to discuss issues and find solutions locally. This communication is particularly important on our path to becoming a sustainable company. Questions about waste management or electrical recycling are quickly clarified in a prompt personal meeting. Everyone can benefit from the mutual exchange of information - and further promote the Harz region as a hotspot for the circular economy. Then nobody will ask: "Where the fuck is Goslar?" 

If you have similar experiences in rural areas, let's talk about them! 
Write to me at :blog@med-x-press.de