By Patrick Avenell
MELBOURNE, VIC & SYDNEY, NSW: Pioneer Australia has released a statement reporting that it plans to relocate its existing head office to improve overall operational efficiency. Furthermore, the company will soon be outsourcing its warehouse logistics to NYK.
“Confronting aging office facilities, excess office space, and a load reduction in warehousing following the exit of plasma, Pioneer will look to acquire new, modern office amenities in Melbourne,” wrote media manager Michael Broadhurst in the statement.
As for the outsourcing of logistics, operations manager Bruce Blythe said that Australia is the only remaining Pioneer office to conduct its own warehousing, and that this move aligns the company with its overseas peers.
“Australia is currently the only Pioneer sales entity still operating with an internal warehouse, so we are somewhat out of step.
“By moving, Pioneer will secure a new facility to better support its business needs, as well as benefit from flexible warehouse costs and unlock funds tied up in the property.
“The move in logistics should be almost seamless to our retail partners and in the long term should help us to further improve our service levels,” said Blythe.
The timeline of these plans is quite expedient, with the current property already listed for sale.
“Our timeframe is quite fluid, as it is largely dependent of the sale of Boundary Road, but we will most likely see the warehouse logistics outsourced sometime in January 2010,” said Blythe.