Interview with Johannes Cramer, Head of Logistics Services
“We have built up an efficient organization with strong business units.”
Johannes Cramer: Logistics Services has had a very busy year. How do you see it looking back?
It was very demanding, with many challenges we had to overcome. We were stretched by highly volatile markets and the impacts of the global political situation, the economy and consumer confidence. But looking back on the year, I am positive that in 2024, we reaped the rewards of our efforts over the past few years. We have built up a stable and efficient organization with strong business units and a solid operational basis. We have systematically adapted our infrastructure, we are recognized as an established partner in healthcare logistics, and in goods logistics, we have a sustainable network with a strong Swiss core. Given these successes, I’m proud of what we have achieved. On top of that, the goods market as a whole is again showing initial signs of growth, and that makes us optimistic.
Where does Logistics Services stand in terms of sustainability?
Swiss Post has set itself ambitious sustainability targets: we want to be climate neutral in our operations by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040. In 2024, we again pushed ahead with the electrification of our fleet and made visible progress. Since the middle of the year, all deliveries in Basel-Stadt and some neighbouring municipalities have been fully electric, making Basel the fourth city where all vehicles are electric. We will push ahead consistently with this development in other regions in 2025 in order to fulfil our responsibility for a sustainable future.
In 2024, we again pushed ahead with the electrification of our fleet.
How is Logistics Services managing the market conditions?
The current market conditions are more challenging than in the past. Our business areas are heavily dependent on consumer spending, which has been weak by historical standards in recent years. Although there are initial signs of recovery and slight growth in online retail in 2024, the overall level remains below average. While we expect further growth in the coming years, market conditions remain volatile and difficult to predict, making it all the more important to optimize Swiss Post’s position now in order to be successful in the long term, even in an uncertain environment.
Where does Logistics Services stand with regard to implementation of the “Swiss Post of tomorrow” strategy?
After four years creating a solid foundation, our focus now is on consolidating that foundation and setting the course for further growth. Our goal is to ensure that our logistics are more diversified than ever by 2028 and beyond. We are already less dependent on the letter business today and our revenues are more broadly diversified. In the coming years, we will expand the parcel business into our strongest pillar. Other important pillars will be the media and advertising market and international business. Goods logistics and industry solutions are also becoming increasingly relevant. In a nutshell: now that we have diversified our revenue base, our focus is on a more sustainable income structure.