This morning we went to GAP Vassilopoulos Group. They are a logistics company and I was impressed by the vast array of services that fall under their brother. We met with Dr. Pedro Vassilopoulos, the son of the founder of the company and one of the company’s namesakes, and his nephew. They gave us a comprehensive overview of their company. There is not another company like it in Cyprus, and they are responsible for most of the imports and exports on the island. Starting as a shipping company in 1964, they expanded rapidly and effectively. Today, they hold roles in airlines, ports, insurance, finance, hospitality and more. GAP provides services all the way from supplier to consumer. They are basically a one stop shop for shipping and logistics in Cyprus. I thought it was interesting that they control both the Larnaca and Paphos airports and have roles in the Limassol port that we visited. GAP holds 1,500 locations in Cyprus and records 3,500 stops everyday here. They own 12 warehouses and 350 trucks to aid with these shipments. They seem to have business in almost anything you can think of, there is even a repackaging aspect of their business!
Dr. Vassilopoulos holds a PhD in logistics and incorporated key aspects of supply chain management into his presentation. He talked about lean and agile strategies in SCM and emphasized the importance of balancing efficiency and flexibility. In relation to his own company and logistics, he discussed how important communication across the supply chain is. Dr. Vassilopoulos told us about how transparency between company’s makes the supply chain stronger and eventually results in cheaper prices for consumers. This related to GAP because they are an extremely integrated company, playing a large role in the length of the supply chain. Dr. Vassilopoulos gave us insight into the fact that good workers and communicators are vital to managing a company that is spread as wide as GAP is. I liked how he emphasized that every part of the supply chain is just as important as the next; you’re only as strong as your weakest link.