Company Presentation
INDEX
INDEX Chairmans message An Introduction to AGS The AGS Groups Global Presence The AGS Groups Structure A Typical AGS Branch AGS Expertise The Excellence of AGS Staff A Modern, Innovative Company High Quality Packing On-line Tracking System Client Satisfaction: an AGS Priority AGS Quality Procedure Memberships and Affiliations AGS, a Responsible Company Why Choose AGS Four Winds? 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21
Chairmans message
Alain Taieb Chairman and Chief Executive Officer The world of removal and relocation services is continually undergoing rapid changes. It is becoming increasingly global in its design and organisation and more and more local at every stage of its implementation. Throughout these changes, AGS has only one goal: the complete satisfaction of our customers and partners. To achieve this lasting objective, our company continues to analyse and understand the needs of our customers, develop our worldwide network and finally, remain committed and faithful to our longstanding values. Our support of the United Nations Global Compact symbolises this commitment and our 1 move = 1 tree planted project in partnership with the NGO, Plante Urgence, is just one of the actions we have taken to demonstrate this commitment. Both family owned and global, AGS is a people-sized company that is able to serve you on five continents. With AGS, you deserve the best.
An Introduction to AGS
AGS was founded in 1974. Over the last 37 years, the Group has established a network of 119 locations covering 73 countries throughout Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe, and has brought innovation and originality to the international moving market. AGS offers door-to-door solutions from departure to arrival. The Groups professionalism and high standards are universally acknowledged by colleagues and clients alike. The Groups clients are corporate executives, diplomats and civil servants of all nationalities. The wholly-owned AGS branches are spread throughout the following areas:
9 branches and 9 offices in Asia 42 branches and 10 offices in Africa 1 branch in the Caribbean 46 branches and 2 offices in Europe
In addition, a global network of 300 partners ensures that we cover the globe fully.
To offer precisely the same high quality of service throughout a move, from departure to
Asia: We made the strategic choice of investing in Asia in order to cater for some of our large corporate accounts, who expressed the wish to have one unique global provider for all their worldwide relocation services. The AGS Group first established itself in Asia in 2005 when it acquired four AGS Four Winds branches, a well known and experienced removals company on the continent. The following year, the group acquired Trinity Removals, a well-known brand in India with a wealth of experience in international removals, thus firmly establishing itself in Asia. Due to its rapid expansion, AGS is now represented in 18 key locations across Asia including Hong Kong, Singapore, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Jakarta, Taiwan, Beijing and Shanghai. China has been identified as a key growth area, and expansion will continue to Shenzhen, Tianjin, and Chongqing, whose openings will be followed by offices in the cities of Shenyang and Dalian. Outside of China, AGS will soon be based in Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia. This expansion illustrates our determination to become an important player in the international removals business in Asia.
Africa The first foreign subsidiary of AGS was founded in Ivory Coast in 1992. After a wave of expansion across the entire continent, we established a presence in South Africa by purchasing the Laser Transport Group in 2001. AGS Frasers currently covers the African continent with 42 branches and 10 offices strategically spread across 41 countries. The newest addition to the AGS Frasers network in Africa was opened in Libya in early 2010.
AGS in the Caribbean AGS Haiti, based in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, has recently opened and AGS will be developing a Caribbean network in the near future.
Europe: Since 1974, AGS has built a network of branches in Europe. Our latest addition to the network is located in Switzerland. There are 46 branches and 2 offices across Europe and we can provide our services throughout the continent. This includes 7 branches in the French Overseas Territories.
AGS Network of Worldwide Partners In countries where AGS is not physically present, the Group calls upon partners selected according to strict quality and reliability criteria. In this way, AGS can honour its commitment to delivering service of the highest standard, no matter where in the world its clients are moving.
MOBILITAS
Asia
Africa
Caribbean
Europe
1AGSbranch
Two or three salespeople focus on generating new business and dealing with customers. Sales coordinators manage the follow-up and coordination of moves, and finalise the operation to the clients complete satisfaction. o Technical Department (Packers, truck drivers, carpenters etc.)
Each AGS branch has its own complete fleet of trucks, vans, pickups, cars and handling equipment, as well as its own secure warehouse to accommodate personal belongings for transit or long-term storage. All warehouses have CCTV cameras or guards, cutting edge alarm systems, effective ventilation, regular treatments (humidity, fumigation and pest control) and state-of-the-art, regularly inspected fire protection systems. o Administrative Department
Administrative staff are a vital component of a branch, and deal with ongoing queries to ensure that the operations of a branch are not hindered in any way. The activities include the daily processing of office expenditure and salaries, as well as handling office-related work, such as the installation of phone lines and internet connections, courier services, IT, office safety, and the general up-keep of an office. o Accounting Department
Every branch provides financial reports to the head office and deals with auditors. In order to do so, this department takes care of the accurate processing of all bank and cash accounts and is responsible for the costing and estimates on invoices. This department also reconciles client invoices and payments, ensuring proper management and the efficient processing of all statements.
AGS Expertise
AGS offers the expertise of a personalised service to every client in order to prepare for each move thoroughly and to stay by their side up to the day they move into their new home. Commercial expertise Each client is assigned a single point of contact. Whether you are a Human Resources manager, purchaser or the manager in charge of removals, an AGS Corporate Accounts Executive will be attentive and offer advice to optimise the management of your moves. Regular reporting will be available to determine whether your objectives are being met. If you are being transferred, a coordinator will be available to advise and guide you throughout the move process. Consultants are focused on ensuring that every move runs smoothly from departure to arrival, and customer satisfaction commitments are met. Technical expertiseOwing to its reputation and to the volume of its traffic, the AGS Group permanently employs a large number of packers. Having trained employees at the core of operations is our guarantee of meticulous packing that satisfies our customers expectations. They have a great deal of experience in attending to customers needs and their role extends beyond the careful handling of customers goods, since they are present throughout the packing and unpacking processes. Their courtesy and helpfulness are essential to the AGS move process. Logistical expertise Faultless logistics to synchronise the following steps ensure a successful move: Packing the customers' personal belongings in their home using special materials Loading the belongings in a lift-van or container Customs clearance and administrative formalities, including documentation Transporting the goods by air, sea or road Customs clearance upon arrival Unpacking Reassembly in the clients new home.
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The AGS Group selects the most suitable means of transport according to strict criteria: cost, reliability, and the minimisation of damage to the environment. These services are not only limited to the countries in which the AGS Group is present, but are provided all over the world, owing to the groups network of overseas agents who have been rigorously selected for their professionalism.
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This innovation offers unparalleled flexibility in removal operations, while guaranteeing the safety of the transported goods. Handling is reduced and storage costs are lowered. For volumes over 20m, we have implemented fully padded mobile containers that allow for personalised packing. These containers are also suitable for multi-modal transportation (by road or train).
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The AGS Group has recently received FIDIs Gold Supporter FIDI Academy 2010 award for the investment it makes in driving and promoting industry knowledge amongst its employees. We have more FIDI Academy graduates than any other international removals company.
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Members of the Global Compact must produce regular reports and updates of progress. The Environment As a removals company, we are working in an industry that by its very nature can negatively affect our planet. The packing materials used and transportation required calls for us to take action to lessen our impact on the environment. As a responsible company, AGS has put in place a number of green policies to ensure we go above and beyond industry environmental standards. Whenever possible, AGS uses sea and waterway transport rather than air and road transport. Every year, AGS reduces its CO emissions favouring ecological ways of transport when possible. AGS implements a preventative and regular maintenance programme for all vehicles (trucks, cars, forklifts) to reduce the effect of greenhouse gases on the environment. Moreover, oils from waste and batteries are returned. Maritime and inter-modal freight transportation is used as often as possible. All our branches recycle their packing materials wherever local infrastructure allows it. We also use special packing techniques to optimise the use of space. This reduces volume and the impact of transport on the environment. Plastics, paper and cardboard are sorted for recycling in all our branches. Moreover, ink cartridges are recycled and we print on recycled paper. In order to maintain our FAIM accreditations, and in accordance with our Quality Control procedures, all AGS branches are subject to regular on-site evaluations. The aim is to assess how well we follow procedures, to guarantee that environmental criteria are respected and that we conform to FIDIs strict standards.
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1 move = 1 tree planted AGS is working in partnership with the NGO Plante Urgence within the scope of the Environment and Development program in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to protect biodiversity and to promote local socio-economic development, via a tree planting project in Indonesia:
Restoration of the mangrove swamp in Indonesia: 2 283 900 trees planted in the North Sumatra region. Reconstruction of the mangrove corridor to fight against global warming and to protect biodiversity.
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