The IDS Ukraine Group of Companies has restructured its logistics, reorganized distributor territories, and increased the number of transportation partners by 30% by incorporating small carriers and sole proprietors, said Marco Tkachuk, CEO of IDS Ukraine.
“Shelling poses additional challenges, as it destroys our partners’ logistics centers and warehouses. We have to constantly change routes and deliver water directly to stores more often. We’ve increased the number of partners by 30% by bringing in small carriers and sole proprietors who own several vehicles,” he said in an interview with the “Interfax-Ukraine” news agency.
When asked about the main challenges facing the company, aside from logistics and rising fuel prices, Tkachuk cited migration and, as a result, a decline in consumption. Declining household incomes and migration trends have forced the company to seek new business channels, which is why it was decided to launch the B2B platform e-Morshynska, which accounts for 10% of sales in traditional retail through direct ordering without the involvement of sales agents.
In addition, staffing remains a challenge. According to Tkachuk, because the reservation system covers only half of the employees, there is an acute shortage of drivers.
To improve planning amid uncertainty, IDS Ukraine is in the final stages of implementing an ERP system for inventory management, he added.
IDS Ukraine is a Ukrainian group of companies founded in 1996. It owns the “Morshynska,” “Myrhorodska,” “Alaska,” and “Aqua Life” brands. The group includes the Morshyn “Oscar” Mineral Water Plant, the Mirgorod Mineral Water Plant, the distribution company “IDS,” and the water delivery operator “IDS Aqua Service.”
