Page 10 - BOSS Today Issue 58

BOSS Today #58 60 SECOND INTERVIEW

BOSS Today talks to

Simon Allan-Brooks, Managing
Director UK & Ireland, Viking

BT: Can you please could you give us a people to return to the office. FC and then at 21 I became the
short history of your career to date? Do we further embrace working youngest ever manager in a
from home. Are co-spaces the semi-professional league. (Not
SAB: I started at TNT as warehouse right option if so where does our sure if I still hold that title now) Never Competitors
operative and then quickly moved industry fit in. I think we need to I think playing high level sport is
into a telesales role selling parcel lead the thinking and work harder what gives me the inner desire to
delivery services. Since then I with the customers to ease their succeed. We are partners, not competitors, so will always find
have worked in various sectors, decision making. ways to support you and your business
logistics, recruitment, finance,
travel, the family business, BT: And the biggest opportunities or
wholesale and now office supplies, trends coming our way?
holding regional and director Distribution
positions in both commercial and SAB: It ties in with the previous answer.
operational roles. We as the industry have the
opportunity to guide how people 1,000’s of SKU’s daily throughout the UK and abroad
BT: What are some of Vikings key will work going forward. We have a to you or your customer
objectives for this year and next? real opportunity to shape the way
the UK and Ireland can operate in
SAB: n Continuing to grow Year on Year a business environment.
n Establish Viking in the large
customer market BT: In this issue we speak to Dr Daniel Partner Programmes
n Continue to remind the industry Hulme on the subject of Artificial
that Viking is a true multichannel Intelligence, how significant do Chosen, trusted & integrated by our dealers, we have
supplier you think the impact of AI will be
n Bring back fanatical customer on our sector and how is Viking solutions to fit all business models from white label
fulfilment, to nationwide service support & more
service as a business embracing it?
BT: Viking UK have been a big SAB: AI is something we have been
supporter of our BOSS Leaders using as consumers for sometime
of the Future Committee and with many businesses using
you’ll be speaking at their next chatbots as an example. For
conference in November. What Viking we have accepted and
advice do you have for upcoming embraced AI is a benefit. We are
leaders in our sector looking to currently exploring all areas where
progress their careers? we see this technology supporting
our business, especially as we
SAB: The advice I would give would be, operate across 7 countries. If we
be curious about all parts of the get this right, I think AI will give
business. You don’t need to be the us a real chance to take data of
expert but you do need to have a product to the next level.
solid understanding of key areas.
So put skin in the game and find out BT: Finally, tell us something people
more about area you don’t know. in the industry might not know
about you?
BT: What do you see as the biggest
challenges facing our industry SAB: Well as a newbie to the industry, I
at the moment? guess there is quite a lot. However
what most people don’t know
SAB: Conflicting thinking I see as the is I played youth professional
biggest challenge. Do we ask the football at Peterborough United
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