Flexport heralds opening of new Toronto-based office

San Francisco-based freight forwarding and customs brokerage services provider Flexport said this week it is increasing its presence north of the border, for Canadian importers and exporters, with the opening of a new office in Toronto.

Flexport also has a separate Canadian office in Vancouver, and it added that the new Toronto office will serve as an Eastern Canada hub, for the company, with a projected 15 staffers expected to work out of that office by the end of 2021, with plans for another 20 to be hired over the next 18 months, too.

“Toronto’s location along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway System makes it an ideal hub to support the estimated $45 billion in economic activity that cargo shipments generate on that causeway,” said Sumeet Trehan, Flexport general manager for Toronto, in an interview. “This, coupled with the fact that Canadian importers and exporters have traditionally had limited options for trade services that are tech-focused, indicates an opportunity to give these companies an embedded logistics partner that can better help them navigate the current climate.”

In terms of the main benefits the new Toronto office provides for Flexport’s customers, Trehan explained that the new office provides Canadian brands with a broader ability to access a comprehensive technology platform that provides visibility and real-time management capabilities for their supply chains.

“In addition, these businesses have specific needs and a regional context, and growing our presence in the country with team members that understand these nuances will help these enterprises further succeed and expand economic opportunity,” he said.

When asked what the main competitive advantages of this new office are, from a Flexport perspective, Trehan observed that aside from its placement on a major causeway that allows it to serve businesses across Canada, the main competitive advantage is Flexport's unique offering within the market.

“Currently, the global trade industry in Canada is largely run with outdated technology and visibility capabilities,” he said. “Our integrated platform coupled with local partnerships and expertise will provide this market with a partner that can provide better visibility and smoother execution across supply chains.”

As for his take on the biggest issues currently impacting the supply chain and how Flexport’s new Toronto office can help shippers to effectively address them, Trehan cited how backlogs and shipping delays have led to a spike in costs for shippers, and this increasingly competitive market has led to small- and medium-sized businesses struggling to obtain cargo space.

“The new team in Toronto will have a particular focus on providing services to these small- and medium-sized businesses,” he said.