UniGroup Worldwide Japan opened its doors in March 2012, offering international household goods moving, general commodity freight forwarding, domestic and international exhibition forwarding and logistics management services. The company, which provides coverage throughout Japan from Okinawa to Hokkaido, is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based $1.6 billion UniGroup, Inc., which includes United Van Lines, Mayflower Transit and other industry-leading goods movers.
UniGroup Worldwide Japan provides a full range of commercial freight forwarding services, but according to Aki Nitta, the firm’s general manager, the company’s household moving services cater to expatriates who have a different working culture to Japanese. Westerners generally bring their families and all their belongings to an overseas posting. By contrast, when Japanese employees are posted overseas, they take a minimum of personal effects and often move to their destinations without their families, saving money and time, while avoiding family disruptions.
“These cultural differences are reflected in our service offerings,” says Nitta. “UniGroup Japan offers comprehensive household moving services: pre-move planning; move management; packing and unpacking of goods; door-to-door transport and maid services if required. And our clients’ goods are packed in dedicated containers for shipment.”
UniGroup provides additional services to help expats overcome the cultural differences when moving to a new country, including pre-assignment tours, visa application support, and housing and school searches. Through its global network, with regional headquarters in the Netherlands, Canada and Hong Kong, UniGroup is able to support its clients in all the world's major commercial centers.
“Our first year of operation was very successful in terms of providing household relocation services to clients moving to and from Japan,” says Nitta. “And we also handled more than 20 consignments for a famous European fashion brand, shipping to its stores throughout Japan, as well as delivering a number of art and exhibition consignments. This year, we will be working to expand our commercial offerings within the domestic market.”
Always on the lookout for ways in which to improve its services, UniGroup Worldwide Japan puts to good use the results of the post-move satisfaction surveys that are given to every customer after a move. Results of the Post-Move Customer Satisfaction Survey Program consistently indicate that over 98 percent of the customers who moved with UniGroup UTS say they would use UniGroup again or refer UniGroup to their families and friends.
Nitta says, “Customer satisfaction is our competitive edge. Our worldwide network is dedicated to delivering superior service from start to finish, and here in Japan, where customers expect truly superior service, we aim to exceed their expectations.”
“Our Japan operation strengthens our service delivery capability throughout the Pacific Rim and ensures that we will keep pace with the requirements of an expanding customer base,” says Steve Lewis, managing director of UniGroup UTS’ Asia-Pacific operations, which were established in Hong Kong in 2007.
