Setting sights on Intralogistics expansion in Europe

DLL has set its sights on expansion in Europe in 2024, raising awareness of its unique proposition and ensuring businesses receive the best financial support and expertise to deliver their intralogistics projects. To this end, we welcome Markus Handorfer, Intralogistics Sales Manager, DACH and Poland, to the team.

Markus is attracted to a lifestyle that combines his natural aptitude for sales and love of travelling. His sales experience began as a child, helping in the family business, and continued as a teenager, with intermittent part-time sales roles. Later, his master’s degree in international business took him to Canada and Taiwan and reinforced an enduring passion for travel.

His new role at DLL allows him to indulge both passions and pursue his ambition to bring intralogistics finance solutions into the mainstream. “I recognized the potential business opportunities for tailored finance and leasing solutions in my previous role as Sales Manager within the intralogistics industry. There is a gap in the market for this type of solution and at DLL I have free rein to develop and expand the concept, bringing new solutions to European markets where we have a presence.”

Unique proposition

Markus is responsible for market expansion in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland, which matches up perfectly with his Austrian heritage, language proficiency, and geographical access to the huge regional hub of intralogistics producers and integrators.

He brings a wealth of intralogistics and business knowledge to the role and has resolute confidence in the veracity of DLL’s finance model and in its utility for large and smaller businesses alike.

DLL has a unique proposition that is not widely known in the DACH region. I want to raise awareness of what it has to offer and how this can help businesses to automate and optimize their supply chain operation. There is no one delivering this type of tailored finance solution now,” he says.

Under the leadership of Marco Wagner, Global Head of Intralogistics at DLL, Markus will raise awareness of and communicate DLL’s unique proposition to help businesses accomplish their automation goals.

“Everyone knows how to lease a forklift or truck, for example, but few businesses know that there is an alternative to classic bank loans for capital investment in automation,” he explains. “The main goal for us is to engage early with stakeholders in planning and consultancy who facilitate automation projects and who recognize the benefits of tailored end-to-end finance solutions for their clients.”

Go-to finance provider for automation projects

Given the size of the market, Germany will be a major focus for Markus. There are significant growth opportunities in the DACH region, as it is a major manufacturing hub for automation equipment and has a wealth of potential end-users in the food and beverage, logistics, pharmaceutical, and automotive markets, for example.

I believe there is business potential in 3PL, grocery, ecommerce, fashion, and pharmaceuticals. However, we need to increase our visibility in these sectors to make companies aware that financing with DLL can be a project enabler,” he says.

Markus explains that some businesses are nervous about investing in automation now, given the current economic climate. Smaller to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are especially reticent, but it’s important to understand that, unlike conventional finance options, DLL can help strengthen their market position and overcome challenges associated with staff shortages, higher wages, and rising warehouse costs.

“My job is to convince businesses to stop postponing investment in technology that will ultimately help their business to thrive. As operational costs increase, businesses will need to think about automation. This is going to happen sooner or later, and we can help with this process every step of the way,” he says.

Markus is confident he can facilitate DLL’s expansion in his designated regions in 2024 and beyond. He believes his proposed strategy will help embed DLL in the “ecosystem of intralogistics” and secure its reputation as the go-to finance provider for automation projects.

If you’re interested in learning more about how DLL can help you achieve your automation aspirations or want to find out about our tailored financial services, do not hesitate to contact us today or speak to Markus Handorfer.