German logistics giant DB Schenker is using California-based Avatour’s real-time 360˚ technology for virtual warehouse tours across global locations.

Avatour, a remote collaboration platform for site meetings, is partnering with DB Schenker to help the logistics firm enable an alternative to travel with virtual warehouse tours, offering a 360˚ perspective with real-time video.

“The partnership with Avatour offers us a new dimension of digitisation in the contract logistics business,” said Todd Starbuck, executive vice president at DB Schenker. “It is essential for us and our operations to stay close to our customers.”

With the pandemic, travel restrictions pose a huge challenge, especially when businesses such as DB Schenker require on-site tours, inspections and meetings on a global scale. DB Schenker selected Avatour because of its digital platform helping it gain visibility and grant customer access to its operations, as well as improving on-site performance with remote training and auditing.

The platform means it can keep people safe and secure while providing support for those working from home. It should save the company millions in travel expenses and lost productivity, as well as reducing CO₂ emissions by avoiding travel, thereby helping the environment.

As an example of savings, each DB Schenker warehouse is visited at least once per year by five employees and partners. Domestic travel alone accounts for millions of dollars of travel expenses and significant CO₂ emissions.

“We’re excited to help DB Schenker realise a future beyond distance,” said Avatour CEO Devon Copley. “Avatour’s technology is a category-defining platform helping companies reimagine their traditional ways of doing business. Ultimately, the results we see are good for the company, its people, and the environment.”

The real-time 360˚ collaboration platform connects remote users with the full context of a real-world site, enabling more effective virtual inspections, tours, training and more.

DB Schenker has more than 75,800 employees at around 2000 locations around the world. It supports industry and trade in the global exchange of goods through land transport, worldwide air and ocean freight, contract logistics and supply chain management.