Originally from Mexico City, Juan S. Garza is currently Business Director at RouteMagic Logistics in Dubai. This UK-based company focused on digital logistics solutions launched operations in Dubai for the UAE and the GCC in 2021.
He has held various managerial and executive positions in transnational companies such as Bayer, Adama, Firmenich, and Victoria’s Secret; as well as in Mexican companies such as Apollo and Aerobal. He also has international experience in the United States and is currently in the United Arab Emirates.
With more than 25 years of professional practice, his areas of expertise are supply chain, operations, logistics, and international trade; planning and manufacturing, purchasing and procurement; commercial and business strategy; quality control, customer service, and property security.
Juan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from ITESM and a Master’s Degree in Corporate Compliance and Business Ethics from the same institution, also awarded by Deusto University in Spain. He has additional postgraduate studies in several universities in Mexico and abroad. He has also participated in different technical improvement programs in Mexican business schools, such as IPADE and EGADE, as well as the INSEAD. Since 2008 has been a professional member of the American Association for Supply Chain Management (APICS), and is certified by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) in ethical and sustainable sourcing since 2018.
Explain the background of you and the company in detail.
My background is in the supply chain, logistics, and operations; it is what I have been passionate about for 25 years. When I came to live in Dubai, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the industry here is very agile and developed but also with many challenges.
RouteMagic, as a part of Data Insights, is a SaaS-based ERP and mobile app solution for Last-Mile B2B distribution. It can digitize the entire order to cash operations for manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors. It is very robust yet accessible and has proven results in very demanding markets such as the UK over the years and now it is available in the UAE and the GCC countries. The time and effort required for RouteMagic implementation is 1/10th that of traditional ERP software.
The vision of Vaibhav Mittal, our CEO, and mastermind, is very clear “become the Operating System of choice for B2B goods distribution, digitalizing the entire operations of all businesses involved in the journey of goods from the manufacturer till the end-customer receives them.”
What are your goals?
My main goal is to support our expansion and grow in the UAE and GCC logistics market with efficient, robust, cost-effective, and very functional products.
What do you feel is the biggest strength of the company right now?
We have many strengths; a clear vision, latest technology products that add value, solid market experience, great leadership, and a team with the customer-centric work culture.
We are what I call a corporate startup. In addition, we have the provenance of an excellent 20 years of market experience, but at the same time, we behave like a startup, fast and flexible; we have the best of both worlds, and our customers appreciate this.
What was the path the company took to get to where it is today?
RouteMagic is the result of an organic acquisition process carried out by Data Insights. Over the last 5 years, Data Insights not only acquired four UK companies but also leveraged their exceptional product management, technology, and business expertise to amalgamate and transform these companies into a much bigger vision. RouteMagic is an essential outcome of this process, which combines many positive factors for the benefit of customers and channel partners.
Why did you start in this company?
I started to collaborate with the company in 2021. From the beginning, I was very attracted by our CEO’s leadership, vision, and innovative mindset. RouteMagic is a company that allows me to combine my experience in logistics and supply chain with the digital world, offering innovative solutions. I am a very proud RouteMagic ambassador.
What have been the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Mainly I would say the major challenge is the ‘technology adoption’ barrier and the evolution to a digitized logistics operation. We are all intimidated by technology and change, and companies are no exception, but once this is overcome, the benefits are obvious and tangible. RouteMagic’s customers reduce operational costs by 30%, increase sales by 14% and improve customer service by 75% as a result of the adoption of our solutions.
Where is your leadership going?
My leadership style is adaptable, and in continuous evolution, I adjust it depending on the circumstances. The dynamism and evolution of businesses today require different management and leadership styles combined.
Give us one word that describes you the best.
Reliable
What are the services/solutions or products offered by your company on par with the current industry standards? Tell us something about your upcoming products or services.
Last year we launched RouteMagic in Dubai for the UAE and the GCC, and this year we are launching HaulerMagic, an excellent solution for haulers in Middle-Mile B2B distribution. Both products are truly powerful digital logistics solutions.
What are the strategies, and how do they stand unique from your competitors?
Our strategy is really simple and straightforward. We approach customers by offering a great product that solves their needs. We walk along with them in the process and grow together with them.
In addition we have great respect for our competitors, and what makes us genuinely different is our unique technology, personalized approach, and service. For us, no customer is the same, and we serve all of them with the same devotion as if they were the only ones.
How do you see the company changing in the next few years, and how do you see yourself creating that change?
I see RouteMagic evolving, constantly improving, and with a solid position in the UAE and GCC markets as a widely used B2B distribution technology solution. I believe we will also be reaching markets in other latitudes, such as the western hemisphere in Latin America and the United States.
Connect on LinkedIn with Juan S. Garza
Email: juan@datainsights.ae