The FIDI-FAIM certification programme requires that international movers have a periodic independent assessment of their inter-continental moving activities. This ensures that FIDI accredited companies work to a worldwide common standard in a uniformed, quality-minded and effective way. It also provides a transparent mechanism that ensures that the standards remain high. Companies who already hold an ISO 9001:2008 quality certificate are eligible for the FAIMPLUS award.

From a customer’s perspective, moving with a FAIM certified company like AGS Movers Ghana, gives confidence and surety that the company has the resources and know-how to perform a successful international move.

The award was based on an on-site audit by external auditors, and was measured against stringent requirements which included the following criteria: Compliance, Supply Chain and Internal Audit.

THE FIDI-FAIM CERTIFICATION IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS CERTIFICATIONS IN THE INDUSTRY.

With this achievement, AGS Movers Ghana joins a select group of international companies to hold the FIDI-FAIMPLUS quality label.

In addition to directing AGS Movers’ branch network in India, Payal already dedicates a significant amount of her time to giving back to the international moving industry.

For example, she currently also serves as the President of FIDI India; the Vice President of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and the Vice Chair of the European Business Group in Delhi.

“I am thrilled to have been appointed as a FIDI Trainer: I feel privileged to be able to share my knowledge and experience with other young professionals in the industry!” says Payal enthusiastically.

“I also consider this a special opportunity to learn even more than what I have over the past 19 years of being in the industry.”

An early task for Payal in this new role will be to travel to South Africa in September, where she will offer training at one of the FIDI Academy’s upcoming ‘Essentials in Moving’ (EiM) seminars – coincidentally to be hosted at AGS Movers Johannesburg’s premises.

Payal will also deliver industry training online and contribute to the development of topical training courses and updating existing FIDI Academy course material. Online training is delivered through FIDI Academy’s ‘webinar’ (web seminar) system, with practical topics ranging from freight forwarding to client surveys and move planning.

“I do consider this as an honour and will ensure that I live up to the expectations of the FIDI Academy,” promises Payal.

AGS wishes her all the best!

Emphasizing our ongoing commitment to the United Nations’ Global Compact since 2009, AGS uplifts local communities in countries our branches call home.

In 2015 delegates from the global removals industry will be travelling to Cape Town, South Africa, for the annual FIDI Conference from 29 March to 1 April. We recently announced that AGS has secured a prestigious Platinum Sponsorship for this conference, demonstrating AGS’s support for FIDI.

Furthering our global commitment to sustainable development, AGS is supporting the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) in South Africa, in an effort to specifically raise funds for the DTHF’s Tutu Tester mobile clinic programme.

AGS’ presence in the 2015 FIDI Conference will raise further awareness of the campaign, coinciding perfectly with the DTHF’s services delivered in Cape Town.

Project overview: Tutu Tester

The Tutu Tester mobile clinic offers a ‘Health on Wheels’ wellness service, providing point-of-care testing and screening for a range of chronic illnesses. These include HIV, Tuberculosis, STIs, diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as family-planning services.

The advanced point-of-care technology allows patients in under-served communities – with limited access to primary healthcare clinics – to receive their results in under 20 minutes.

AGS’ support for the DTHF

AGS will promote the DTHF through various communications, allowing our customers and business associates to join us in our support of this extremely worthy cause on the African continent.

Please look out for more updates on our social media channels – including Twitter and Facebook – and on www.agsmovers.com.

Once again AGS has been praised by its clients, with our 2013 satisfaction surveys’ results showing an incredibly gratifying outcome: 95% client satisfaction.

Every year, around 30 000 completed surveys are collected by the AGS teams and collated. While 2012’s results were already exceptional, 2013’s results are even better!

These satisfaction rates highlight the effectiveness of our branches’ international quality certifications – including ISO 9001, FAIM Plus and NF –and their proactive approach in using direct client feedback to further boost service levels.

Feedback from clients helps us evaluate the overall client experience: from rating departure to arrival services, staff efficiency and the relevance of information made available to track their moves online.

Aspects of our service which rank highly are AGS’ movers and the movers’ expertise (98% approval) and AGS’ telephonic service (96% approval). These excellent results leave nothing to chance – the extreme professionalism and commitment of all AGS employees contributed efficiently and in the long-term to this positive outcome.

Mr GoodMove

During 2009 AGS innovated and became the first removals company in the world to offer a service fully dedicated to the rapid support and problem solving of its 40 000 annual clients.

Acting as a privileged interface for clients, the Mr GoodMove (MGM) service is always available for the speedy resolution of their queries. MGM seeks to find solutions that are acceptable to all parties, maintaining regular contact with clients until satisfaction.

The team operates across all AGS Group branches, and has the necessary authority – expected by clients – to positively transform challenging situations. Concerned clients are almost unanimous (98%) on the action taken by MGM, evaluating it as ‘very positive’; verifying that clients need accessible and available interlocutors who can quickly find pragmatic solutions.

In addition, the Mr Good Move team (under the supervision of the Group Quality Direction) is also forward-looking. MGM retains records of customers’ feedback and works hand-in-hand with branches and the Group’s Operational General Direction to avoid repeating concerns.

“By studying client satisfaction through regular reports, we support individual clients while putting in place management systems to benefit all AGS clients,” explains MGM Manager, Veronique Oban.

“This ‘surgical’ and systematic handling allows the AGS Group to continue improving each year, to offer the best quality services, and constantly innovate” concurs AGS’ senior Group Quality Manager, Alexandre Lebègue.

This top-level deal will see AGS recognised as the official sponsor of the Conference’s Golf Day and Sight-Seeing Tours: popular highlights on the conference-packed event calendar.

The Platinum Sponsorship serves to further entrench AGS’ long-standing relationship with FIDI, which sees AGS branches actively participating in FIDI’s renowned quality accreditation and training programmes.

A total of 28 AGS branches worldwide are FIDI Accredited International Movers (FAIM) – and half of those have already upgraded their accreditations to the most stringent FAIM Plus quality standards.

As another example of AGS’ involvement with FIDI, AGS’ investment into training saw the company receiving the FIDI Academy’s valuable ‘Commitment to Excellence’ Gold Award for 2013.

FIDI’s 64th Annual Conference in 2015 will run from 29 March 2015 until 01 April, and is expected to once again attract hundreds of key role-players throughout the international moving industry.

Demonstrating AGS’ on-going commitment to supporting industry events, this announcement follows AGS’ Gold Sponsorship of the International Association of Mover’s 52nd Annual Meeting in Florida in October 2014.

AGS Movers Lilongwe in Malawi hosted an exhibition stand at the Bishop Mackenzie International School’s Parents Fair in April, represented here by accountant Chawezi Phiri and Branch Manager Luis Fernandez.

AGS Manila

AGS Movers Manila recently benefited from wind power in the Philippines when sponsoring a Hobie Cat (sail number 112 317) competing in the 1st Annual Tanauan Sailing Festival – organized by the Taal Lake Yacht Club – on Taal Lake.

AGS Singapore

AGS Movers Singapore recently sponsored the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore’s (FCCS) Pétanque Tournament 2014, hosted at Singapore’s Mana Mana Beach Club. Pétanque is a boules-type game dating back to 1907.

FIDI Conference

FIDI – the International Federation of International Movers – hosted their 63rd Annual Conference in Singapore from March 30 to April 2, and a vibrant team of AGS network managers and directors networked with the hundreds of industry delegates present.

When AGS Movers Budapest’s Branch Manager, Ingrid Lamblin, was notified on March 27 that her branch was the first removal company in Hungary to be FAIM Plus accredited – a quality-certification issued by the International Federation of International Movers (FIDI) – she had numerous reasons to celebrate.

Not only did the branch audit take place on her birthday in March (Ingrid’s staff presented her with an AGS-branded cake as a unique commemoration) but April 1 marked her 14-year work anniversary with AGS.

Coming from a background of international transportation and sales, Ingrid joined AGS in 2000 in a sales role; and in 2007 was appointed as Branch Manager of AGS’ branch in Budapest. Following this she was also President of ADA-Europe for two years.

AGS Belgrade now also FAIM PluS

As was detailed in the feature article in the March AGS newsletter, when AGS branches are ISO 9001:2008 accredited and renew their FIDI Accredited International Mover (FAIM) certification they are now being audited under the more stringent FAIM Plus standards.

This is what makes AGS Movers Belgrade’s achievement – another branch to have been newly accredited with FAIM Plus on April 4, and also the first removal company with this status in Serbia – particularly important.

Alexandre Lebègue, AGS’ Senior Group Quality Manager, congratulated AGS Belgrade’s Branch Manager Vladan Jankovic after the branch’s FAIM Plus accreditation was obtained with a 100% compliance rating – a strong recognition of the branch’s service quality.

“This award is simultaneously a great encouragement and obligation, and is the result of many years of hard work from the whole AGS Group,” Vladan commented on the FAIM Plus certification.

“As a fully dedicated team, Vesna, Bojan, Saska and myself will continue in the most effective way to provide the best quality services in a manner which is friendly, on time and with highly professional cooperation in order to fully meet all customers’ expectations.”

According to Alexandre Lebegue, AGS’ Senior Group Quality Manager, FAIM Plus accreditation provides branches with a competitive advantage through its higher image and level of expertise – including stringent conformance requirements.

“The FAIM Plus standard was introduced in January 2013 by FIDI. When AGS branches are ISO 9001:2008 accredited and renew their FAIM certificate (10 to 13 branch every year), we are asking for the audit to be conducted under FAIM Plus requirements,” Alexandre explains.

“To achieve that level of expertise and the great organisational achievement, it is through teamwork where employees driven by their captain (branch manager) are the key to success.”

He confirms that the following AGS branches are also due to receive FAIM Plus accreditation in 2014: Serbia, Budapest, Madrid, London, Tunisia, Belgium, Bratislava, Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal and Prague.

Reflecting on Uganda’s FAIM Plus accreditation, AGS Uganda Country Manager, Julien Favre-Bulle, said:

“This certification is the proof of the commitment of all the AGS Uganda staff to provide our clients with the best service possible.” AGS Kenya’s Branch Manager, Gil Recizac, echoed this sentiment.

“Over the past approximately ten years AGS Warsaw’s core staff have remained for the most part unchanged – always developing, growing in experience and all the while maintaining a very high degree of personal involvement and motivation,”

added Antoine Duquesnay, AGS Poland’s Branch Manager.

“We also have a long history with FAIM, and a will to maintain and even improve our level of professionalism.”

The academy of the Belgium-based International Federation of International Movers (FIDI) is widely recognised as a professional provider of tailor-made training courses for all job roles specifically within the international moving industry.

“It is very effective training, well-adapted to our daily tasks – whether you are in sales, an international coordinator or warehouse chief, FIDI have training for all staff,” comments Christophe Mordelet, AGS Group Human Resources Director.

In addition to the ever-increasing number of AGS branches worldwide which are accredited by FIDI through the FAIM and FAIM Plus certifications for quality and compliance, AGS is also a regular sponsor of FIDI Academy’s ‘Essentials in Moving’ training seminar for staff employed by FIDI members.

The comprehensive five-day ‘Essentials in International Moving’ seminar consisted of a classroom session, covering everything from professional packing services and loading to freight forwarding, quotations and contracts and insurance.  Site visits to sea, railway and air-freight terminals were also included.

At the time of the course Louis was Deputy Branch Manager for AGS Movers Morocco (he has since moved to AGS Movers Algeria), and what makes his achievement even more remarkable is that this was the first such FIDI Academy seminar he had attended.

“I was very proud that amongst other competitors it was an employee from AGS who was selected as the top student,” says Louis of the recognition. “What made that possible is the fact that AGS’ Future Branch Managers’ Training schedule is very broad: we really see all aspects of the removal industry and that helps in the FIDI Academy.”

Chantal Fera, FIDI Academy’s manager, stresses the importance of these seminars, which are held around four times a year (depending on demand).

“The FIDI Academy training seminars are unique because they are developed and delivered by industry experts,” she explains.

“Participants gain not only knowledge in all areas of international moving but also they do share their experience with 30 international colleagues and they make friends for life – which also means future business opportunities with trustful agents they know and they have worked with.”

AGS Morocco’s branch manager, Jean-Noël Boulnois, also congratulated Louis and his colleague Emilie Ducert – who participated in the same seminar and also received the FIDI EiM diploma.

“As AGS Morocco’s Branch Manager, I am of course proud of Louis; his success reflects the good training he was delivered by the branch”, says Jean-Noël. “The whole team of AGS Morocco congratulates and thanks them for representing us with brio”.