Halfway through the decade: How to adapt successfully

The whistle is blown. Halftime is here. With 50 percent of the 2020’s behind us, we asked Begoma’s Managing Director, Henrik Malmberg to summarize the first half of a decade that has challenged the assumption on what “business as usual” really is.

The pandemic. Supply chain challenges. High interest rates. Low economic activity.

For many companies, this decade began as a gut punch and never stopped presenting new challenges. A few years ago, many people asked when things would go back to normal. Nowadays, most people have accepted a new normal, where adaptability is key.

– Going back to normal will not happen. Changeability is the new normal and with it comes the increased need for adaptability. That is also one of Begoma’s key strengths as a smaller freight forwarder compared to the big giants. When the world changes – we change with it, says Henrik Malmberg.

Being a family owned company with a vast network of suppliers and carriers, reacting quickly to new conditions and ways of doing business is easier than for many others.

– For us, the changed circumstances during the start of the decade saw us increase our turnover by a couple of million SEK. That is the type of organization we are, where quick thinking and smart solutions in the face of new challenges is how we work best.

Sustainability is good for business

When the company was bought in 1998, three people worked in the financial department. Since then, our company has grown 20 times the size, but the size of the financial department remains the same.

– We recognized early that we need to adapt smart IT solutions to be able to deliver on our promise to our customers. This decision has served us well, especially during this decade where being on your feet and staying alert have been key factors for success, says Henrik Malmberg.

During the 2020’s, Begoma has increased our focus on sustainability, adopting our first Sustainability Strategy during the spring of 2025.

– Business and sustainability are no longer exclusive to us. For us, creating sustainable solutions for our customers goes hand in hand with creating smart business solutions. By developing this part of Begoma, we also help develop our customers.