Interview with Nicolas Sarrut, founder and CEO of the ADMCS-DMCS Group
Nicolas Sarrut is founder and CEO of the ADMCS group in France and DMCS in Switzerland. This group, active in eco-terminals for energy-efficient container management and in software for optimizing container logistics flows, was established in the canton in 2020. Passionate about new technologies and sensitive to the environment, Nicolas has been working in maritime container transport for over 23 years, and is one of only 5 European specialists in the field witha global vision. From an early age, he has been immersed in this field thanks to his grandfather, who in 1960 was the first to transport containers on trucks in the Grand-Est region of France.
Meet an eternal enthusiast for whom multimodal containers hold no secrets.
How did ADMCS come into being?
I started working for my grandfather's company at a very young age, where I was able to see the evolution of the company, the maritime world and new technologies. I've also been able to see that transport is "dirty" and that everyone perceives it in the wrong way. Logistics (especially by ship) are polluting, but it's important to remember that 90% of what we consume (from raw materials to waste and semi-finished and finished products) is transported by container. Today, it's the world's biggest industry. For several years now, I've been wondering how I could change that. The result was a dual project to build energy-efficient container managementEco-Terminals, and container logistics flow optimization software based on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, Deep Learning, IOT (Internet of Things), blockchain and cryptocurrency. The aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of the multimodal transport sector.
What business is your company active in? What services do you offer?
We are in the container transport and digital business.
I took a little time, because in my business everything is still done by telephone, fax or email, with software siloed by player. There are many players involved in moving a container from start to finish, and each has its own IT system. In fact, there is no such thing as a global management software system. The idea is to get all these people to use these new technologies without frustrating them too much, so that they become interconnected. As I said earlier, the first part of the project is to build eco-terminals. These are environmentally passive ports that will use technologies such as photovoltaics, wind turbines, water hydrolysis, and reuse flora and fauna to landscape the land on which we're going to build. The terminals are passive, 100% electric and self-generating. The one we're building at Ittenheim (Grand-Est) will even be positive-energy. We've just submitted the building permit, and the project should be completed by the end of 2024.
The second part of the project involves the creation of supply chain management software. The aim is to sell a connection right so that the various players can organize and trace their containers and documents, as well as deposit or retrieve documentation relating to a specific container shipment from start to finish. Instead of paying in cash, these people or companies will buy through the token system. These tokens will enable them to connect to the platform, where they will have access to the information that the organizer wishes to communicate to them.
At the same time, we'd like to offer platform customers services based on financial assets. The DMCS token will enable us to offer "crypto bank" type services to corporate customers. For private and institutional customers, we'll be offering a brokerage service and all asset-based investment services, wealth management, etc. Initially, we're going to set up DMCS Finance as a financial intermediary in the true sense of the word, with a license, and in a year's time we'll start the application for a banking license, which will enable us to open our crypto bank in 3 years' time.
Why did you choose the Canton of Neuchâtel to set up and develop your business?
The canton of Neuchâtel chose us. A few years ago, I presented our software at STATION F, and among those present was Mr Albert Suissa from the GGBa, who invited me to GGBa Night, where I met people from the canton. They liked the project and suggested I come and develop it in Switzerland, in Neuchâtel. I had the support of the canton and the backing of FINMA. Today, this is what has enabled us to achieve the first supervised currency culture. We work with a large number of players in the region: Le/AX avocats, e-gestion for accounting and Revixpert for auditing. We are very well supported by the economic department and the canton. Since it's the local people who believed in us, who helped us, who gave us the means to do things and move forward, it was only logical to set up here.
Who are your main competitors and customers?
We'd already had an offer to buy the project, but I refused to sell. So they took the idea. They tried to do the same thing, but for the time being, they don't have any control over the business. That said, we have several shipping companies, players in the business who are trying to buy us out.
Today, we already have more than 600 contracts for the purchase of DMCS tokens, and nearly 10% of these investments are made by business users.
How do you perceive and experience innovation within your company?
Innovation is very difficult, because people think you're crazy. For the first 3 years of the project, the banks shut me down. France, my home country, didn't support me, and neither did my region. I was very surprised when Switzerland came looking for me. The seriousness of the people here is completely different, as is their open-mindedness, especially when it comes to innovation. They're not afraid to say they'll help a daring project. I've been working on this project for 9 years, financing everything myself for 7 years, then raising a little "love money" and moving to Switzerland. We've been pre-selling tokens for around 2 years now.
How do you see your company in 5-10 years?
In 3 to 5 years' time, we plan to develop the system and apply it to a number of different trades. The aim is to have the terminal up and running in 2 years, and the software in action. The next step will be to duplicate the system, as it has been designed to be scalable, so it can be duplicated across all modes of transport.
Today, we already have 9 construction requests from all over the world, with no communication whatsoever. I've been approached mainly by people in the trade who know us and large shipping companies, and in some cases by countries (Emirates, Ecuador, USA).
It's a project that respects the environment. Why is this important to you?
My grandfather was a farmer and a haulier. And I grew up with him. I worked on the farm, I worked in transport and so I saw the changes. Today, without nature, we're nothing. We need transportation. Tomorrow, we'll need new forms of transport that have no negative impact on nature. So the aim is to find innovative solutions to reconcile nature and industry. Today, I think we're on the right track to finding solutions. It's not the only solution, there will be others, fortunately. I'm open to working with anyone who has this vision.
What could the canton do to improve its attractiveness to businesses?
So, to be honest, I can't see what could be improved about the whole process with the canton. They've even helped us find accommodation for the employees who are going to move here. You have some very talented people here. I've even got partners who are going to follow the ADMCS project here, among other things, because they've seen what the canton has done for us. So I'm not coming alone, I'm coming with an ecosystem. Honestly, today, I don't see it. I' d like to thank the canton of Neuchâtel, the Department of Economic Affairs and in particular Mr. Vradis and Mr. Mignon of Le/AX Avocats.
Source: Neuchâtel Economic Department
