INSIGHTS
250 HEADS
ONE DIGITAL FUTURE
THOSE WHO THINK AHEAD Thomas Pentza, Future CIO of the Geis Group, Sabine Müller, Head of Central Logistics IT Development, Julian Izquierdo, Head of Central Applications IT
Our IT experts work across all divisions to ensure that the business units of the Geis Group in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, and at Quehenberger Logistics can carry out their daily work for customers efficiently, securely, and smoothly. With a new management structure, the IT division is taking center stage in corporate management for the first time.
First CIO in Geis’s History
Thomas Pentza, 47, has headed IT in Germany since October 2023 and has played a key role in shaping its technical and organizational development. Starting in July 2026, he will become a member of the Geis Executive Board – and as of January 1, 2027, he will assume group-wide responsibility for IT in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, and at Quehenberger Logistics as the first Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the history of the Geis Group. With the new CIO role, the Geis Group is sending a clear signal: digitalization and artificial intelligence are not the responsibility of individual countries or business units, but rather strategic priorities for the future of the entire Group. Instead of developing expertise in isolation, Geis and Quehenberger are strategically pooling their resources across national borders – and thus driving innovation forward with full force.
One principle applies to every modern company: Without IT, nothing moves. To ensure things never reach the point where nothing works anymore, the Geis Group employs more than 250 highly qualified IT specialists. Their primary task is to develop solutions that support the processes of the business units and create added value for the company.
The fact that the IT department is so strong in terms of both personnel and expertise has a lot to do with foresight, continuity, and a willingness to invest. The Geis Group recognized the growing importance of IT for business success early on and made a strategic decision to build its own IT capabilities, structures, and systems. Since 2013, Geis IT has been continuously certified according to the ISO 27001 information security standard. Geis Czech Republic and Quehenberger have also been certified to the ISO 27001:2022 standard since the end of 2025.
Relying on In-House IT Expertise from the Very Beginning
The Geis Group has grown significantly in recent years: more staff, new locations, and expansion into additional countries. To structurally reflect this growth in its communication, data processing, and logistics processes, Geis relies on IT solutions developed in-house and deployed company-wide and continues to refine them with its in-house experts to precisely meet the needs of each business unit. “One of the major strengths of our central organization is that we’re always involved in newly launched projects right from the initial idea, and thanks to our in-house expertise, we have very few external dependencies,” says Thomas Pentza, Head of Central IT, describing the benefits for the Geis Group. “We work with logistics specialists from the various departments to develop the desired solutions and ensure smooth operations during implementation – 24/7.”
“One of the strengths of the Geis organization is that the IT departments are involved in new projects from the very beginning.”
THOMAS PENTZA
Future CIO, Geis Group
THE HEART OF GEIS IT is the central data center
Autostore Concept Developed and Implemented for Customers
For example, in collaboration with Geis Contract Logistics, the IT department developed and implemented an Autostore concept on behalf of a client. The goal was to integrate a system at the Forchheim site that automatically stores and retrieves goods in containers. Connecting an Autostore system to an existing warehouse management system is a complex task, as thousands of transactions must be processed reliably and within tight time frames every day. As early as the planning phase for the new warehouse building, Geis IT created network diagrams and sized the infrastructure. The hardware and software to be procured were evaluated for IT security, data protection, and functional suitability. Based on this, a detailed investment plan was developed for the IT costs within the overall project, enabling transparency and cost control.
“Our IT department custom-programmed the complex interface for connecting the Autostore system,” reports Pentza. “For the workstations at the transfer points (ports) into and out of the Autostore, we developed, among other things, a supplementary web application with image display. Employees are guided by the system on where to place items in the container inserts so that work at these points can be carried out with maximum efficiency.” Before commissioning, extensive testing was conducted in collaboration with the line-of-business department and the customer to verify functionality, stability, and scalability. Based on the experience gained from the first project, a second, even larger system was able to go live shortly thereafter. The fact that the IT architecture had already been thoroughly documented and designed for scalability in the first project was a major help.
In-House System Infrastructure
Geis consistently relies on in-house solutions rather than external dependencies. The group-wide transport management system handles thousands of shipments every day – transparently, efficiently, and in real time. The Geis Warehouse Management Suite supplements standard software with customized functions and is currently in use in warehouses across Germany, Central, and Eastern Europe. Both systems are continuously refined by our own experts – closely aligned with the needs of our customers and our operational business.
IT Security Is a Top Priority
At Geis, information security isn’t a project – it’s an ongoing operation. The IT department in Germany has been ISO 27001-certified since 2013, and Geis Czech Republic followed suit at the end of 2025. The redundantly designed, high-availability data center guarantees full data sovereignty. Regular audits by independent auditors such as TÜV SÜD, along with clear governance and compliance structures, ensure this standard is maintained across the entire group.
24/7 Availability
Logistics never sleeps – and neither does Geis’s IT. A central help desk is available to all employees across the Group around the clock: whether for technical issues, setting up new workstations, or connecting new locations. Monitoring systems continuously oversee the entire IT infrastructure; anomalies are detected and resolved early on before they impact operations.
AI and Innovation
Geis and Quehenberger are actively advancing artificial intelligence – in scheduling, customer contact, warehouse optimization, and software development. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, AI applications are being tested and further developed. Quehenberger Intelligence (QI) is already supporting teams with routine tasks. The goal behind this is always the same: more time for what really matters – working for our customers. (see also pages 38/39)
Ongoing Development of Employees and Processes
“Our IT experts are all specialists in their respective fields,” says Pentza. “To maintain a high level of methodological and technical expertise in-house, we regularly invest in training and continuing education.”
The Geis Group’s innovation management is also professionally organized. Specialized IT departments work together with the business units to continuously review and evaluate innovations – from brainstorming to proof of concept. “It’s crucial that, as the IT division of a logistics service provider, we understand the core business and make solutions possible. As the Autostore example shows, we also integrate deeply into our clients’ processes. So IT is both: we are IT, and we are logistics.”