PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INDUSTRY LEADERS BEARS FRUIT

One million: that's the number of carts filled with plants and flowers that Van Zaal Transport ships throughout the Netherlands each year. To optimise the complex freight planning process, the logistics services provider recently integrated its Transics fleet management system - including the mobile TX-SMART application - into the planning software from ORTEC. Van Zaal is the first customer in the bulk consignment transport segment to select an integrated solution of the Transport Initiatief (Transport Initiative), the Dutch collaboration agreement between four leaders in transport automation and optimisation.

Van Zaal Transport has been using Transics' on-board computers for many years now. "As a long-term customer of Transics, it seemed quite logical to select ORTEC planning software. We had full confidence in the integrated offering via the Transport Initiatief. Moreover, ORTEC proposed the most advanced planning solutions," said Merijn van Zaal, owner of Van Zaal. "Its planning suite comprises a very wide range of features."

BETTER SERVICES, MORE EFFICIENT PLANNING AND COST SAVINGS

"The real-time connection between the Transics on-board computers and the ORTEC planning software helps us improve our customer services, plan more effectively and cut costs," Van Zaal continues. He illustrates this with an example: "Just like every logistical service provider in the green sector, we handle a lot of returns: we deliver carts with plants and the carts come back empty. These empties are not considered as a planning flow in normal planning systems. ORTEC and Transics have ensured that we do get an overview of these flows, which helps us save costs: in the past we never asked any rental fee for carts that didn't come back, while now we do."

Merijn van Zaal: "The time limitation feature offers substantial added value too. The advanced planning possibilities in the ORTEC system allow us to apply time frames to, for example, certain locations in the city or for a customer who wants to get his goods at a specific time. If there is a delay, we immediately notice it thanks to the real-time connection with Transics. We can then inform the customer in due course, which helps improve customer satisfaction."

MOBILE INTEGRATION OF CHARTERS

Equally handy is Transics' mobile TX-SMART application that Van Zaal uses for subcontractors. Drivers can download the TX-SMART app onto their smartphone and then exchange information with the freight planners in the back office: trip or planning details, barcode scans, pallet information, details on damage sustained, pictures, digital signatures, etc. "The TX-SMART app is also seamlessly integrated into ORTEC's planning software, so that both the driver and the planner remain informed in real time, and our subcontractors are integrated into the logistics chain," Van Zaal explains. "Moreover, the TX-SMART pay-per-use model is very flexible: at the end of each month, we only pay for the days on which the drivers actually used the software."

QUICK OVERVIEW

By choosing ORTEC and Transics, Van Zaal Transport hopes it now has a multi-user, integrated solution that helps it plan more efficiently, deploying all its trucks to the max. Merijn van Zaal: "We often work with partial loads and everything we do is very ad hoc: not tomorrow or the day after that, but right away. It is therefore key to have an immediate overview."

TRUE SUPPORT

The Transport Initiatief welcomes Van Zaal as the first customer from the collective transport segment. "The implementation cycle was really short, thanks to the good cooperation with Van Zaal Transport, amongst many other factors," said ORTEC's Sales Manager Larry Diender. Account manager Russell Senden from Transics: "The project proves that we are ready to cater to the needs of the bulking transport segment. By integrating our solutions, we can really help carriers work more efficiently, which is a must in today's competitive market." Merijn van Zaal concludes: "We managed to finish the project in a very short time frame thanks to the incredible efforts of everyone involved. They all worked day and night, even in the weekends. Nothing was too much. The dedication of the project team was incredible!"

Van Zaal Transport focuses on transport, the laying-in of goods and storage for the horticultural sector. The logistics services provider ships goods between growers and (customers at) auctions for horticultural and fresh products to buyers throughout the Benelux, including many garden centres. Van Zaal Transport is renowned for the fast processing of orders, its exceptional level of service and flexibility and its keen prices. The company has a fleet of over 50 own trucks, which is extended in high season to 120 vehicles (rented, chartered). 8 freight planners are in charge of planning the flows (including returns). Every year, a million carts with plants and flowers are delivered to customers.
www.vzt.nl

ORTEC is one of the largest providers of advanced planning and optimisation solutions and services. ORTEC's products and services result in optimised trip and route planning, vehicle and pallet loading, workforce scheduling, delivery forecasting, logistics network planning and warehouse control. The company offers both stand-alone as well as custom-made and SAP® certified solutions, supported by strategic partners. ORTEC has over 1,750 customers worldwide, employs 700 employees and has regional offices in Europe, North and South America and the Pacific Region. More information:
www.ortec.com

Established in 1991, Transics International NV, develops and commercialises fleet management solutions for the transport and logistics sectors. Thanks to many years of experience, thorough R&D efforts and an intensive focus on the customer experience, Transics has become the leading European player in its market. Headquartered in Ypres (Belgium), Transics is active throughout Europe.

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