Qargo and Alders Bulk Logistics: a lightning-fast implementation
What attracted us to Qargo, in addition to the technology, was the smooth, intuitive way of working”
The larger your fleet of vehicles, the greater the challenge of finding a TMS that makes it easy to manage the amount of trucks, trailers, and drivers. In 2024, the Altrea Logistics Group decided to look for a software solution that could support the group in this area, and IT Manager Thomas Havermans set his sights on Qargo. After Haesaerts Intermodal, Alders Bulk Logistics was the second company in the group to switch to Qargo. And this implementation went more smoothly than expected.
Alders Bulk Logistics, which specialises in transporting primary raw materials, waste materials, and hazardous goods, includes more than 120 vehicles, and just as many trailers and drivers. This is a significant amount to manage, and the parent company, Altrea Logistics Group, realised this last year.
Together with the team, Thomas Havermans looked at and compared various solutions on the market, looking for one TMS that met the needs of the group and the diverse activities of the various entities.
Ultimately, they chose Qargo, and less than two months after that decision, the implementation at Alders Bulk Logistics was complete, convincing management that they made the right decision. The other companies in the group will follow suit later this year.
Thomas said, “We were specifically looking for a software-as-a-service solution that could support Alders Bulk Logistics and the rest of the group. We were looking for modern technology, such as the task-oriented part of Qargo TMS and the use of AI to read documents, but above all, an innovative partner who could think with us and stay informed about technological developments.”
An implementation that goes faster than planned? Rare.
Alders Bulk Logistics is the second company in the group to use Qargo TMS, and the rest will follow later this year. “What attracted us to Qargo, in addition to the technology, was the smooth, intuitive way of working. It is easy to get people to work, and that is important to us. We have few people to manage the implementation, but the tool is intuitive, and the average person can use it after one day of training.” For the drivers, it’s even easier, Thomas knows, because they are trained in ten minutes.
The preparation for the implementation was done at Altrea itself: “We have set up the most important customers, prices, and master data, and there was not much more work to be done. We could link customers, products, and prices together and then made a small simulation for our employees to compare the existing package with the new package so that they could see that the work would be easier, but the results would be the same. When they felt ready for the switch, we switched to Qargo overnight.”
The entire process, from the start of the implementation to the live launch of Qargo at Alders Bulk Logistics, took one month. “It went very quickly,” Thomas said. “And our employees are satisfied. They find it very intuitive, although they actually expected to have to get used to it for a long time.”
Because the implementation went so smoothly, the group is ahead of the planned rollout timing. “We have already implemented Qargo at two companies in the group, when we actually only wanted to do one. That doesn’t happen often. Usually, you’re still working on the first one when you actually wanted to have three done, and now it’s the other way around,” Thomas laughed.
Of all the TMS’s in the market, we believe that this is the best one for the next ten years.”
The complexity lies in the quantity.
The process from order to invoicing, which is now fully managed by Qargo, consists of several clear steps for Alders Bulk Logistics. “We receive an order from a customer, electronically or via email, and create a transportation order. That order is then scheduled for the driver who is best suited for the job, and they receive the details via their onboard computer. The driver goes to the customer via the weighbridge, unloads and arranges the necessary documents. Then we check if everything went well and can proceed to invoice. The process is quite simple, but it’s the exceptions that often make it difficult. The complexity lies in the quantity: many orders, many drivers, many customers with their own needs and agreements regarding service and pricing, and especially many exceptions that can disrupt the process.
However, it turns out that Qargo is the perfect partner for handling this complexity. “We have finally found a system that we truly believe can serve the entire group, with a partner who is willing to listen and collaborate. Of all the TMS’s in the market, we believe that this is the best one for the next ten years,” he concludes.
We were looking for modern technology, such as the task-oriented part of Qargo TMS and the use of AI to read documents, but above all, an innovative partner who could think with us and stay informed about technological developments.”