Intuitive, easy, cloud-based – and it just makes everything go faster.
— Team Lead, Transport Planning, Link-Up
About Link-Up
Link-Up is an express courier specialised in time-critical deliveries from 1 gram up to 14 tonnes. The team runs direct-to-door jobs and multi-stop routes (think food-box rounds), with specialist handling for fragile consignments, ADR/hazardous goods, and animal shipments, both live or specimen. Backed by a diverse fleet and a “move fast, handle with care mindset”, Link-Up gets urgent cargo where it needs to be – quickly, safely, and without fuss.
How they found Qargo
Like many operators, the Link-Up team had outgrown their previous TMS. Development had slowed, new features meant bolt-ons for basic improvements, and day-to-day tasks were lagging.
“Our management started looking for something new and crossed paths with Qargo”, Maarten Defraeye, Team Lead for transport planning explained. “After a few demos it was clear, it felt like the right fit – modern, web‑based, and fast to use both in the office and at home.”
“It’s easy with Qargo, and we gain time from it.”
The challenge
Before Qargo, everyday workflows were slowed by an outdated system:
- Order entry was manual, time-consuming and repetitive
- Invoicing runs were slower than the business needed
- The old platform felt “old and laggy” and wasn’t built for flexible, remote access
- Paper‑heavy processes around CMRs and trip documentation
- Teams relied on extra spreadsheets to bridge gaps
In short: too much manual effort, not enough speed.
“Our previous system was outdated. It needed add-ons for everything, and it just wasn’t fast enough.”
The solution
Link‑up switched to Qargo TMS to speed up planning and admin while keeping control of specialist, time‑critical work.
Replacing their legacy TMS with a modern, cloud-based platform that’s quick to learn and faster to use brought many changes.
What’s changed?
- Faster order entry with AI and email workflows, plus reusable templates for regular transport orders cuts repetitive input and speeds up job creation
- Outlook side-panel converts emails straight into orders and keeps every reply linked to the right job
- Modern planning board with clear visual cues and live map view of vehicles
- Digital documents & CMR capture via the mobile app – instant retrieval when customers ask for signed paperwork
- Real-time planning board & live map for a clear, visual view of what’s where
Customer portal rolled out to a major client for live status and ETAs which results in fewer “where is it?” calls
“I like the AI, but the Outlook side pane is my favourite – you can go straight from an email to an order, and follow‑ups are automatically tied to the right job.”
Integrations
Qargo’s onboarding team pre-prepared data from spreadsheets and set up the core integrations. “They did most of the heavy lifting. It was smooth sailing from the start.”
– Accounting: Exact Online
Customs agent: Data and setup handled during onboarding to streamline hand‑offs
The onboarding experience
Link-Up went live in January 2024. Qargo’s onboarding lead Tom was on-site through testing and the first days in production.
“Tom spent a few days with us, showed us the sandbox, and stayed with us the first days in production to solve things as they came up. We didn’t lose anything in the migration.”
- Zero data loss during migration
- Hands-on support on the floor for day-one issues
As a young, tech-savvy planning team, we picked it up quickly.
“Qargo is intuitive. Spend a few hours in it and you find your way.”
The results
- ✅ Faster order entry & planning: everyday admin cut by a few hours each week
- ✅ Recurring work, done in clicks: 1–2 hours saved per month using templates for regular transports
- ✅ Quicker invoicing turnaround compared to the old system
- ✅ Instant document retrieval: signed CMRs available digitally – no more hunting through paper stacks
- ✅ Happier customers: portal access and clearer live status reduce inbound queries
- ✅ Work from anywhere: web-based access makes it easy to check jobs outside the office
“It’s intuitive and easy. We spend less time on the things that used to take ages, it just goes faster now.”
Why it matters
In time‑critical transport, speed and accuracy are everything. Automation, live visibility and digital paperwork don’t just shave minutes – they compound into hours every week. For operators juggling ad-hoc runs, regular routes and sensitive consignments, a modern TMS is how you scale without piling on admin.
What’s next?
Link-Up is continuing to expand how they use Qargo:
- WhatsApp messaging pilot to streamline driver to planning/customer comms
- Rate cards for regulars (“stopples”) moving to fully automated pricing in Qargo
Final thoughts
“If you’re considering it: Qargo is intuitive, easy, cloud-based – and it helps you work faster. For us, it’s made day-to-day planning, invoicing and document handling a lot smoother.”