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TAS-TMS IS THE ALL-IN-ONE TOOL FOR GROUP-GTSWKTS_17 Visuals 370x104cm.indd 2 30/10/15 14:49

Group-GTS is a family business that is growing thanks to motivated staff. In terms of its activities, the logistics provider is split into “container transport”, “FTL & Groupage”, “Inland terminals & Barging” and “Warehousing & Projects”.

The company operates four sites in Belgium and recently has been increasingly focusing on providing a wide array of value-added services. In the coming years the emphasis will also be on the offering of full-service activities with bespoke transport solutions.

GROUP-GTS

CHALLENGE

A single TMS suited to both container and curtainsider transport, is what Group-GTS was after. The search proved to be fairly easy after a brief inventory. Another challenge GTS faced was to simplify invoicing and planning processes.

SOLUTION

The TAS-tms transport management system was linked to topACCOUNT, the freight exchange platform Teleroute and Trimble on-board computers. All of this resulted in fewer manual operations.

MORE INSIGHT HOGERE OPBRENGST per gereden kilometer

IMPROVED EFFICIENCY in both consolidation journeys

and FTL shipments

MORE TIME for customers

TIME SAVINGwhen planning

journeys

TAS-TMS

TAS-tms is a Transport Management Solution for mid-sized carriers and freight forwarders to manage the entire transport process - from receiving the order, to scheduling, tracking and invoicing.

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TAS-TMS PROVIDES GROUP-GTS WITH A LOT MORE OVERVIEW AND ENABLES US TO PLAN MORE EASILY.

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For more than 20 years, Laakdal/Tessenderlo-based Group-GTS has been slowly developing into an increasingly comprehensive logistics provider. The company serves customers with smart solutions from the various Belgian logistics centres. Benny Meyen, Operations Manager, frankly admits that software plays an increasingly important role in this context. In 2015 GROUP-GTS implemented TAS-tms. With the migration to the new transport management system from Wolters Kluwer Transport Services, the logistics service provider said goodbye to a custom-made package.

An obvious example of the growth GTS has experienced is the takeover of TDS, or Transport and Distribution Swinnen Logistics, a few years ago. This Tessenderlo-based logistics provider runs the same TMS as GTS. Whilst GTS primarily handles container transport, TDS focuses on the transport of goods with the help of sliding tarp trailers. Meyen: “Our previous TMS offered more functionalities for container transport than for sliding tarp transport. The package was also up for replacement.” Due to the integration of TDS Logistics into Group GTS, the latter now runs an even wider network for FTL and LTL shipments in France, Germany and the Benelux.

TAS-TMS IS THE ALL-IN-ONE TOOL FOR GROUP-GTS: WITH 5 TO 10 CENTS MORE PROFIT PER KILOMETRE EFFICIENCY, ALSO THANKS TO THE TELEROUTE LINK, RESULTS IN MORE TIME FOR THE CUSTOMER

IT WAS THE CONVENIENT ORGANISATION OF THE PLANNING TOOL AND OUR STAFF’S OPINION THAT WERE DECISIVE IN OUR OPTING FOR TAS-TMS. WE NOW HAVE A CLEARER IMAGE OF OUR VEHICLES AND HOW WE CAN DEPLOY THEM IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS AND WEEKS.

EMPLOYEES HAD A SAY

The search for the transport management systems available on the market and the selection of TAS-tms from Wolters Kluwer Transport Services only took a few weeks.

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WE NOTICE THAT WE CHARTER MORE SHIPMENTS THROUGH TELEROUTE. AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE OUTSOURCE MORE, DUE TO THE INCREASED GRIP ON OUR ACTIVITIES WE WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

All in all, the implementation took nearly two months. The accounting software topACCOUNT, also from Wolters Kluwer Transport Services, was rolled out as well within this period. The results of the effort were immediately noticeable according to Meyen. “We are now operating a standard package in which all functionalities we need are included.” The Operations Manager is eager to sum up important aspects for GROUP-GTS: “Everything is in one environment, customer list registration, maintenance tool for the follow-up of the vehicle fleet, customer service functionalities for the forwarding of waiting hours and management tool in which it is clearly visible what de proceeds are of day-to-day activities.”

NUMEROUS STANDARD LINKS

It was not only the clear overview that prompted GROUP-GTS to choose TAS-tms according to Meyen. The standard links, the EDI connections with various other software packages, were also an advantage. GROUP-GTS already exchanges data through EDI with one customer, but if it is up to the Operations Manager many more will follow. The integrated data exchange reduces the number of human operations. The seamless integration with Teleroute’s freight exchange also saves time.

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WE ARE NOW OPERATING A STANDARD PACKAGE IN WHICH ALL FUNCTIONALITIES WE NEED ARE INCLUDED.

In the logistics provider’s daily practise the use of TAS-tms compared to the old package makes a world of difference. “All operations are centred in TAS-tms. If we record a route on Teleroute, we generate the mailing with instructions through TAS-tms to the transport company, including the task and as soon as the haulier accepts it, we receive a message. We also receive a message once the load is delivered. The same applies to our own drivers. Once they have completed an operation that is part of a transport, they record it on their on-board computer and a message immediately arrives in TAS-tms.” The parameters for this message flow can be made as specific in TAS-tms as the user wishes. “At GROUP-GTS we want to receive each document separately so that we can personalise service for each customer with the documents they require,” explains Meyen. This setup also enables GROUP-GTS to check whether the CMR has been properly scanned. “It is much easier for our customer service staff to check whether the scan has been properly completed.” One of the advantages of properly scanned documents, including waybills, is that the invoice can also be dispatched immediately.

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SPEED AND TIME SAVING

Meyen lists another aspect with which TAS-tms supports customer service staff: “All invoices are drawn up and dispatched in one batch. Two to three people used to be involved in these activities, now there is only one person. ” Speed and time saving were also recorded thanks to the TMS in planning activities and lead-times.

In planning the dispatchers also get a better picture of all planned journeys as they are clearly listed. This not only applies to FTL shipments, but also to consolidations. “The advantage of this overview is that we are able to consolidate journeys faster and better, which obviously results in efficiency. We didn’t used to be able to do so.” The result of the more efficient joint cargo can also be expressed in cold hard cash according to the Operations Manager.

BENEFITTING FROM THE GROUP

Despite the improvements made by GROUP-GTS, there are obviously goals the logistics provider aims to achieve in the near future. One of these is that all companies within the group, there are four of them, connect to a common freight exchange platform. Collaboration with the TAS-tms experts is excellent, Meyen points out. He is especially happy with the training options offered.

I ESTIMATE THAT THE PRICE PER KM WE ACHIEVE HAS INCREASED BY 5 TO 10 CENTS COMPARED TO THE TIME PRIOR TO THE INVESTMENT IN THIS TMS. AND THIS PROFIT MEANS MORE OF A MARGIN TO INVEST IN OTHER THINGS.

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ABOUT WOLTERS KLUWER TRANSPORT SERVICES

Wolters Kluwer Transport Services is a renowned developer and integrator of Transport Management Software (TMS) offered on the web, for all transport and logistic professionals. Headquartered in Brussels and with a global presence on all continents.

USERS

100.000 CONNECTED CARRIERS

40.000SHIPPING LOCATIONS

5.000EMPLOYEES 250

TRANSPORT ORDERS PER YEAR

30.000.000

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