The current crisis impressively demonstrates the central role that logistics services play for the economy and society. Hospitals, supermarkets and other facilities that are important for public supply must be supplied despite restrictions. The greater the pressure, the more important it is that the gears mesh smoothly. Optimized route planning is a key to success here. Krummen Kerzers AG has relied on our transport management software (TMS) WinSped for years.
Refrigerated transport is a particular challenge for many logistics companies. At container terminals, there is not much time for transshipment if sensitive goods such as perishable food or temperature-sensitive medicines are not to be endangered. The same applies to transport, which requires the right vehicles and the right know-how. Krummen Kerzers AG, which specialises in Europe-wide food and pharmaceutical transports, relies on WinSped for support.
“With today’s volume of orders and the diverse requirements a quick adjustment of the schedules is crucial”, explains Peter Krummen, managing director at Krummen Kerzers, and adds: “Not every software allows short-term reactions when something changes in the operating procedure”. The healthcare sector in particular is subject to strict legal requirements, but these are constantly changing. In the search for a solution that allows maximum flexibility, the Swiss company came across our software in 2015. “Our telematics provider had recommended WinSped to us because the existing interfaces of both systems enabled a problem-free interaction”, says Krummen.
Individual connection thanks to modular architecture
Krummen Kerzers uses different modules of our software. These include invoicing, planning, cargo transport, order processing or document management. “Thanks to the extensive portfolio, we were able to put together a demand-oriented product that precisely reflects our planning conditions,” explains the managing director. In the meantime 18 employees at four locations work with WinSped, who process around 150,000 orders per year.
The clients of the logistics service provider also profit from WinSped: “For the data import and export there are numerous interfaces which allow an exchange with different systems of our customers”, explains Krummen. Orders or invoices can be received and sent electronically. In addition the companies can view their order status or current tour data via real-time tracking. “Unfortunately, the web application is not yet being used by our customers to the extent that we would like,” says Krummen.
Simple workflow from storage to transport
Therefore, most orders still reach the forwarding agency by telephone or fax. The document management system records the data electronically and passes them on to the planning department. Many loads are picked, packaged or labelled on site, because Krummen Kerzers also offers warehousing and value added services. For cargo transports WinSped automatically calculates the weight and passes the values directly to the invoicing. Unnecessary waiting times are thus avoided. Finally the drivers receive the orders and delivery notes digitally via telematics.
If the transports are on the road the disposition is kept up to date through the telematic link in WinSped. More than 100 trucks are integrated into the system at Krummen Kerzers, whose position data and route progress are synchronised in real time. In this way the dispatchers can instruct the most effective route and precisely predict when a load will arrive at its destination. “The system also calculates driving and rest times, optimises route sequences and avoids empty runs. This allows us to plan in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner,” says Krummen. Customers also get a live insight into all relevant shipment data, for example the complete documentation of the cooling system.