NORDFROST has been handling transports with WinSped for 20 years
NORDFROST GmbH & Co KG, a leading company in frozen food logistics, has been working successfully with LIS Logistische Informationssysteme GmbH for (over) two decades. The implementation and continuous development of the WinSped transport management system (TMS) plays a key role in optimising the company’s transport and logistics processes. With around 2,200 employees and 40 frozen food locations nationwide, NORDFROST is a major player in the industry – with high demands on seamless transport logistics.
NORDFROST was founded in 1975 by Horst Bartels and has continued to develop ever since. The transformation from a pure cold storage business to comprehensive transport logistics began in 2003, when the company increasingly focussed on door-to-door transport services. Today, the refrigerated logistics expert transports between 10,000 and 12,000 consignments a day – from small boxes to entire lorries – which requires a precisely planned process chain.
“As we grew, the complexity of our logistics processes increased,” explains Lars Gelhausen, Head of Transport Logistics (processes & Training) at NORDFROST GmbH & Co. KG. “Especially as meeting standards and delivery deadlines is all the more important for temperature-controlled transport,” he continues. In order to be one of the quality leaders in the market and for the handling of groupage goods, which is NORDFROST’s core business, a high-performance TMS was essential.
The decision in favour of WinSped
NORDFROST has been using WinSped since the early 2000s, even before Gelhausen joined the company in 2007. At that time, the processing of scheduling and freight invoicing in one programme was convincing. Since then, the team has continuously intensified its collaboration with LIS and, in addition to WinSped, also uses the online logistics portal WebSped, which subcontractors and customers can use to call up information on their orders and enter orders themselves. “For us, it was and still is crucial that LIS was prepared to customise its software to our specific requirements,” says Gelhausen. This also includes implementing features that are developed specifically for NORDFROST in close dialogue.
One order number for all processes
One example of the joint further development of the TMS is the conversion of order numbers for NORDFROST. “In the past, different departments and sub-processes in the supply chain always assigned new order numbers, which led to errors and confusion,” explains the Head of Transport Logistics. Today, each transport is assigned an order number that remains consistent across all stations to ensure transparency and efficiency. “This means we don’t have to adapt changes individually in each step, but they are adopted in real time and error-free for all departments and processes.”
Continuous optimisation and training
A significant part of Lars Gelhausen’s work involves optimising work processes at NORDFROST and organising training for employees. Since spring 2023, the focus has been on restructuring internal processes and providing comprehensive training for employees so that they can familiarise themselves with them. This is not only about working with the WinSped software, but also about all transport logistics processes that are linked to it.
Implementation of the graphical disposition
“The visual planning system that we are currently testing will make a major contribution to our reorganisation and promises considerable efficiency gains,” reports Gelhausen on the ongoing project. LIS only recently introduced the new module, which is intended to replace the still rather rigid, consumption-controlled scheduling (VB Dispatching) and enable more flexibility, clarity and forward-looking planning in day-to-day work.
Logistics in transition
NORDFROST is about to finalise the integration of graphical scheduling in WinSped, which is currently still being tested. This innovation should pave the way for even more efficient logistics processes. “We are excited about the performance improvements that await us in transport planning,” says Gelhausen. The scripting engine – i.e. the ability to make your own adjustments in WinSped – is also an exciting feature that gives the specialist for temperature-controlled transport more room for manoeuvre in logistics planning.
Joint further development
The benefits that NORDFROST derives from its long-standing partnership with LIS are numerous. The company particularly appreciates the open communication channel and the well-documented collaboration. “The close coordination with our customer advisor in LIS Premium Support enables us to react quickly to current challenges,” says Gelhausen. “We can address any issues that arise freely and at any time.”
“We are continuing on this path with LIS,” concludes Gelhausen. With WinSped, NORDFROST not only has a powerful and forward-looking tool for logistics management at its disposal, but also a partner that the company has been able to count on for over 20 years.
