Digital Logistics Solution

Flat Logistics Application (FLAPP)

Mendix application provides Voorbij Prefab with concrete insight into their storage and production capabilities

Increased demand required better management of storage areas

Voorbij Prefab, part of the TBI Group, is an innovative producer of sustainable precast concrete products. Due to demand from the market, Voorbij Prefab was able to increase their production. As a result, storage areas were regularly fully stocked and huge slabs of concrete needed to be stored on adjacent land. Another challenge was the lack of insight into the number of ‘flats’ that were in use in the storage fields. Flats are plates on which the concrete elements are placed. Sometimes it wasn’t clear which flats were loaded with slabs of concrete. Which meant that drivers took too long to locate their cargo in the storage area and the costs of renting flats couldn’t be checked against actual data.

Efficient management of the available storage areas became of even greater importance. The existing, often manual processes proved to be insufficient, which lead to disruptions in production. In a few cases, it even was necessary for the production to be halted all together, which compromised delivery reliability which Voorbij Prefab is known for in the industry.

Mapping the entire logistics process

To further digitize Voorbij Prefab’s business process Bizzomate created a Mendix application called Flat Logistics Application (FLAPP). The entire logistics process was mapped, from the moment the flatbed trailer arrives, to the moment the correct cargo is picked up.

The logistics planner monitors the process on a dedicated responsive desktop app. The planner always knows which product is stored on a specific flat, how much stock is actually stored and how many flats are still empty. Besides that he or she can monitor the status of outgoing freight and validate whether freigt is dry and complete onto one flat.

A much better digital process in just eight weeks

It took only four sprints (eight weeks in total) by two experienced Mendix developers to create an application with great business value for Voorbij Prefab. By using the digital storage area logistics planners have a clear view of the available space and drivers spend less time when they pick up their cargo. Voorbij Prefab instantly created a clear view into the number of flats needed, and they are now able to make better choices to prevent factory shutdowns due to a congested storage area.