Air freight presents a similar challenge. A consignment arrives at Schiphol or Brussels Airport and needs to be forwarded as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the paperwork must be in order, the goods must be available, and drivers must be ready at the right time.
Behind every delivery lies a supply chain comprising dozens of links. How do you ensure that they all fit together seamlessly? And who keeps track of everything when the schedule changes?
From arrival to final destination
International freight flows require more than just transport. As soon as air or sea freight arrives, a process begins in which customs formalities, transport, warehousing, transhipment and distribution must be closely coordinated.
Some consignments must go directly to the recipient. Other goods are first stored, redistributed or combined with other consignments. Sometimes speed is crucial, whilst for other assignments flexibility or the efficient distribution of goods is key.
At Bos Logistics, we bring these activities together. From our sites at Schiphol, in Rotterdam and at Brucargo near Brussels Airport, we handle the logistics surrounding air and sea freight. With services including container trucking, road transport, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution, we can coordinate the various stages of the process.
This offers customers the opportunity to entrust their goods flow to a single logistics partner – a partner who understands the various processes, ensures consistency and works with them to identify the most suitable approach.
A single partner overseeing the entire planning process
Suppose a container becomes available later than expected. The planned transport needs to be adjusted, the warehouse must take the new arrival time into account, and the consignee wants to know when the goods will be delivered.
When each activity is organised by a different party, such a change can require a considerable amount of coordination. After all, every link in the chain has its own schedule and responsibilities.
By bringing together various logistics services, we create more scope to view the process as a whole. Our operational teams and branches work closely together to coordinate transport, storage and distribution. In doing so, we take into account the characteristics of the goods, the available capacity and the agreements made with the customer.
For freight forwarders and shippers, this means fewer individual points of contact and a clearer overview. They can turn to a single partner for a range of logistics services, whilst we ensure that the relevant processes are seamlessly integrated.
And that is perhaps the greatest benefit of a comprehensive logistics service: the customer has less to worry about regarding everything that happens between arrival and delivery.
Smart logistics starts with good information
Alongside lorries, warehouses and staff, information is playing an increasingly important role in logistics. An up-to-date shipment status, a correct transport order or a document made available in good time can make the difference between a smooth handover and an unnecessary delay.
That is why we are investing in digitalisation and data-driven working practices. We use EDI connections to exchange information between our systems and those of our customers. Digital consignment notes, electronic signatures and document management help to make data available more quickly and reduce manual tasks.
Through our digital customer portal, customers can track their shipments, view estimated delivery times and access documents. This gives them greater insight into their goods flows and enables them to better align their own processes accordingly.
We are also implementing artificial intelligence (AI) where it can further enhance our services. In pilot schemes and our initial projects, we are already seeing how AI technology helps us analyse data and support logistics processes.
The possibilities are promising, but require a careful approach. Logistics remains a dynamic environment in which experience, expertise and personal contact are indispensable. It is precisely the combination of people, reliable data and smart technology that helps us to work ever more effectively.
Working more efficiently, with an eye to the future
A well-organised logistics chain also offers opportunities to operate more sustainably. By combining goods flows intelligently, making better use of transport capacity and planning journeys carefully, we can minimise unnecessary kilometres and inefficient movements.
At Bos Logistics, we also invest in cleaner transport, including electric lorries and alternative fuels. The most suitable solution depends on the route, the type of goods and the practical possibilities.
Digitalisation also plays a key role here. Greater insight into goods flows and performance helps us to identify opportunities for improvement and make informed decisions. In this way, we are working step by step towards ever more efficient, smarter and more sustainable logistics services.
It’s the overview that makes the difference
Back to the container in Rotterdam. The goods have now been processed and are on their way to their destination in Belgium. For the recipient, the most important thing is that the delivery takes place as agreed and that the location of the consignment is clear.
Behind this seemingly simple delivery, therefore, lies a whole organisation, in which every link in the chain has its own function and every handover requires careful coordination.
With our experience in handling air and sea freight, our locations across the Benelux and our investments in technology and sustainability, we bring all these activities together into a single, coherent end-to-end solution, making us your logistics partner who keeps track of everything for you.