John Pronk Transport first to use new PackControl transport module
When John Pronk Transport B.V. was looking for a new software package to manage their empties flows, they talked to several suppliers. In PackControl's new transport module, they found everything they needed. Now that the company has been working with the package for a few months, we asked them how they like it.
As a specialist in complex logistics, John Pronk Transport mainly transports plants, flowers and other fresh products. From the Dutch towns of Avenhorn and Aalsmeer the company operates around 75 trucks of its own. In addition, it deploys charters, so that it regularly has more than 110 units on the road. Around 60% of their trips are to the UK and they also drive within the Benelux. ‘The customer is king’, they like to say and that means that John Pronk Transport pulls out all the stops to do a good job. A perfect packaging administration is indispensable for this.
Before coming into contact with PackControl, John Pronk Transport had already met with several suppliers of packaging registration software. None of them could offer the company the total package that it now has. “Our old software package was being phased out,” explains Robin Sjiew-a-Joen, TMS Coordinator at John Pronk Transport, “and its replacement doesn't work for us. From others we heard about PackControl.”
Robin has been involved throughout the implementation process and was the first to test the new transport module. Together with PackControl, he helped to refine the software. “We got along from the first conversation,” he says. “Their service is unique. They were open to our needs and didn't shy away from a discussion. That really helped us get to where we are today.”
In our industry, it is very important to be on top of things and to be able to act immediately. With PackControl this has only got better.
At the end of 2024, John Pronk Transport was the first to start using PackControl's new transport module. This extension to the existing PackControl software was developed specifically for transport companies, as their administrative needs differ from those of trading companies, producers and other parties that deal with returnable packaging on a daily basis.
“We really like it,” says Robin when we ask him about it. “There are four of us working on the packaging administration and this software really keeps us moving forward. In our industry, it is very important to be on top of things and to be able to act immediately. This has only got better.”
“For instance, we transport a lot of cc-trollies and there will always be differences between the administration and the reality. These discrepancies are now automatically marked as ‘Review Required’, so they are noticed immediately. In addition, we often have agreements with other parties, such as driving without responsibility for the exporter or grower, or charging daily rent for packaging. In PackControl, all this can be easily set up and automatically processed correctly. It is clearer than before and that gives us more insight.”
The company often works with charters, with which it also has to process balances correctly. In PackControl, they can easily specify agreements per trip so that the records are automatically correct. “Trip management is already very important to us as a transporter,” says Robin. “We can easily distinguish the unique trip numbers via the ‘Trips’ feature in PackControl. This means that all orders associated with a trip are automatically filtered out in a single screen.”
PackControl is a Dutch software product, developed from years of experience with the challenges of packaging registration. The programme is not only suitable for transport companies, but is also used by trading companies, growers and other companies that deal with returnable packaging on a daily basis.
At John Pronk Transport, the packaging management in PackControl pulls data from the company's own TMS, Transpas, and the drivers' on-board computers running MobiCoach. Robin tells us that this has made their work much more efficient. "Spring is a busy time and we also get a lot of new customers. This means we are constantly optimising. It's quite possible to set up new customers and our agreements with them ourselves. Ultimately, this means that we can offer a better service to our customers.
Robin is not just referring to the reduced error rate, but also to the many options the software provides. For example, PackControl offers extensive reporting features. If a John Pronk Transport driver delivers to a consignee for several customers, the balance overview can be broken down into quantities per customer. In addition, details such as the exporter’s own location codes and customer codes can be included. This makes the balance overviews clearer and easier to reconcile.
PackControl provides insight and that means that at John Pronk Transport they can take immediate action if they notice differences. Robin explains: “A trailer holds 43 trollies. If a driver makes a one-for-one exchange at the recipient, you’d expect 43 trollies to come back with the right number of plates. Because the on-board computer communicates directly with PackControl, we always have real-time information. So we can see immediately where the differences are. This allows us to do something about it.”
All in all, everyone at John Pronk Transport is very enthusiastic. When asked if they would recommend PackControl to others, Robin is clear: “Absolutely. To everyone we talk to. This is just a very complete programme. It really makes a difference to us.”
If you'd like to find out if PackControl is the right software for your returnable packaging administration, browse our website or plan a free demo. We'll be happy to show you how it works.
Photo's supplied by John Pronk Transport B.V.