Digitally transforming Van Group's logistics with a custom Freight Management System
Company
Country
Poland
Industry
Transportation
System
Freight management system
Executive summary
01
Client
Van Group, a prominent Polish company specializing in domestic and international road transport and freight forwarding.
02
The core challenge
Van Group's IT infrastructure was based on Oracle Forms, a solution that is decades old. This technology stack no longer met the business needs, especially in light of the plans to utilize a complex freight management system with powerful AI-enabled capabilities.
03
Solution delivered
Pretius designed and built a comprehensive, custom Freight Management System based on Oracle APEX. This web application replaced Oracle Forms, offering employees easy access to key data and allowing them to manage various aspects of their business, such as planning transport routes.
Key outcomes:
Powerful automation: Some processes, such as freight calculation and route planning, are fully automated, which has tangible business benefits (for example, quick freight calculations allow the company to instantly react to offers, and there’s less need to rely on the experience of drivers, since the software shows an optimal route).
Easy access to key data: Employees can access and manage data more easily and quickly than before. It means there are fewer mistakes, which can be very costly in the transportation business.
A Future-proof technology stack: Van Group can now innovate and improve their toolset without worrying that their legacy software will hold them back. The upgraded tech stack also enables the utlilization of the cloud and Machine Learning/AI capabilities.
Trained in-house team: As a result of our cooperation, the company also has an in-house team trained in the use of Oracle APEX.
Client background
Van Group is a well-established Polish logistics company with a strong reputation in the road transport and freight forwarding sector.
They manage a complex network of domestic and international shipments, coordinating between clients, carriers, and drivers to ensure timely and efficient delivery of goods.
Their business success depends on precise execution, effective cost management, and the ability to make quick, data-driven decisions in a fast-paced environment.
The business challenge: The Operational Risks of Business With a Huge Technological Debt
Van Group's IT infrastructure was based on Oracle Forms. While functional in the company's early days, this technology had become a significant operational liability, exposing the business to unnecessary risks and inefficiencies.
The primary business obstacles were:
Fragmented and unreliable data: The tools previously used by the client’s employees made it hard to get a single, unified view of the operation. This led to inconsistencies and generally low data quality.
Highly inefficient and error-prone manual workflows: The logistics process relied on manual data entry, which was not only incredibly time-consuming but also highly susceptible to human error, leading to incorrect pricing, missed shipments, or inaccurate invoices.
Van Group recognized that to scale their business and operate with the efficiency and control required in the modern logistics industry, they needed to replace their Oracle Forms-based system with a modern, centralized, and automated software solution.
The solution provided by Pretius
Van Group selected Pretius to architect and deliver a custom, end-to-end Freight Management System.
Technologies That Powered the Transformation
01
Oracle APEX
02
Oracle DB
The comprehensive solution delivered by Pretius was designed to solve every one of Van Group's challenges:
A centralized order management hub:
The new system provides a single place to manage the entire lifecycle of a shipping order. This includes capturing all necessary client and shipment details, assigning orders to specific carriers and drivers, and tracking the status of each shipment in real-time.
Automated freight calculations:
The solution delivered by Pretius automates freight calculations using a machine learning algorithm (for now, it still requires some human supervision, but that should change once sufficient data is gathered), allowing Van Group to instantly react to assignments posted on transport marketplaces such as TIMOCOM. This is particularly crucial in the fast-paced TSL industry, where the time it takes to respond to an offer is often the deciding factor.
Automated route planning:
The system automatically plans transport routes, reducing the need to rely on drivers' experience, as the software provides an optimal route. This makes it easier for people to drive in regions they are unfamiliar with.
Familiar UI:
We’ve worked closely with the client to ensure that the new, APEX-based solution won’t be too drastic a change, allowing them to adapt swiftly.
A secure, future-proof technology:
The Oracle APEX application provides secure, role-based access for all employees, ensuring that users can only see and interact with the information relevant to their jobs. Moreover, thanks to the upgraded tech stack, the company can utilize the cloud, scale its software solutions easily as it grows, and even implement Machine Learning/AI capabilities.
Trained In-house Team:
As a result of their cooperation with Pretius, Van Group’s in-house IT specialists have deepened their knowledge of Oracle APEX and Agile methodology, allowing them to maintain and improve their solution without outside help.
This custom-built solution completely replaced the cumbersome spreadsheet system, digitally transforming Van Group’s core operations.
Methodology
Agile
Delivery Time
6 years
Team
1 business analyst, 4 software developers
Measured outcomes and business impact
The implementation of the Freight Management System delivered profound and lasting benefits for Van Group.
Foundational operational improvements:
Automation of manual tasks: The system eliminates the need for manual data entry in many instances, freeing employees from tedious administrative work. The new solution also automates several tasks that were previously done manually, such as freight calculations and route planning.
A single source of truth: By centralizing all data in a single, web-based system, the company has ensured data integrity and consistency across its operations. Everyone is now working with the same, up-to-date information.
Reduced number of costly errors: The automation and increased data reliability have reduced the number of costly human errors.
Strategic and commercial value:
Increased business agility: Automated freight calculations enable Van Group to respond more quickly to market changes and assignments.
Technological independence: Van Group’s in-house team is capable of maintaining and improving the system without outside help.
A scalable foundation for growth: With a modern, scalable, and efficient system now at the core of their operations, Van Group is well-positioned to continue its growth without being constrained by an old, inefficient technology stack.
employees
Using the e-VAN system
years
Of partnership between VAN group and Pretius
locations
In Europe
Client testimonial
Adam Kasperowicz
CIO at VAN group
The new e-VAN system has become an innovative tool and work environment. The development team allows us to use the potential of the latest trends and technological solutions: web & mobile development, responsiveness, integrations, low-code, and cloud computing.
Conclusion
This case study is a clear demonstration of the transformative power of replacing Oracle Forms with a custom-built software solution based on a modern low-code platform.
By partnering with Pretius, Van Group was able to digitally re-engineer its core operations, moving from a high-risk, inefficient system to a streamlined, automated, and data-driven platform. The solution not only solved their immediate operational pains but also provided them with a strategic asset that delivers real-time control and a solid foundation for future growth.
Looking for a software development company?
Work with a team that already helped dozens of market leaders. Book a discovery call to see:
