Success Story | Ultimate Products
Ultimate products: all aspects of the logistics process
The trading company Ultimate Products has been a major customer of De Boer Group for many years. Although it started with small-scale storage and transport of products, De Boer Group now handles all aspects of logistics for Ultimate Products. Bas Kwakkel, account and sales manager at De Boer Group, explains how the collaboration with Ultimate Products has expanded into an amazing partnership.
“We started with small-scale storage and transport for Ultimate Products,” says Bas. “The trading company was already using another company for the remaining logistics services. But about eight years ago, Ultimate Products asked if they could sit down with us. They were not satisfied with their current logistics service provider and wanted to have a look at what we could do for them.”
The complete logistics process
A key condition was that the logistics come under one roof. Personal contact and short lines of communication were also important principles. Another key condition was for the new logistics service provider to be able to grow alongside the company. Bas: “We could definitely meet all these conditions. Ultimate Products was surprised at our size and that we managed the complete logistics process so well. They really liked that we are a family business. After all, they are one themselves. It brings with it a certain way of working and involvement that really appealed to them. After some good conversations, the contract was signed.”
4PL
De Boer Group set up a number of projects to be able to properly handle all logistical aspects. “At that point, we were the only party that could handle all aspects of logistics completely ourselves and manage the entire supply chain,” Bas explains. “We were able to go the extra mile, kept lines short, were 100% involved and had one account manager who oversaw everything. Exactly what Ultimate Products wanted. ”
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“Our partnership with de Boer has been a crucial factor in allowing us to expand into mainland Europe. The culture, values and mindset of all the team, at all levels, are aligned with those of ourselves. It’s the people and their willingness to go the extra mile to help us achieve our goals that really make the partnership work. As we continue to grow our business we are confident de Boer have the model and scalability to grow with us’”
David Bloomfield,
Supply Chain Director, Ultimate Products
From supplier to partnership
Eight years later, the collaboration has grown into a partnership. Bas: “We are still very open with each other. We can say anything to each other in a very transparent way. Of course, sometimes things don’t always go so well, but we talk about it and then look at how we can or should improve. That level of transparency is important to ensure continued quality and simply works well for both parties.”
The importance of data integration
The challenges Ultimate Products faces also increasingly involve the use of data. “Data integration allows us to make much better predictions and respond to developments in a timely manner” says Bas. “Ultimate Products is also particularly strong in the area of data. In turn, their data help us to further optimise the logistics process. We look at questions like: Where will you be in six months? What problems could you run into? What are you doing in terms of growth? What developments might be of interest? How did it go in previous years? By continuously keeping an eye on these kinds of concerns, we can make a fairly secure forecast, which then makes the supply chain easier to control.”
Meeting expectations
Exactly as Ultimate Products envisioned, De Boer Group is growing with the company. Bas: “We have the manoeuvrability and flexibility to move with Ultimate Products, to scale up where necessary as well as to think along with them. Or as we prefer to say: we are big enough to cope, but small enough to care. That is exactly what we want to be for our customers.”
