How Simon Loos and DDBM are Shaping the Future of Logistics Planning

From Operational Support to Strategic Advisor

In the early years of the partnership, DDBM primarily supported Simon Loos's then-compact data team with project execution. Since then, that team has grown to seven specialists (Data Analysts, Business Analysts, and Data Engineers), and DDBM’s role has shifted toward being an advisory and inspiring partner.

Wesley, BI Manager at Simon Loos, summarizes the collaboration:

"DDBM is a reliable partner for us that not only assists with technical challenges but also offers an active community. The inspiration we gain there translates directly into value for our business."

Harmonia: Innovation in Operations

One of the most recent projects is Harmonia. This is not a standard dashboarding project, but a fundamental integration between Simon Loos's source systems and the Optiflow planning environment.

By utilizing Alteryx, DDBM supported the setup of a Proof of Concept (PoC) for delivering the data, such as vehicle and personnel information, required for automated planning. This resulted in:

• Solving an increasingly complex planning puzzle: Planners are supported in processing a growing number of variables, ranging from emission zones and delivery windows to the personal preferences of drivers.
• From Proof of Concept to functional solution: The success of the initial pilot clarified exact requirements, allowing Simon Loos to build a solution that aligns perfectly with daily operations.

Insights into Consumption Data

Earlier in the partnership, DDBM supported Simon Loos in achieving detailed insights into their operational data. Through the development of a specific dashboard, fuel consumption for the entire fleet, down to the individual vehicle level, is now fully transparent for the organisation.

With this dashboard, fleet management can intervene directly by comparing realised consumption against forecasts. Simon Loos no longer needs to manually collect and filter data; they now have a ready-to-use overview that is immediately applicable to daily business operations.

The Value of the DDBM Community

The collaboration goes beyond technology alone. As part of the DDBM community, Simon Loos participates in round-table sessions where they brainstorm with other data-driven organisations.

This exchange of knowledge leads to tangible results. Wesley cites an insight regarding automated migrations as an example:

"By learning from best practices within the DDBM network, we found a way to automate the migration of dashboards from test to production. This saves us up to 3 hours per dashboard."

Conclusion

The partnership between Simon Loos and DDBM delivers concrete results. With Harmonia, the complex planning puzzle has been translated into a solution that accounts for variables such as time windows and driver preferences. The fleet dashboard enables management to steer operations effectively by comparing actual usage against forecasts. Furthermore, thanks to the DDBM community, 3 hours are saved per dashboard migration. Together, we continue to build an efficient logistics chain.