Tailor-made digitalisation strategy

inTime recognised early on that the increasing pace of digitisation in the logistics industry required open strategies and strategic partnerships in the field of digitisation. Holger Siegmann, Head of Project Management and Digitalisation at inTime, explains: "Originally, most companies in the industry relied on monolithic digital structures. But the rapid development shows that you have to break up this structure if you don't want to lose touch. It is far more important to select and connect those IT services, platforms and management systems that provide the most value. The resulting IT architecture is made up of combined microservices. This is exactly what we do at inTime. We partner with the best solution providers. This ensures that our service can draw on the best digital tools and applications in all areas. Overall, we have a digital strategy which is tailored to the individual needs of inTime.“ 

A recent example: Newtron

In the area of customer enquiries, the Newtron trading platform has emerged as one of the leaders. "When it became apparent that the number of requests via the Newtron platform was growing, we responded quickly and said that we needed an interface and got in touch with Newtron," explains Steffen Roloff, Head of IT Software Development at inTime. Especially in the area of express logistics, mere minutes between enquiry, quotation and order processing can make all the difference.

Thanks to the direct interface to Newtron, inTime employees can now work in their own ERP system when accepting orders via Newtron, without any data disruption. In addition, many sources of error are eliminated by automating manual steps in the order process. This means that orders are processed faster, safer and more relaxed. Steffen Roloff, Head of IT Software Development at inTime, explains: "Previously, colleagues had to actively retrieve the accumulated order data from Newtron. Now this data flows directly into our ERP system without any delay. In addition, the price quotation can now also be reported from the inTime ERP system, and the supplier surcharge that follows is also fed back into the system. Meanwhile, our employees simply stay in the familiar working environment of their own ERP and save themselves the trouble of switching back and forth between ERP and Newtron. This is convenient, saves time and avoids manual transfer errors". By opening up the ERP to Newtron, inTime saves valuable time on every single order.

A monolithic digital structure plus manual dial-in to the Newtron trading platform would be a huge disadvantage, with frequent data breaks that would not only waste time but also create many sources of error. Such examples are being seen across entire supply chains, from connectivity with freight hubs to visibility solutions and automated digital payments. The integration of the best providers of the necessary micro-services is what makes inTime an agile provider of express logistics services. 

Newtron has already increased order volume

inTime is becoming more agile as a whole as a result of its digitisation strategy, but also as an individual investment the interface to the Newtron trading platform is paying off: Thanks to the automation of the interface, around five to ten minutes of manual processing time are now saved for each individual order via Newtron, estimates Holger Siegmann, head of project management and digitisation at inTime. "Now the request process via Newtron is just as agile for us as our special deliveries. That makes us a bit faster. And that makes us just as happy as our customers," says Holger Siegmann. The time saved is also reflected in the already increased orders received. Relieved of manual tasks, inTime employees have more time for their core business: planning and managing express shipments and other services worldwide.