Jacobs Transport — Definitely Better on the Move

Introduction

Jacobs Transport, a renowned road carrier from Genk with a history that dates back to 1934, is facing an enormous transformation in the modern transport sector. In a market where every euro counts and every empty kilometer generates extra costs, Jacobs Transport has opted for an innovative business intelligence solution: the InsightData Transport App. This case study explains how the collaboration with InsightData led to more efficient planning, improved margins and a measurable increase in profitability — all under the motto Definitely Better.

Customer profile and challenges

Jacobs Transport is active in Belgium, northern France and southern Netherlands and serves various sectors such as the steel industry, petrochemicals, automotive and food industries. With a fleet of more than 100 trucks and an annual distance of seven million kilometres, efficiency is crucial in an industry where margins are extremely tight.

The implementation of the business intelligence solution focused on several key challenges:

• Data analysis based on outdated methods: Until recently, analyses were carried out with Excel, where data was often a whole month behind. This made it difficult to respond quickly and accurately to operational bottlenecks.

• Lack of automation: The existing TMS system TAS (TMS: Transport Management System) although it provided a complete overview of the operational data, it lacked automation and logic in reporting.

• Critical cost items: In particular, empty kilometers and waiting hours were a significant cost. A systematic, data-driven approach was needed to reduce these inefficiencies and increase profitability.

Wouter Hertogs, Process Manager at Jacobs Transport, noted that the implicit knowledge of the planners — who operated based on experience for years — had to be made objective and measurable in order to achieve a sustainable improvement in business operations.

Implementing the InsightData Transport App

In search of a solution to these challenges, the Microsoft Power BI platform was initially considered. However, Power BI did not appear to offer the desired level of automation and ease of use. Jacobs Transport then became acquainted with InsightData via TAS-TMS, the supplier of the existing system. The click was there immediately.

Collaboration and approach

InsightData quickly identified which KPIs were most important to Jacobs Transport. In consultation with Wouter Hertogs, an extensive menu with possible indicators was presented. Ultimately, it was decided to focus on five core parameters:

• Weekly profitability: At both customer and group levels.

• Number of empty kilometers driven: A crucial factor in the cost structure.

• Number of waiting hours and invoiced waiting hours: To identify planning inefficiencies.

The first step was a demo where InsightData immediately started working with Jacobs Transport's existing data. Within a short time, a dashboard was shown that provided insight into the current operational situation. This dashboard formed the basis for the final implementation, linking the existing data from TAS to the InsightData Transport App. Meanwhile, Jacobs Transport has exchanged TAS with Qargo, for which InsightData subsequently also made the connection.

Technical development and automation

The switch to the InsightData Transport App meant not only taking over data, but also a profound transformation in how data was analyzed. Where manual Excel analyses were previously common, the Transport App provides an automated and continuous flow of information. This enables planners and managers to:

• Get real-time insight: Looking directly back on the past week, so that deviations can be noticed and corrected more quickly.

• Increasing efficiency: By processing data automatically, more time is freed up for strategic decisions.

• Identifying trends and patterns: The App provides alerts in case of anomalies, so that future errors can be prevented.

The close cooperation between InsightData's data experts and the IT manager at Jacobs Transport ensured that the implementation went smoothly. The approach was characterised by personal commitment — a click that was essential to the success of the project.

Results and benefits

The implementation of the InsightData Transport App has had a measurable impact for Jacobs Transport. Thanks to automated reports and real-time insights, the company is able to structurally reduce operational costs. The most important advantages at a glance:

• Profitability increase: Thanks to the accurate monitoring of costs and revenues, unprofitable trips can be identified and adjusted more quickly. This has led to a direct increase in margins.

• Cost savings on empty kilometres: By optimizing the trip planning, the number of empty kilometers is significantly reduced. As a result, transport costs are falling and profitability is increasing.

• Improved planning and responsiveness: With the ability to look back on a weekly basis, planners can respond more quickly to bottlenecks and take targeted actions.

• Increased efficiency: The automation of data analysis reduces the administrative burden and ensures that knowledge that was previously in the head is now objectively available to the entire organization.

“Thanks to this data-driven approach, we can now focus on the quality we want to deliver in road transport. That is the core of our business and remains the case. However, we are now also supporting them with insights from our figures.” - Wouter Hertogs, Process Manager

This testimonial underlines how the implementation of the Transport App was not only a technological upgrade, but also a strategic step towards more efficient operations.

Conclusion and learning points

The collaboration between Jacobs Transport and InsightData has proven that an innovative business intelligence solution within the transport sector can make a difference. With the InsightData Transport App, Jacobs Transport has:

• A sustainable improvement in operational efficiency achieved.

• Immediate cost savings and an increase in profitability achieved.

• Laid the basis for a forward-looking, data-driven approach in their business operations.

This case study highlights that even in a traditional and competitive sector such as road transport, innovation and automation are essential for continued success. The click between Jacobs Transport and InsightData is at the heart of this transformation: a collaboration that leads to better insights, faster decision-making and ultimately a higher quality of service.

Definitely Better — That's InsightData's promise. For other companies that want to optimize their operational processes and harness the power of data, this case study offers an inspiring example of how a data-driven approach leads to tangible results.