Smarter planning and more efficient transport through data-driven route optimization

De Wit Transport

The challenge

De Wit Transport operates 350 trucks across Europe, which significantly increases the complexity of transport planning. Planners across teams needed a solution to plan more efficiently, anticipate future needs, and ensure continuity. The main challenges were:

User Interface: planners required a clear, user-friendly dashboard that automatically suggests routes.
Route Optimization: calculating the most efficient routes and combinations while considering volumes, time windows, and vehicle capacities.

Harborn was asked to serve as an innovation partner, building a digital foundation that enables De Wit Transport to operate more efficiently, intelligently, and at scale.

The solution

We developed the Intelligent Transport Platform, a flexible system that automates and optimizes route planning without requiring planners to abandon their familiar workflows.

By combining human expertise with data-driven insights, planners maintain control while algorithms provide smarter routing suggestions. This results in:

fewer empty kilometers;
higher load efficiency;
planning that is less dependent on individual experience.

350

trucks across Europe

About De Wit Transport

De Wit Transport is a family-owned company, active in logistics since 1958. What began as a regional transporter has grown into a full-service logistics provider with over 350 trucks. Daily operations include transporting flowers, plants, vegetables, fruit, and general cargo, both nationally and internationally. De Wit Transport has grown into a leading player in the logistics market, driven by their ambition to do more than transport goods, they aim to fully solve customers’ logistics challenges.

The project approach

The collaboration began with a hackathon, where Harborn and De Wit Transport explored how data-driven transport optimization could deliver the most impact. Processes were mapped, bottlenecks identified, and quick wins highlighted, showing where planners performed most manual work and where algorithms could add immediate value. From these insights, we co-created a business plan and vision for the Intelligent Transport Platform. The first project phase focused on optimizing load per kilometer within planning groups, laying the foundation for future expansion.

Engaging end users throughout the process

At Harborn, we leverage 25 years of digital transformation experience, but user involvement remains essential. Planners, who work with the system daily, actively tested the application. Feedback was used to iteratively improve the platform, resulting in a solution that aligns perfectly with day-to-day operations and is ready for further optimization.

Data-driven results

The first phase already delivers clear results: planning processes are faster, and the deployment of vehicles and drivers is better balanced. More efficiently designed routes lead to fewer kilometres driven, resulting in both cost savings and a reduction in CO? emissions.

The tool supports planners by automatically handling routine and complex calculations, allowing them to focus on oversight, coordination, and strategic decision-making. Their expertise and experience remain essential; the tool does not replace them, but enhances their work and creates space for clarity, calm, and forward-looking planning.

With this foundation in place, the system can be further expanded in the coming phases, for example with advanced route optimisation, capacity forecasting, and smart fuel strategies. These solutions not only help reduce costs but also optimise revenue, support planners in their daily work, and prepare De Wit Transport for the future.

Technologies:

Python
VROOM
VueJS
FastAPI
Nuxt

Terry

Delivery Manager

Curious how smart software can strengthen the expertise within your team?

Let’s explore the possibilities together!

+31 10 436 50 50 terry.spoon@harborn.com