.
GDP+ digitalisation project already finished in 2017
The GDP+ digitalisation project, the name of which is derived from the Good Distribution Practices for pharmaceutical products (GDP) specified by the EU, will take place in three steps. “First, we will eliminate all remaining manual data entry steps and install a standardised tamper-proof data and shipment flow along all transport systems and product groups, which enables us to provide information within one system, fully transparent and almost in real-time. Finally, we will certify this unique system as a whole, thus making it verifiable at any time and providing the basis for its continuous improvement.” As a result of the digitalisation project, trans-o-flex customers will be able to get all relevant information about their shipments in one system, even if the shipments belong to two different temperature ranges and are, for reasons of transport optimisation, forwarded in two separate networks.
All trans-o-flex networks exclusively with active temperature control
The conversion of all of the trans-o-flex network’s logistic activities to full active temperature control is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. “Everybody who uses trans-o-flex’ services can rely on active temperature control in the future and, upon request, will also get detailed documentation”, explains Frank Iden. The reason for this is that the ambient premium service is increasingly becoming the standard solution for the transportation of pharmaceuticals. “During the first six months of this year alone, our ambient volumes have increased by approximately 20 percent. Other customers have already announced their changeover. In all conurbations, the number of ambient shipments has reached an enormous level so that it is reasonable to use special vehicles and set up special delivery routes mainly for pharmaceutical products.” Therefore, continuous investments will be made in the delivery of ambient shipments and, thus, in additional fully temperature-controlled vehicles. By the end of this year alone, it is planned to procure another 70 vehicles.
Today, the fleet of special vehicles of the ambient network initiated in October 2014 consists of approximately 190 thermos trailers, 85 fully air-conditioned lorries, 40 fully temperature-controlled transporters as well as 1,550 thermos boxes installed in conventional transporters. With the new vehicles, the capacity for deliveries in the temperature range between 15 and 25 °C, in comparison with the box solution, will rise by a multiple.
At the same time, trans-o-flex also increases its capacities in the temperature-controlled transhipment. To this end, the number of ambient hubs will be increased gradually. Already in this month, the transhipment centres in Hamburg, Berlin, Dortmund, Stuttgart and Munich will be put into operation as new ambient hubs. “This step enables us to increase the capacity for ambient goods and makes it possible for us to better allocate the shipment volumes to the different centres of the network.”
“This strategy makes it possible for trans-o-flex to optimally adjust its services to the needs of the pharmaceutical industry as its core business and to consistently align its systems to the high requirements of the pharmaceutical companies”, explained Iden to the customers in Heidelberg. “And this will enable us to strengthen our position as the leading logistic partner for the pharmaceutical industry.”
According to Iden, however, not only customers in the pharmaceutical industry will benefit from the conversion. “Customers that commission us to transport their top-quality products, such as for example cosmetics or high-end electronics, will clearly profit from the high standards which we have already introduced and which we will consistently develop from now on.” In addition to the transparency, fast availability and density of the shipment information, Iden also referred to the safety and hygiene requirements, which trans-o-flex meets thanks to its GDP-compliance.
- Full transparency along the entire logistic chain, including temperature documentation
- Additional multi-million euro investment planned to increase the number of temperature-controlled vehicles and transhipment centres
- The company intends to further strengthen its position as the leading provider of pharmaceutical logistic services
- Active temperature control as the new standard service for the transportation of pharmaceutical products
GDP+ digitalisation project already finished in 2017
The GDP+ digitalisation project, the name of which is derived from the Good Distribution Practices for pharmaceutical products (GDP) specified by the EU, will take place in three steps. “First, we will eliminate all remaining manual data entry steps and install a standardised tamper-proof data and shipment flow along all transport systems and product groups, which enables us to provide information within one system, fully transparent and almost in real-time. Finally, we will certify this unique system as a whole, thus making it verifiable at any time and providing the basis for its continuous improvement.” As a result of the digitalisation project, trans-o-flex customers will be able to get all relevant information about their shipments in one system, even if the shipments belong to two different temperature ranges and are, for reasons of transport optimisation, forwarded in two separate networks.
All trans-o-flex networks exclusively with active temperature control
The conversion of all of the trans-o-flex network’s logistic activities to full active temperature control is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. “Everybody who uses trans-o-flex’ services can rely on active temperature control in the future and, upon request, will also get detailed documentation”, explains Frank Iden. The reason for this is that the ambient premium service is increasingly becoming the standard solution for the transportation of pharmaceuticals. “During the first six months of this year alone, our ambient volumes have increased by approximately 20 percent. Other customers have already announced their changeover. In all conurbations, the number of ambient shipments has reached an enormous level so that it is reasonable to use special vehicles and set up special delivery routes mainly for pharmaceutical products.” Therefore, continuous investments will be made in the delivery of ambient shipments and, thus, in additional fully temperature-controlled vehicles. By the end of this year alone, it is planned to procure another 70 vehicles.
Today, the fleet of special vehicles of the ambient network initiated in October 2014 consists of approximately 190 thermos trailers, 85 fully air-conditioned lorries, 40 fully temperature-controlled transporters as well as 1,550 thermos boxes installed in conventional transporters. With the new vehicles, the capacity for deliveries in the temperature range between 15 and 25 °C, in comparison with the box solution, will rise by a multiple.
At the same time, trans-o-flex also increases its capacities in the temperature-controlled transhipment. To this end, the number of ambient hubs will be increased gradually. Already in this month, the transhipment centres in Hamburg, Berlin, Dortmund, Stuttgart and Munich will be put into operation as new ambient hubs. “This step enables us to increase the capacity for ambient goods and makes it possible for us to better allocate the shipment volumes to the different centres of the network.”
“This strategy makes it possible for trans-o-flex to optimally adjust its services to the needs of the pharmaceutical industry as its core business and to consistently align its systems to the high requirements of the pharmaceutical companies”, explained Iden to the customers in Heidelberg. “And this will enable us to strengthen our position as the leading logistic partner for the pharmaceutical industry.”
According to Iden, however, not only customers in the pharmaceutical industry will benefit from the conversion. “Customers that commission us to transport their top-quality products, such as for example cosmetics or high-end electronics, will clearly profit from the high standards which we have already introduced and which we will consistently develop from now on.” In addition to the transparency, fast availability and density of the shipment information, Iden also referred to the safety and hygiene requirements, which trans-o-flex meets thanks to its GDP-compliance.
