Streamlining Fleet Management at bpost with FleetWave

Industry: Transportation

Fleet Size: 15,000 +

Region: Brussels, Belgium

Customer Since: 2014

Products Used: FleetWave

Background

bpost has been leveraging FleetWave since 2014 to optimize its fleet management processes. As Belgium’s leading postal and logistics company, bpost manages a comprehensive and diverse fleet tailored to its extensive operations. The fleet includes 2,750 bikes, 2,750 e-bikes, 560 e-trailers, 200 three-wheeled scooters, 11,000 vans (2,250 of which are electric), 650 trucks, and company cars. This diversity ensures effective and sustainable delivery across urban and rural areas, contributing to bpost’s reputation for timely and innovative logistics solutions.

“As a transport and distribution company, our fleet is, after employees, our second most important resource,” said Johan Borgers, Business Analyst at bpost. As Belgium’s primary postal service, bpost serves millions daily, offering parcel delivery through four methods: home delivery, pickup points, parcel lockers, and shop-based drop-offs. Internationally, it connects customers across over 220 regions with efficient cross-border logistics solutions. These capabilities are supported by over 40,000 employees worldwide, highlighting the importance of its fleet in sustaining operations and driving innovation.

Challenges

Managing a fleet with a wide variety of vehicles presents significant complexity for bpost. As Johan explains, “The different processes to manage a fleet with a wide variety of vehicles is one of our biggest challenges.” This diversity requires tailored approaches to ensure smooth operations across the board.

Cost control remains a critical focus. Johan highlights, “Keeping costs under control” as an ongoing priority, especially as the business adapts to changing demands. The shift from handling letters to parcel deliveries has introduced new logistical and financial pressures, described by Johan as the “evolution in business from letters to parcels.”

At the same time, sustainability is becoming increasingly important. bpost is working toward a greener fleet, a transformation that Johan calls the “evolution towards a more greener fleet.” Balancing this environmental commitment with operational efficiency is both vital and demanding.

Day-to-day operations present further complexities for bpost’s fleet management. Johan emphasizes the need to “follow-up technical controls, maintenance,” to keep vehicles operating efficiently and safely. Adding to this challenge is the geographic spread of the fleet, which Johan describes as being “situated in 200 different locations.” This requires careful coordination and robust systems to manage vehicles across such a dispersed network.

Other operational priorities include maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, which Johan notes is a constant challenge. Additionally, “following up with different contracts” and ensuring the “allocation of costs” are critical tasks that demand ongoing attention to detail and effective resource management.

Looking ahead, electrification is poised to reshape the industry. As Johan explains, “The electrification of the fleet will be an important challenge for our industry.” Johan highlights the importance of “direct connectivity to the fleet tool and other mail distribution software” to ensure seamless operations.

Our Solution

bpost selected FleetWave for its exceptional customization flexibility. As Johan explains, “The customization flexibility was one of the decisive components for choosing FleetWave.” This adaptability allows bpost to build and adjust processes in-house, eliminating the need to rely on the supplier for every update or change.

Among the features used most frequently in FleetWave are those that address daily operational needs. Johan highlights the “defect feature” as one of the most utilized tools, followed closely by features for managing “accidents, purchase orders and company cars.” These capabilities streamline key processes and ensure efficient fleet management across the organization.

When asked why he would recommend FleetWave, Johan emphasizes its adaptability: “For the flexibility in creating new processes.” This ability to tailor the system to meet evolving needs has made FleetWave an invaluable tool for bpost’s fleet operations.

Impact

FleetWave has been instrumental in addressing the challenges bpost faced in managing its fleet. According to Johan, “FleetWave allows us to manage all the data of our fleet and to build the needed reports for the different stakeholders—operations, finance, reporting, performance control, sustainability department, and more.” This comprehensive data management ensures that every department has access to the insights they need for informed decision-making.

Customization has been a key driver of efficiency for bpost. One example is the creation of a “defect table,” where defects registered through an in-house-built fleet app are seamlessly integrated into FleetWave via an API interface. Johan explains, “The defects are thus easily managed in one place,” reducing complexity and improving workflow efficiency.

The primary benefit of FleetWave, Johan emphasizes, is “data management.” This capability has delivered measurable commercial advantages, such as fuel savings through “structuring data from dataloggers and invoices” and significant reductions in administration time thanks to “less paperwork.”

Compliance has also improved with FleetWave. Johan highlights enhancements in “follow-up of technical controls” and “fine management,” ensuring regulatory requirements are met more effectively.

Sustainability has been another area of impact. Johan notes that “FleetWave helps us to structure needed data,” supporting bpost’s ongoing efforts to transition toward a greener fleet and achieve its sustainability goals.

Conclusion

Since adopting FleetWave in 2014, bpost has streamlined fleet management, enhanced data handling, and improved operational efficiency. The platform’s customization capabilities have allowed bpost to address complex challenges, such as defect management and cost control, while reducing administrative tasks. FleetWave’s flexibility has also supported bpost’s sustainability goals by organizing data crucial for transitioning to a greener fleet. With ongoing benefits in compliance and cost savings, FleetWave continues to be a key partner in driving bpost’s operational and environmental success.