Goos Horeca shows how smart forecasting and automation lead to more efficient inventory management, fewer no-sales and higher turnover. Discover how they have improved their business operations with Optiply and other integrations and are ready for further expansion.

Gijs Thiessens, responsible for Organization and Logistics at Goos Horeca, plays a key role in the growth and efficiency of the company. With his focus on automation and process optimization, he ensures that purchasing and warehouse management run smoothly, even in times of rapid expansion.

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Goos Horeca: the market leader in horeca facilities

With multiple branches in the Netherlands and in Belgium, Goos Horeca is the most complete catering cash and carry of the Benelux. The company offers a wide range of catering equipment and services such as tables, chairs, work tables and XXL freezers at a competitive and flexible price. 

The success formula of Goos Horeca is hinged on the fact that it has been able to grow as a company using the right people and tools. Goos Horeca business styles and strategies have become models that other companies within and abroad are emulating.

To achieve their goals, Goos Horeca is working with up-to-date inventory, organised warehouses and effective processing procedures to avoid lost-sales.

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Lack of overview due to lack of automation and digitisation

Goos Horeca has partners that share the same vision with them to upscale and fast track their growth and coverage. Gijs Thiessens, the head of Organisation and Logistics at Goos Horeca explains: “We always make sure that we work with the right partners, where we feel that they can think along in the process.”

As such, Goos Horeca partnered with Optiply and Boxwise (software for warehouse management) to enhance automation.

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Purchasing based on gut feeling

Previously, Goos Horeca made its purchases based on gut feeling. For example, Jeroen, who is in charge of purchasing at Goos Horeca, says: “The purchasing process was based on gut feeling. We purchased based on sales history. That included a bit of growth. It was purely based on our own knowledge.” 

This often resulted in too much or too little stock. According to Gijs, this can be easily managed with a small turnover. But it becomes more challenging when you grow as a company, and you have to estimate your stock correctly and buy on time.

“Wouter, the founder of Goos Horeca, has always had a good feeling about what to buy. That's fine as long as your revenue is like €5 or €10 million. Then you can manage it to some extent.”

Lack of digitalization

In addition, new challenges presented themselves in the warehouse area. Due to a lack of storage space, inbound and outbound goods were mixed up. The lack of a thorough WMS system made it impossible for digitisation to be done in the warehouse. 

Gijs explains: “People knew out of their heads where something was. Nothing had been digitised and that was just a mess.” In addition, the delivery of goods was also difficult. Registering shipments with carriers was slower.

This had consequences for maintaining the processing process and thus also hindered the company's growth. All these were enough reasons for Goos Horeca to automate their warehouse for effective and efficient management.

Operating professionally via a flexible organisation 

A pleasant working culture and satisfied customers were important starting points for Goos Horeca in their journey towards growth. This was achieved by looking for purchasing and warehouse software that is connected to the AFAS software (ERP-system).

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Combining systems

By combining AFAS with Optiply and Boxwise, more efficiency has been achieved, and source data is processed in a smart way. Gijs: “That is of course why we brought in Optiply to make things more intelligent.” On the other hand, Boxwise made it possible for Goos Horeca to make better use of the warehouse space.”

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Professionalize purchasing and warehouse management

The mix of Optiply and Boxwise has helped Goos Horeca to make a good professionalisation regarding purchasing and warehouse management. “If you don't work with a system, you can never facilitate this as a business.

It is of course about managing all your warehouses, but also serving your customers on time, knowing which products you have, how much stock there is and when new inventory arrives.

Up to shipping, where you can add different carriers.” The result is that you can estimate the right amount of inventory and that products are registered in a good way. This means that stock can be delivered quickly on a large scale.

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Work more efficiently and flexibly

Goos Horeca has started to work more efficiently and flexibly. This provided more peace of mind in the workplace, but also space for other things. Gijs: “I have smart people in the workplace. I want them to work even smarter, to give them the feeling that they are an important link in being able to think along in the process.” 

Operating flexibly and efficiently are therefore important factors for Goos Horeca to take a step further as a company. This is reflected in customer contact and revenue growth.

Gijs explains: “The combination of AFAS and suppliers such as boxwise and Optiply ensures that we can facilitate growth. ‘Inventory is king’ and I think that's why we've grown so big. We can deliver from our inventory, and we rarely say no to customers. So the lower your lost sales are, the better it is.”

With the combination of Optiply, Boxwise and AFAS, Goos Horeca continues to refine its purchasing and warehouse processes. This makes the company ready for further growth, international expansion and an even more efficient inventory management strategy.

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About boxwise 

Boxwise was founded by Trancon, a logistics software specialist, with the aim of serving wholesalers, e-commerce companies and healthcare institutions with user-friendly warehouse management software.

Connect boxwise easily and quickly with your ERP, AFAS Profit and Exact Globe to have an organised warehouse and overall growth for your business. Increase delivery rates and customer satisfaction by making the pick, pack, scan and delivery process smarter and faster. 

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