From driving school to innovative learning platform

Since 1972, Nederveen has been known as a leading educator in the logistics sector. Originally started as a driving school, the family business has grown into a versatile training partner focused on safety and sustainable employability on the road and in the workplace. The growth and changes brought Nederveen to Axelio for a future-proof ERP and CRM system that could support their ambitions and challenges.

"Where we used to focus primarily on driving courses and Code 95 training for individuals and drivers, we are now increasingly focusing on supporting companies with their training management," says Dirk Dreschler, CDO at Nederveen and responsible for innovation and digitization. "We also saw opportunities to improve our services and increase operational efficiency by automating and digitizing our processes and systems. These developments made it necessary to think about how we could further professionalize as a company and with whom we could best do that."

Code 95: new opportunities and challenges

The introduction of Code 95 in 2008 brought significant changes to the logistics sector. Drivers had to undergo regular retraining, which meant additional administrative burdens for companies. Nederveen responded to this change by offering training for drivers, as well as for warehouse and office staff. Both in-class and via e-learning. But more is needed to achieve structured and efficient training paths for the entire sector.

What do customers really need?

To respond to changing market needs, Nederveen engaged in conversations with customers and partners. "We wanted to know who they are, what they expect, and what challenges they face," says Dirk. The conversations revealed that managers needed support in planning and managing training. "Many managers struggled with questions such as: Which employees have already obtained their mandatory Code 95 points? When do certificates expire? And how do these training needs fit within the internal planning?"

Managers also used separate emails, lists, and Excel files, which led to inefficiencies and a lack of overview. "It is difficult for them to quickly find the right information and respond adequately to training needs," explains Dirk. To improve this, Nederveen developed an online service portal for employers, employees, and students. The portal provides insight and overview into training data and required a robust ERP/CRM system.

Establishing criteria and the search for the right CRM solution

To enable the new service, Nederveen mapped its internal processes. "The system had to support not only now but also be ready for growth," explains Dirk. Nederveen established criteria focusing on customer management, planning of driving courses, automation of processes, and data analysis. After an extensive selection process, Nederveen chose Microsoft Dynamics due to its flexibility and scalability. "The system meets our current needs and allows room to grow with our ambitions. Moreover, we wanted to be able to integrate with other systems," continues Dirk.

Axelio as a strategic partner

After choosing Microsoft Dynamics as the platform, Nederveen began searching for the right implementation partner. "We conducted extensive research and ended up with Axelio, formerly Bend," says Dirk. "Axelio had experience in setting up course management and training processes, which was essential for us. Although the logistics sector was new territory for Axelio, they worked closely with us to develop the right approach. With regular testing and a Proof of Concept, we found solutions together, which strengthened our confidence in the collaboration. Moreover, they understood the unique dynamics of training and managing courses."

The solution: efficiency, automation, and customer-oriented service

With the implementation of Dynamics, both internal processes and information provision and customer experience have improved. "Our products are now linked to Dynamics, making the availability of training visible in real-time for customers. They can now easily register online and receive immediate confirmation," says Dirk.

The service portal plays an important role as customers can manage their data, view registrations, and keep employee files up to date. "They gain insight into the progress of their employees, see which trainings still need to be completed, and receive automatic reminders," says Dirk.

In addition to the improved customer experience, internal efficiency has increased. We have made connections with various external systems or are working on it. "Registrations and confirmations are now fully automated, saving us a tremendous amount of time," says Dirk. Nederveen also now has better customer and training data, allowing them to proactively respond to customer needs. "We optimize our services and make marketing and sales processes more efficient," says Dirk.

Benefits of a flexible and scalable system

Nederveen benefits daily from the new system. "The biggest advantage is that we can continuously improve," says Dirk. "We analyze problems together and adjust our processes, ensuring ongoing progress. This allows us to constantly expand and improve our services."

Foundation for the future

Nederveen wants to further develop as the training partner for logistics companies. "With current technology, we want to grow into a practical learning platform for professionals, together with partners like Axelio. We continue to leverage technology to further optimize the learning and development of employees. In this way, we continuously work on our mission to enhance safety and sustainable employability - on the road and at work," concludes Dirk.