Terlouw
From traditional to digital: Terlouw modernizes work processes
As a family business with a 100-year history, Terlouw has been an important player in the professional shipping industry since 1924. Since the 1970s, Terlouw has been an official Volvo Penta dealer, providing support and advice to customers active in the industrial and commercial shipping sectors. The company combines deep expertise with a personal approach, which is why customers have been happy to turn to Terlouw for advice and help for generations.
What was Terlouw’s challenge?
“It started from the fact that we were still working with carbon copy forms and we wanted to get rid of those,” says Jacqueline Terlouw. “We wanted to modernize, so that the guys can identify themselves when they start and stop, take photos, and add them. The administration needed to be tighter, away from the old-fashioned forms. With the old system, that was no longer possible.”
Because of the use of paper work orders, the invoicing process often experienced delays. Forms would get lost, become unreadable, or be poorly filled out. “Sometimes it could take a month before the invoice went out. Now we can stay on top of it every week, if not the next day.”
The challenge was therefore clear: a modern, digital solution that would make the work order and planning workflow more efficient, without causing major culture shock for employees accustomed to Microsoft software.
How did Terlouw end up at Bluace?
“We knew Bluace from the past. We had requested quotes from other parties, but that took too long. With Bluace, it clicked immediately; nice and practical, solution-oriented, and straightforward, that’s how we are ourselves. They understood our work processes and could coordinate well. That’s why we decided to continue with Bluace.”
“A switch to a completely different package would have been too much of a culture shock.”
What was the deciding factor in choosing Bluace?
“The trust and the fact that you are close by,” says Jacqueline. “Not even a kilometer away. That is convenient for implementation days or for quick checks. It was mainly a matter of feeling.”
In addition, the choice to stay in the familiar Microsoft environment played a role: “We have been working with Microsoft since 2009.”
“The implementation required employees to get used to it, but gradually we discovered what worked and what didn’t.”
How did the implementation process go?
“This is our third step: first Navision, then Dynamics, and now Business Central. Every implementation is difficult. We had to adjust processes and working methods to maintain as much of the standard Business Central as possible. Some processes had to be adjusted one way or another, but that comes with the territory.”
The solution: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and digital tools
Terlouw, in collaboration with Bluace, opted for an integrated solution that supports financial and operational management:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an ERP system;
- Continia Expense Management for digitizing and automating expense and reimbursement processes;
- Technical Management, Dime, and Sigmax for planning, operational support, and financial management.
This combination enabled Terlouw to organize work processes more efficiently and manage administration more closely, while employees could continue working within a familiar Microsoft environment. This made the digitization of work orders and the creation of a planning board smooth, while reimbursements and expenses are processed clearly via Continia.
“The lead time of service orders has gone from weeks to days.”
What has the Terlouw solution delivered so far?
“Everything is simply digitized,” says Jacqueline. “Insight into work in progress has greatly improved, and with it, also financial control. The quality of orders is higher thanks to the extensive filtering options. Data is cleaner, and errors are easier to find. Workload has been reduced through automation, and internal communication is now improving with the Call Center and Sales app.”
Some concrete results:
- Lead time for service orders reduced from weeks to days;
- Better financial insight and control;
- Higher quality of order entry and data;
- Efficient analyses and data corrections through exporting and importing to Excel;
- Improved internal communication and collaboration;
- More efficient parts order processing in the future.
Jacqueline adds, “Daily tasks have not changed drastically. The technicians now have a mobile device in hand and click start and stop. At first, it took some getting used to, but the teething problems are gone. Our young team of technicians only finds this nice; they no longer have to carry papers around.”
The collaboration with Bluace
“Absolutely great, without a doubt,” says Jacqueline. “Of course, there are hiccups everywhere. But at Bluace, communication is short. Problems are addressed quickly, priority is given when necessary, and we can contact people directly via Teams. Especially when coordination is needed due to problems, Bluace is there for you, thanks to the knowledge and dedication of its people.
That is really a USP of Bluace.” When asked if she would recommend Bluace, Jacqueline responds wholeheartedly: “Yes, I already have.”
Are you interested in a similar process for your company?
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