Where is my order? Is the trolley on its way yet? And are you sure everything went with it? These are familiar questions for many growers and their internal staff. At Levoplant, these kinds of calls come in regularly. The phalaenopsis grower therefore sees Track & Trace as an important step towards greater transparency in the chain. For over two years, Levoplant has been sharing scanning information via Floriday, taking a step towards making logistics information more accessible to buyers.
Track & Trace as a logical part of the process
Levoplant is a phalaenopsis grower in Honselersdijk with large volumes and a highly automated process. Some 5 (and soon 7) million plants leave the nursery annually, destined for premium retail such as supermarket chains, DIY stores and garden centres. Consistency and predictability are crucial here.
Internally, a lot of data has been captured for years. Frank van Holsteijn, digital & data team leader at Levoplant, and his team are responsible for everything related to software, ERP and data processing within the company. “We already capture the track & trace information of every product in the process: from cutting to delivery. It's nice that we can now share that information with buyers through Floriday.”
So scanning is not a new phenomenon at Levoplant. The plants were already being tracked internally to maintain insight into logistics and scheduling. Sharing that existing scan information with Floriday via the API was a logical next step.
From internal scan to insight for buyers
At Levoplant, scanning occurs as soon as a trolley of plants has been picked. The picking slip is scanned, after which the auction letter is automatically generated. As soon as the driver loads the trolley for transport, that auction letter is scanned again. The load scan is shared with Floriday and forms the basis of Track & Trace information for the buyer. “At that moment, we know for sure: this trolley has gone into the truck,” Frank explains. “And that information is exactly what many questions are about when we get calls from buyers.” The ambition behind sharing scans is clear: fewer phone calls and more clarity through Floriday.
Many phone calls as a key reason
The main reason for sharing scans? Fewer phone calls: “Our internal staff regularly received questions like, Where is my trolley?. or did you actually put six there?”, says Frank. "We already had that information internally, but the buyer did not. By sharing those scans through Floriday, buyers can see for themselves that an order is on its way.”
This saves time, frustration and unnecessary searching. One phone call easily takes 30 minutes, while the same question can be avoided with Track & Trace information. “Labour is expensive,” says Frank. “And apart from that: you simply want to have this properly arranged for your customer. If you order a package yourself, you also expect to be able to track it.”
Better cooperation in the chain
By sharing scans via Floriday, a single central location is created where logistical information comes together. Buyers no longer have to switch between growers, carriers and separate systems, but can track their deliveries on the platform. Without having to call the grower or carrier.
Track & Trace, according to Levoplant, therefore goes beyond just 'fewer calls'. It contributes to a more professional and transparent chain. “I just expect to be able to follow something from origin to destination,” says Frank. “The fact that this is not yet standard everywhere in our sector actually feels old-fashioned.”
No major hurdles
There were few adoption hurdles for Levoplant. “We were already scanning internally,” Frank explains. “So it wasn't about convincing people that they should scan. It was mainly a matter of making that information available externally as well.” At first, there were some teething problems with the link, but these have since been resolved. “It's simply running smoothly now,” says Frank. “We don't really hear anything about it any more and that's a good sign.”
Tip for other growers: just start
What would Frank advise other growers? He is clear about that. “Just do it. You need this for your own internal information provision anyway,” he says. “And if you're already doing those scans, sharing them with Floriday is often a small step with a big impact.”
Growers who do not (yet) have their own scanning system can also get off to an easy start. With the Floriday scan app, growers and employees can easily scan with their own phones. Without a big investment, you can still add Track & Trace information to your orders and deliver immediate value to your customers in this manner.
According to Levoplant, the real gain lies in collaboration: growers, buyers and Floriday together. “The ball has started rolling,” says Frank. "This is the time to tackle it. Everyone benefits from this.”
Start scanning
With Track & Trace information via Floriday, buyers no longer need to call to ask where the order is. They can follow it themselves. “Floriday is the place where that information comes together,” says Frank. “The more parties participate, the greater the benefit for everyone.”
Levoplant shows that Track & Trace is not just something for buyers, but starts with growers. By sharing scan information via Floriday, buyers gain insight into their deliveries. This helps them with planning and decision-making, and can ultimately lead to fewer queries for the grower.