Koole Terminals builds in low code using OutSystems

Customer portal provides clients with up-to-date insights
The Customer Portal is designed to give Koole's clients insight into all the inventories of the products stored at its terminal(s). “This includes visibility into the status of their product movements. Currently, this is achieved through automated reports. We aim to develop a portal where clients can easily download this information themselves, allowing them to perform their own analyses in Excel or Power BI. The Customer Portal is integrated with Koole's central ERP system, which is being rolled out company-wide.”

Application reduces inland vessel processing time by 33%
Koole has also recently developed an application for the registration and handling of sea and inland vessels. “For the processing of inland vessels, we have reduced the average processing time by 33% using OutSystems' low-code applications. Previously, the captain of an inland vessel had to walk approximately 400 to 800 meters to the central control room after docking to submit documents and complete the safety documents (VOW agreement and ADN checklist) together with Koole."

In the new process, we use a registration portal where most of the required safety document data is exchanged before the ship docks. Using a custom-developed mobile app, the safety documents are now completed and signed at the dock by the captain and the Koole operator. Specifically for the mobile app and the ADN checklist, we received not only approval but also a compliment from the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate for its user-friendliness.

After processing, all safety, transport, and customs documents are digitally provided on the same portal. Recently, we experienced a system failure, which temporarily forced us to revert to the paper-based process. It became clear that this caused a delay of two to three hours in loading an inland vessel.”

Ease of UX design and development is a significant step forward
Low-code enables Koole to quickly develop user-friendly portals and apps. “The ease with which you design and develop the UX is a major step forward. However, the preparation must be just as thorough as usual because, ultimately, OutSystems is a development tool. It’s really a matter of sitting down behind the screen and getting started.”