VOTG upgrades intermodal asset management system

VOTG Tanktainer, one of the world's leading tank container operators, is embarking on a project to upgrade and enhance its Monitor4000 intermodal management system, confirming its long-term partnership with software provider Real Asset Management Plc (RAM).

VOTG, a joint venture between VTG AG and Royal Vopak, has over 15 years' experience in the bulk liquid transport business, providing services around the worldwide distribution of chemical products. Headquartered in Germany(Hamburg), the company also has offices in Holland, Finland, USA, Italy and Singapore.

Industry specialist RAM has worked with VOTG for over eight years. During this time, VOTG's tank container fleet has more than doubled, to the point where it now manages over 5,000 units of different IMO classes with the Monitor4000 system. The project will see VOTG incorporate an integrated quotation system and a built-in vendor tariffs database within Monitor4000, moving away from local quotation systems and databases. These improvements will save time and reduce the need to move between separate systems.

Tayfun Oezcan, IT administrator at VOTG, is involved with the daily operation of RAM's Monitor4000 system and the current upgrade project. "I am looking forward to strengthening the functionality within the Monitor4000 system", he says. "We rely on good data quality to control the movement of tanks, so a system such as this is critical. Using Monitor4000, it is easy to highlight if there is too much stock in one region or if there is a lack of units in other regions. The system helps us match equipment to customer requirements using a track and trace facility."

Oezcan continues: "Monitor4000 helps us maintain tight control over our operations and administration. The quotation module, for example, will allow us to analyse quotation history, the effects that currency rate fluctuations and other changing cost components and new imposed costs will have over time on profitability."

VOTG is also using Monitor4000 to streamline external data flows. Oezcan explains that the company has recently started EDI messaging and invoicing through the system, which has helped speed up the invoicing process and ensure that customers and agents are notified automatically at every relevant stage of the trip.

"Monitor4000 helps us maintain tight control over our operations and administration

"This is now a key requirement of our business, particularly as many customers specify that suppliers must only bid for tenders if they can meet standards such as EDIFACT for EDI transactions," says Oezcan. "In addition, agents can access Monitor4000 remotely through a web interface and create all required documents within the system, saving time and reducing double data entry".

"An interface to our accounting system also saves valuable administration time", continues Oezcan. "All anticipated and actual transport related costs are maintained in Monitor4000 and exported seamlessly to accounting system."

The ongoing upgrade project will see VOTG incorporate Monitor4000 further into the business process.