RAVAS and Versland Selection BV are taking each other to the next level thanks to innovative weighing forklift forks

What began as a solution to a logistical bottleneck evolved at Versland Selection BV in Poeldijk into a strategic investment in mobile weighing technology. The Dutch wholesaler of fresh produce has been using RAVAS’s iForks since 2009, which are now fully integrated into the company’s internal WMS. The result: fewer trips, faster processes, error-free data recording, and greater control over the flow of goods. Account Manager Dino Salihbegovic looks back on a partnership that continues to pay off.

In this article, Dino Salihbegovic, Account Manager for the Netherlands at RAVAS, is pleased to highlight the inspiring collaboration with Versland Selection. “When we first visited Versland Selection in 2009, the company had only one floor scale,” Dino recalls. “At the same time, there were fifteen loading docks and fifteen forklifts in use. For every load that needed to be weighed, drivers would drive to that single scale and then return to their workstations with a weigh ticket. That resulted in wasted time, extra trips, and unnecessary wait times.”

“You could see right away where the inefficiency was. The forklift drivers had to constantly interrupt their routes to weigh their loads. That slowed down the entire loading and unloading process.”

iForks as a turning point

It was during that period that RAVAS launched its fully wireless iForks: weighing forklift forks that transmit the weight directly and wirelessly to a display in the cab. For Versland Selection, that proved to be a turning point. At the time, Salihbegovic gave a demonstration to the company’s owner.

“The initial reaction focused mainly on the investment cost,” he says. “But as soon as you spell out the benefits—time savings, greater efficiency, shorter wait times, and smoother operations—the added value quickly becomes clear.”

Versland Selection started out with two or three forklifts equipped with iForks. Today, no fewer than 25 RAVAS mobile weighing systems are in use. As a result, weighing is no longer a separate process, but an integrated part of the logistics flow.

Smart Integrations

According to Salihbegovic, the major added value lies not only in the mobile weighing itself, but above all in the integration with the wholesaler’s software environment. “The iForks are connected to terminals on the forklifts and communicate directly with Versland Selection’s internal WMS and ERP systems. This means weights are no longer recorded manually or entered later, but are processed digitally right away while the work is being done.”

With every weighing, the date, time, gross weight, and net weight are automatically recorded. A unique registration number is also generated, ensuring that every weighing remains fully traceable. “Paper weighing documents are a thing of the past,” says Salihbegovic. “The data goes directly into the system. That speeds up the process and minimizes human error.”

For a player in the fresh produce market, that’s a major advantage. “Today, Versland Selection can quickly analyze how many shipments have been weighed per customer or per period. That real-time data supports not only operational processes, but also reporting, administration, and customer service.”

From Supplier to Long-Term Partner

The partnership between RAVAS and Versland Selection now extends far beyond the initial delivery of weighing forks. “We also handle maintenance, calibration, and periodic inspections of the systems,” said the Account Manager. “Every year, the installations are tested, inspected, and—if necessary—maintained on-site in accordance with applicable legal standards.”

That follow-up is an integral part of the partnership. “We don’t just come to maintain systems, but also to listen to what’s happening on the ground,” says Salihbegovic. “The feedback from Versland Selection helps us further improve our solutions.”

As a result, Versland Selection has become a flagship customer for RAVAS. The company demonstrates in practice how a mobile weighing solution, integrated with WMS and ERP, makes warehouse operations faster, more accurate, and more efficient. Or as Salihbegovic puts it: “The customer himself says today that he could no longer work the way he used to. That’s perhaps the best endorsement for our mobile weighing solution.”